Yes! Whether you’re a teacher, guidance counselor, OT, mental health counselor, support staff, or any of the other important jobs within a school, Mightier can help you and your students feel successful. Below are some wonderful ideas we’ve heard from school-based professionals using Mightier. There is no “right” way to use Mightier in a school.
How to Integrate Mightier into Your Learning Environment
- Use Mightier as a one-on-one intervention
Using Mightier one-on-one with a student is a great way to help build emotional regulation skills. Similar to using Mightier in a home, students can play Mightier alongside a school professional. We recommend students play 3 times, or about 45 minutes a week (depending on their schedule) and that the student and professional check in about their progress and what skills they are learning while playing Mightier. This allows students to build the muscle memory they need in order to improve their emotion regulation and translate to real life scenarios.
- Use Mightier as a de-escalation tool individually or in the classroom
Working in schools, you know that kids can escalate quickly and that they may have to leave class to take time to calm down before they can rejoin. Many school professionals have been using Mightier as a tool to help kids when they are feeling escalated - to take time to engage with their body, practice coping strategies, and come back more calmly to the classroom. Mightier encourages kids to use coping skills to stay calm and to successfully play the games. Many professionals see this as a kind of mindfulness intervention that helps students notice their mind-body connection and practice using skills when they are escalated. Schools have said students have been receptive to using Mightier as a de-escalation tool because it helps to calm them down more quickly and helps them to have a more productive, positive conversation with staff afterward. Some counselors, OTs and Behavioral Support professionals have been using Mightier in their individual offices, and teachers have also integrated Mightier as a tool within their classrooms. Teachers often incorporate Mightier in their break area or part of a “calm down corner.”
- Small Group Intervention
Mightier can also be used as a small group intervention or part of a station-like structure in a classroom - with several kids playing at the same time. Some schools have also used this time for students to discuss what they learned in Mightier (i.e. things about their heart rate, calming skills, favorite games, collected lavalings, etc.) Other schools use this time to discuss in small groups about how Mightier has been going, what skills they are learning, and other topics related to social-emotional learning. Many classrooms will have Mightier as an option for choice time and free time, giving kids access to Mightier during a time that feels right for them.
- Transitions
Transitions to and from school, from recess back to academic tasks, and other transitions throughout the day can be difficult for kids. Many professionals have found Mightier as a helpful 5 or 10 minute transition from one activity to another. Playing Mightier can help kids prepare for transitions and help to calm them down prior to more difficult times throughout the day (such as arriving at school), or as a way to calm down after recess is over.
- Mentorship and Empathy Building Opportunity
Many students who play Mightier become “Mightier experts”. Some schools have had these “Mighty Experts” teach other students how to play. This can help some more nervous students start Mightier and get excited about playing. These mentorship scenarios can also be helpful for some kids struggling with social skills or kids who have a lack of positive social interactions throughout the day. Mentorship with a “Mighty Expert” can help to develop social skills, build empathy, and increase both students’ self-esteem.
- Rewards for Behavior Plan and Behavior Management
Since Mightier is fun for kids, kids tend to want to play Mightier as a reward. Many schools have used Mightier as a reward within behavior plans in a variety of ways such as earning Mightier at the end of the day after all academic tasks are completed. Mightier can provide a positive and educational screen time alternative for students.
- Whole Classroom Intervention
Some schools have begun to use Mightier as a whole classroom intervention. Schools have done this in a variety of ways. Some classrooms have used Mightier on a projector and will have students talk about different skills they have been learning and practice these skills as a class. Some teachers have had one “special helper” at a time wear the heart rate monitor and project the child’s heart rate/ gizmo while the whole class practices.
Want additional guidance on using Mightier in your classroom?
Our Family Care Team is here to help every step of the way. We can help with questions about how to get set up, how to introduce Mightier to parents and other professionals, and more.