Week 3: September/7

Hi everyone!

Welcome to Week 3! Positive Thinking Skills

This week we will explore positive thinking, optimism, and well-being. You will learn how your thoughts and interpretations can influence your emotions, behaviors, stress, and overall health. We will examine realistic positive thinking, self-talk, explanatory styles, mindfulness, and practical strategies for responding to challenges more constructively. You will also practice reframing unhelpful thoughts and create a SMART goal to develop positive-thinking skills in your daily life.

Last Week: From judgment to Goal Setting

Last week, we looked at how our brain helps us think through situations, solve problems, make decisions, and work toward our goals. You were introduced to the four Brain Toolkit skills: Judgment, Problem-Solving, Decision-Making, and Goal Setting—tools that can help you become a more thoughtful and effective thinker in everyday life.

Getting Started with Week 3 📚

As you get started this week, please check Canvas for the complete lesson and course materials. The pictures and videos that were previously available on the BFClass website are now available on Canvas.

You’ll find:

📚 Class lessons with pictures and videos

✅ Quizzes

💬 Discussions

🎥 Class recordings (coming soon)

📖 Additional class materials

You can access Canvas through the Canvas app on your phone or through the Canvas website.

To log in: Use your SDCCD student email and password, then select Fall 2026 HEAL 540 from your courses.

📱 Want to use Canvas on your phone? Download the Canvas app from the App Store or Google Play. Search for “Canvas by Instructure,” select SDCCD as your school, and log in with your SDCCD student email and portal password.

If you haven’t checked Canvas yet, take a few minutes to log in and explore—you’ll find everything you need for Week 3 there! 😊

Labor Day Reminder 🇺🇸

There will be no class on Monday, September 7, 2026, in observance of Labor Day.

🗓️ Class Schedule & Meeting Times for Brain Fitness Topics (HEAL 540):

You are welcome to join whichever class time fits your schedule best. Zoom links are hyperlinked under the Professor's name. 

• 🗓 Tuesday | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
  📍 CRN 45950 – Minoo Pakgohar

• 🗓 Monday | 2:30–4:30 PM
  📍 CRN 45956 – Erika Peralta

• 🗓 Wednesday | 6:30–8:30 PM
  📍 CRN 45960 – Charisse Winston

• 🗓 Thursday | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
  📍 CRN 45961 – Charisse Winston

• 🗓 Thursday | 1:00–3:00 PM
  📍 CRN 45948 – Sharon Gregory

• 🗓 Friday | 2:30–4:30 PM
  📍 CRN 45957 – Erika Peralta

Quick Links   

• Course website:  bfclass.com

• BrainHQ site:  https://v4.brainhq.com/

• Student site with schedule and more:  sdcestudent55.com

• Site to enroll in classes:  myportal.sdccd.edu

• Official SDCCE site:  sdcce.edu

• Enjoy a brain-healthy week!  I am looking forward to another great week of learning together.

We look forward to learning, exploring, and keeping our brains active together!

Your Emeritus Brain Fitness Faculty 

Sharon, Erika, Charisse & Minoo

Sharon Gregory 

sgregory001@sdccd.edu 

Erika Peralta, MS

eperalta@sdccd.edu

Charisse Winston, Ph.D.

cwinston@sdccd.edu

Minoo Pakgohar, Ph.D. 

mpakgohar@sdccd.edu