Social Emotional Learning

3/17/2021

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

I hope you enjoy them!

Book Club

An "Oldie but Goodie" title for the Kindergarten students! Share and Take Turns by Cherie J. Meiners, M.Ed. offers simple and easy explanation of the different ways we can share with our friends.

In first and second grades, we read "Flexible and Stuck Thinking" by Ryan Hendrix, Kari Zweber Palmer, Nancy Tarshis and Michelle Garcia Winner. This YouTube clip provides a good explanation of the concept taught in this book. Flexible Thinking Vs. Stuck Thinking Feel free to help your child make connections with the concept of identifying the "Size of the Problem" and importance of being flexible when solving problems.

Why We Lose Control of Our Emotions In this quick clip, the author explains the concept of "Flipping a Lid" and what happens in our brains when our emotions take over. Some of the second grade students have been reading from this power point . Flipping A Lid

Mindfulness

Calming Lavender Scented Bubbles, The Chaos and the Clutter Here's a recipe for bubbles with a little flair!

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."

This month, our mindfulness exercise is "Turtle Taps." Students are asked to sit tall in a chair and pretend the top of their head is a turtle shell. They are asked to tap the top of their heads lightly with their fingers and then think about how it feels. This helps us focus on the sensation. One can also tap their forehead lightly which, for some, can be calming.

Recreational SEL

Mystery Science! Can People Walk on Walls? How do animals walk on walls? Can people do that too? Find out how and why!

St. Patrick's Day Clear Slime! The Chaos and the Clutter If you like slime, here's an easy recipe with holiday glitter! (Adjust according to the holiday your family celebrates!)

Music!

My Wallaby Won't Use His Words! Here's a catchy song to help your child learn how to use strategies to calm one's brain so the words will come out!

Parent's Corner

Ross Greene Walking Tour - When teaching or parenting, sometimes our strategies to help children don't work as well as we think they ought to. Ross Greene, author of the The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children, offers a walking tour of his theory on how to adjust our approach to children who get stuck and lack in problem solving skills. Share what you learn with me? (I'm learning too!)

10 Simple Everyday Ways to Improve a Child's Behavior and Mood An easy to incorporate list of strategies and activities that may help parent's at home! We've all had those moments...I hope this helps! (And, provides fuel for FUN!)