Susan Hopkins EdD

07/25/2025

🌌 “Focus on the step in front of you, not the whole staircase.”

In her newest blog, The Vision of a Self-Reg Haven: Leading Step by Step, Miranda Murphy offers a heartfelt reflection on what it really means to lead with Self-Reg.

It’s not about pushing a vision forward. It’s about co-regulating through the process—meeting people where they are, noticing stress states (our own and others’), and finding our way together, one step at a time.

Thank you, Miranda, for naming something so real and so often felt in the hearts of Self-Reg leaders. 💙

🔗 You can read her full blog here:
https://self-reg.ca/the-vision-of-a-self-reg-haven-leading-step-by-step/

Where in your leadership - or your life - are you being called to soften your pace and reconnect?

Stuart Shanker & Co. The MEHRIT Centre, Ltd.

07/24/2025

Today would have been my mom’s 90th birthday.

It’s hard to believe she’s been gone almost six years. And even harder to picture her at 90—because even at 80, she never looked or acted her age. Big red hair, skinny jeans, and her own one-of-a-kind sense of style. It wasn’t always my taste—and there were definitely hits and misses over the years—but it was hers. Bold, unapologetic, and completely unique.

One of her favourite sayings was: “No fools, no fun.” And she lived it. She loved to laugh, and she loved deeply—especially her grandchildren. My brother and I always knew we were loved too. No matter what.

She had this quirky, loving way of moving through the world. I miss her every day.
Happy heavenly birthday, Mom. I carry you with me always.

07/24/2025

There’s something powerful about making sense of behaviour—especially the kind that’s so often misunderstood. In this Level 2 Self-Reg course, we go deeper into the brain science behind stress responses to better understand not just others, but ourselves too.

We created this course for those who felt something shift during Foundations. If that learning opened a door for you, this next step might feel like the path forward. This isn’t just about science. It’s about seeing behaviour with fresh eyes - and finding a gentler way through.

Together, we’ll explore brain evolution, emotion circuits, and the neurochemistry of stress - through the lens of Self-Reg. It’s not about finding quick answers, but about expanding our insight, softening our lens, and discovering gentler ways of being with behaviour.

🌀 Course Details
• Duration: 17 weekly modules, with a week off midway
• Format: Asynchronous, with a cohort and facilitator
• Time Commitment: ~3 hours/week
• For grads of Foundations, ECD, or Leadership

If this speaks to where you are in your Self-Reg journey, we would love to have you join us.

Register here for the August 7th cohort!
https://self-reg.ca/gray-brain-science/

Stuart Shanker & Co. The MEHRIT Centre, Ltd.

07/23/2025

There’s a reason I’m writing this today. In 2025, an education authority is rumoured to be considering reducing the number of breaks in the school day. Let me be clear: please don’t do this. It’s not the path to better learning outcomes. It’s wrong for students. It’s wrong for educators. And it won’t lead where you think it will.

Cutting breaks won’t boost academic achievement—but it will raise the “temperature” in classrooms, increase school refusal, and leave everyone—from students to staff—feeling more frustrated and overwhelmed. Ask any teacher: after too many missed or indoor recesses in a row, the whole school starts to feel like a pressure cooker.

💭 Want to explore why cutting recess might not be the answer?

I share a story and some Self-Reg reflections in this blog that I hope will spark deeper thinking about what kids - and the adults who care for them - truly need.

🧠 Read the full piece here:https://self-reg.ca/before-you-cut-recess-what-every-child-and-most-educators-needs-you-to-know/

Stuart Shanker & Co. The MEHRIT Centre, Ltd.

An education authority is rumoured to be considering reducing the number of breaks in the school day. Let me be clear: please don’t do this.

07/23/2025

🌿 Self-Reg In Practice: New Fall Courses for Early Years & K–12 Support Teams

Sometimes the biggest impact happens behind the scenes—when we support the people who support others. That’s exactly what these two new live online courses are all about.

Whether you’re mentoring early years educators or leading professional learning in K–12 schools, these offerings were designed with you in mind.

💫 We’ll bridge Self-Reg science with day-to-day practice in ways that are practical, relational, and real.

💬 And if you’re ready to go deeper, each course includes an optional Applied Project—with a certificate to recognize your learning in action.

