Teacher Academy Focuses on Wellness and Learning

Cretin-Derham Hall faculty members are participating in a five-day Teacher Academy led by CDH World Languages teacher Tommy Murray '97 on June 8-12. The academy, titled Intelligence in Motion: A Differentiated Framework for Community Wellness, explores ways to integrate physical health, mental wellness, and movement into classrooms across all subject areas.

The academy is built around the Multiple Intelligences framework and provides teachers with practical strategies to support student learning through wellness-focused activities. Throughout the week, participants are examining topics such as nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, nature-based learning, and emotional regulation while exploring how these concepts can be incorporated into daily instruction.

Activities include community service projects, visits to local organizations, nature-based experiences, discussions of current research on learning and brain health, and collaborative curriculum planning. Teachers are also learning about the connection between movement and academic performance through the work of researchers such as Dr. John Ratey.

The goal of the academy is to help faculty develop classroom practices that support the whole student while promoting healthy habits that contribute to academic success and personal well-being.