Rainbow Institute
RI is an arm of Rainbow Community School that seeks to inspire a holistic education movement through transformative learning experiences, resources and research. The work of RI is inspired by the holistic educational model known as the Rainbow Seven Domains approach. RI strives to help individuals, educators and institutions nurture the spiritual identities of all community members by inviting the sacred into the school experience. Each RI blog post will offer reflections on various spiritual domain happenings at RCS and will share transferrable and adaptable lessons and resources. We hope that these posts will serve as a resource for you and your organization.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ~ West Willmore,
Co-Founder of Rainbow Institute
Graduation as a Sacred Ceremony
A rite of passage is an important, sacred ceremony that highlights a transitional period in a person's life- often marking the departure from one group in order to enter another. Graduation is one of those rites of passage and is also known asย commencement,...
Inhale Kind Wishes, Exhale Kind Wishes
Education is a sacred calling. Bridging sacred and school is spiritual work. A strong spiritual identityย among teacherย and studentย is theย catalyst for this meaningful work. At Rainbow, we feel that aย spiritually nourished child is a child ready to learn. We know, just...
Meditation Comes in Many Shapes and Forms
The goals of meditation can vary from practitioner to practitioner. A practitioner may meditate to calm themselves, regulate emotions or reduce stress. They may also engage in meditation as a strategy for deep reflection, connection or intuiting. In its traditional...
Circles and Cycles of Gratitude
Circles andย Cycles of Gratitudeย ย Imagine being a middle schooler again, arriving on a Friday morning, walking into a darkened, quiet room,ย joining the rest of your class in aย circle on the floorย andย hearing something like this from your teacher... Please take a...
Blending the Sacred and the Science: Communing with the natural world
On April 22, 2017 billions of people worldwide will commune with the Earth through a variety of celebratory activities honoringย Earth Day!ย Earth Day, started in 1970 is the largest secular holiday- celebrated by more 193 countries. Although observedย to provoke...
Birthday Celebrations: Honoring Our Journey Around the Sun
When planningย daily centerings Rainbow Community School (RCS) teachers striveย to align the lessons, practices or activitiesย with one of RCS'sย spiritual, social and/or emotional learning goals.ย One of the longest standingย spiritual learning goals (see below)...
What does Centering look like at RCS?
There are certain stand out elements of theย Rainbow Seven Domains Learning Model that have huge impacts on the culture of the school, the dailyย centering practice is one. Thisย morningย ritual serves to awakenย the spiritual center of each child, opening...
What makes something sacred: A 4th grade centering
I am sure you have actions or behaviors in your day that you could categorize or label as habitual. Consider one or more of those for a moment. For example, brushing your teeth, or filling the tea kettle, putting food in the dog bowl before you are off to work, etcโฆ...
A reflection on friendship: A middle school centering
For many of the 8th grade Omega students, centering has been part of their educational experience for 9 years. This means that they have experienced approximately 1,500 centering practices during their time at RCS. When Omegans begin their 7th grade year, a new ritual...
Anonymous gratitude centering: A morning with 5th grade
As you may know there are many scientifically proven benefits of cultivating, recognizing and acknowledging gratitude in your life. Many studies suggest practicing gratitude can make you healthier and happier. Some benefits include, improved relationships, enhanced...
Supporting our emotional immune systems: A 6th grade centering
Centering practices not only fuel the spiritual identity development of those who embrace them but they support healthy development across all learning domains. Recently, in a two-part centering, grade 6 explored the interdependence of a healthy physical immune system...
All I See is Part of Me Centering
One touch of nature makes the wholeย world kin.ย William Shakespeare You didnโt come into this world.ย You came out of it, like a wave from the ocean.ย Youย are not a stranger here.ย Alan Watts We inter-breath with the rainย forests, we drink from the oceans.ย Theyย ...
What Really Matters in Teaching and Learning: Exploring Love in the Classroom
โLove is the bridge between you and everything.โ โRumi Susie, our fourth grade teacher welcomesย a new group of 18-20 children and families into her life.ย In preparing to receive each child, and all their gifts, challenges, dreams, worries, and so much more, she knows...
Unsung heroes: A 3rd grade centering
โHeroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.โ ~Brodi Ashton My students love superheroes! Why not, they have superhuman powers, they save the day, they give us a sense of security, their goodness always prevails and many other...