🎨 Supporting Early Years Teams with Self-Reg
Starts September 16, 2025
This one’s for pedagogical leaders, coaches, consultants—anyone walking alongside educators of our youngest learners. Together we’ll explore how to embed co-regulation into the everyday flow of early learning.

👉 Learn more & register: https://www.self-reg.com/course/early-years-teams-project

🌅 Co-Regulation in Practice: Supporting K–12 Educators with Self-Reg
Starts November 4, 2025
Designed for instructional coaches, school leaders, and those leading learning from within. This course is about sustaining change and supporting your team—even when things feel stuck.

👉 Learn more & register: https://www.self-reg.com/course/co-regulation-in-practice-project

The people supporting others often carry so much - and do so with such heart. This fall, let’s walk alongside them with tools, connection, and community.

Stuart Shanker & Co.

07/22/2025

✨ Self-Reg Book Club: Fall 2025 | REFRAMED with Susan Hopkins & Stuart Shanker & Co. ✨

There’s something deeply nourishing about reading Reframed in community. This Fall, I’m inviting you to join us for a very special book club experience centred on the newly revised edition of Reframed: A Self-Reg Revolution.

Whether you're new to Self-Reg or have been walking this journey for years, this space is for you. Together, we’ll read, reflect, and explore the big ideas that help us better understand ourselves and others.

🌀 What to Expect:
• 6 one-hour Zoom sessions
• A warm, reflective community
• Thoughtful facilitation (I’ll be there with you!)
• Final Q&A with Stuart Shanker himself
• Weekly sessions recorded

🗓️ Two rounds this Fall:

📚 Cohort 1 starts August 27, 2025
⏰Wednesdays @ 6:30–7:30 PM ET
Final Q&A with Stuart: Saturday September 27 @ 11AM ET
Register here: https://www.self-reg.com/course/reframed-book-club-aug27-2025

📚 Cohort 2 starts October 15, 2025
⏰ Wednesdays @ 6:30–7:30 PM ET
Final Q&A with Stuart: Saturday November 15 @ 11AM ET
Register here: https://www.self-reg.com/course/reframed-book-club-oct15-2025

This isn’t about getting through the content—it’s about slowing down to uncover meaning, together. Let’s explore Reframed side by side and deepen this Self-Reg journey, one heartfelt connection at a time.

07/21/2025

It is with so much joy that I share this beautiful moment with our Self-Reg community: Stuart Shanker & Co. is officially a grandfather!

Introducing his precious grandson, Jasper Shanker. I know many of you will share in the delight of this news — Stuart is over the moon, and it’s easy to see why with these sweet photos. 💝

New beginnings like this remind us of the deep connection between generations, and how the journey of Self-Reg continues to ripple through family, love, and gentle presence.

Welcome to the world, little Jasper. You are already deeply loved. 🌍💫

07/19/2025

👇👇

Flash Sale alert: 10% off Self-Reg resources! Facilitated courses, digital downloads, and self-paced learning are all discounted now.

But act fast, because the sale ends at midnight tomorrow! 👀 https://self-reg.ca/flash/

07/18/2025

🌵 "A Bundle of Emotions" by Aviva Dunsiger is a beautiful, honest reflection on the emotional complexity we so often feel—and just as often struggle to name.

One quote that truly stayed with me:

“I need my calm, so I can lend my calm to kids at a time when they might need it a little bit more.”

Isn’t that the heart of Self-Reg?

Aviva gently invites us into her experience as an educator in transition—navigating excitement, sadness, nervousness, and hope—and reminds us how powerful it is to recognize the tangle of emotions we carry. Her post isn't just about teaching; it's about being human, especially in times of change.

What are some of the complex emotions you are carrying right now, and how might understanding your own emotional landscape help you connect more deeply with others—especially the children in your life?

Thank you, Aviva, for sharing your vulnerability and your deep Self-Reg lens.

🧡 Read Aviva’s full post here: https://self-reg.ca/a-bundle-of-emotions-unpacking-complex-feelings

Stuart Shanker & Co. The MEHRIT Centre, Ltd.

07/16/2025

🌜 Let’s be honest: Sleep is a game-changer. Without enough of it, stress levels rise, and so does the tension. Let’s make sure everyone’s getting enough rest so we can face the day with a little less stress.

07/14/2025

🚨 Stress isn’t something we can always control—but we can learn to understand it better. When we focus on why our kids react a certain way, we’re better equipped to respond with empathy, not frustration.