Social Emotional Learning

1/15/2021

Suggested activities can be repeated and you can choose what to enjoy at any time during the week.

I hope you enjoy them!

Mindfulness

Mindfulness exercises can be done at any time! I generally guide the students in the beginning and sometimes at the end of each lesson. These brain based exercises can help bodies and brains remain calm and focused. This year's series of mindfulness exercises largely came from a collection titled "Little Renegades."

We've practiced "Fox Ears", "Mindful Owl" and "Bear Breath". This month we will be practicing "Grateful Tiger". Sit in a comfortable position. Take a deep breath in and think of something or someone you are thankful for. You may wish to close your eyes. Sit in silence for a brief moment and allow yourself to focus on that which you are thankful for.

Gratitude is a warm feeling of thankfulness towards the world, or towards specific individuals. The person who feels gratitude is thankful for what they have, and does not constantly seek more. (This is something people sometimes struggle with in our culture.) Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.

Here are additional ways to exercise gratitude:

  1. Each day, think of 3 things you are grateful for.

  2. Start a gratitude journal or a gratitude jar. (In my home, we call this the "Positivity Jar.") Write down positive experiences each day in the journal or on a small piece of paper and put that in the jar. At the end of a period of time (week, month or year), go back and review the events, people or things you are grateful for. This is also a very nice family exercise. Take turns reading and reflecting on the grateful moments to each other.

  3. Practice gratitude rituals. Some people say grace before a meal. Others might simply pause for a moment and reflect on the positive events or shared experiences during the day. Or, offer some kind of "thanks" before going to sleep at night.

Interestingly enough, a daily gratitude practice has been shown to significantly increase one's happiness and physical health. It may even help improve sleep, boosts immunity and decrease the risk of disease.

Music!

Dave Matthews and Grover Sing about Feelings

Join Dave Matthews and Grover on Sesame Street sing about finding the words for our feelings! Turn on closed captioning to read along. This will most certainly bring a smile to your face. Enjoy!

Book Club

The Breaking News by Sarah Lynn Reul This was a big week for news and it would not be surprising if little ears and eyes caught glimpse of some scary words or images. If you are comfortable with this story, it provides a lovely way for children to seek and find comfort during scary times.

In Social Group this fall, we have talked about following rules; listening and ways to label emotions (e.g., with colors or describing words). As we work our way toward problem solving, we will continue to work on learning how to identify feelings in ourselves and others. This story goes a bit deeper into these skill sets by identifying how feelings can make our bodies and brains feel, the non-verbal ways people express emotions and strategies and steps they can take to feel better. All About Feelings by Felicity Brooks and Frankie Allen

This week, we have continued practicing saying "I Messages" after reading excerpts in the above story. We practice using this script, "I feel...when...because...I want..." When we use "I Messages", it gives others an opportunity to work with us on the problem by acknowledging the feelings of others and thinking through what happened as well as apologize when mistakes have occurred. Then, together, people can come up with ways to improve the situation for everyone.

50 Coping Tools for Kids - Poster Here is a printable poster with 50 strategies a child can use to help cope with strong emotions.

Recreational SEL

Adam Parker, Home School Psychologist - I Messages leads us in how to let others know how we are feeling. This is the first step in being able to start the problem solving process.

Do Masks Really Stop the Coronavirus? Why do we have to wear masks? Do they really help keep people safe? Watch Mystery Science and find out! (What does this have to do with Social Emotional Learning? Wearing a mask can help protect you and others from germs. And, that shows "Respect for Others and Respect for Ourselves" two key aspects to the Naquag LOOP Pledge!)

January Emotions Bundle Here's a fun way to journal feelings from cutting out pictures of feelings to writing in a log. This offers a fun way to practice using the feeling words and squeeze in a little writing composition skill building!