Teacher Training at Lumina

At Lumina, teacher training goes far beyond curriculum, methods, and routines. It is a space to pause, observe, and reconnect with what sits at the heart of education: the human brain and the emotions that drive behaviour.

Our latest session focused on the science of emotional regulation — not as a theoretical concept, but as a living process that shapes how children learn, relate, and grow.

Understanding Emotional Regulation

When a child experiences frustration, anger, or fear, their limbic system takes over. The amygdala sends a signal of threat, activating the fight–flight–freeze response. In that instant, the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for reasoning, impulse control, and empathy — goes offline.

This is why simply telling a child to “calm down” rarely works.

Before regulation can happen, co-regulation must occur. An adult’s calm presence acts as a bridge between emotional chaos and cognitive control. Our nervous system teaches before our words do.

How We Integrate This Understanding

At Lumina, this science is embedded in daily practice.

We train our educators to:

• see behaviour as communication,

• respond with curiosity rather than correction, and

• turn emotional moments into learning opportunities.
  

Learning does not happen after emotions are managed — it happens through them.

Our Approach

• A French curriculum anchored in academic rigour and evidence-based pedagogy.

• A team trained in neuroscience and emotional development, able to meet each child where they are emotionally and cognitively.

• A daily culture where empathy, reflection, and safety are central to learning.

Our Belief

A curriculum is only as strong as the adults who bring it to life.

And those adults teach best when they understand how the brain learns, feels, and connects.