February Breathing Tool
K-3 students practiced using the breathing tool (tape meausre) at the beginning of February. This is just one more tool to help our students calm. Other tools they've already been introduced to: STAR, balloon breathing, bunny breathing, etc. If you don't know what a breathing tool is, just ask! Our breathing tool helps us CALM in order to be able to SELF REGULATE. If we don't have control, we aren't regulated.
The 4th grade students discussed ways that we can help ourselves through positive self-talk with Mrs. Ruby. In Mrs. Ruby's lesson, the students met Sam, a boy who didn't do well on his math test. Students took turns saying, "STOP" and changing the negative statment ("I'm stupid!") into something encouraging ("Next time, I will remember to study for my test."). We all make mistakes and can learn from them by using a growth mindset; Mrs. Lang does a great job teaching this concept within her classrooom. One new word that the students were taught was the power of YET. " I don't understand this concept YET" is helpful while "I will never get this" is hurtful. Tools that can help us speak kinder to ourselves include the listening tool (listening with our heart), the empathy tool (caring for myself), using our words tools (using the "right" word at the "right" time), apology/forgiveness tool (I work on my mistakes and work to forgive), and courage tool (having the courage to do the "right" thing).
The 5th grade students used cooperation to make COOPERATION posters to be hung in the grade school. Many of the tools in our toolbox can be used when cooperating with others: listening tool, personal space tool, please & thank you tool, patience tool.
"Taking a break" was the coping skill our 6th graders learned about at the beginning of February. When our body or mind needs a break, what can we do? The 6th grade brainstormed ideas on how they took a break and then were able to get back on track!