Social Emotional Learning
5/21/2021
Suggested activities can be repeated and you can choose what to enjoy at any time during the week.
I hope you enjoy them!
Zen Den
Zen Den, What is Mindfulness and How Do You Do It? Our hostess of Zen Den, Jamie, walks us through the concept of mindfulness and explains one way to practice. Watch with your child and ask them when and how they might use mindfulness during the day?
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."
In May, our mindfulness exercise is Pig Belly Breaths or mindful breathing. Place both hands on your belly. Sit still and tall and inhale through your nose. Then exhale through your mouth. What happens to your hands as you breath in and out? See if you can let thoughts rise and fall with the breath. Repeat three times.
Intentional breathing gives us the ability to anchor the mind in the present moment and deal with life's challenges in a focus, calm, assertive way. This helps us understand that our breath can be the doorway into a more positive mindset that allows us to be fully present and accept feelings as they come and go. From Little Renegades, LLC
Book Club
What to Do When You Worry Too Much by Dawn Huebner, Ph.D. is a favorite interactive workbook to help students understand their worries and strategies to help overcome them. There are several chapters and we will be doing some of the worksheets during Social Group in most of our classes. I recommend watching one or two chapters at a time to get the most out of this title.
In When My Worries Get Too Big by Brenda Smith Myles, Ph.D. we will start to talk more about what we can do when we have bigger feelings and or problems. It is OK to have big feelings. And, it is OK to experience big feelings when we have small problems. At the same time, young children are still learning how to figure out the expected reaction to problems based on the size of the problem even if the problem comes with big feelings. There is a scale at the end of the book that provides a way to talk about the big feelings. In addition, the author shares some useful and easy worksheets and strategies to help navigate big feelings as well.
The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright Our Kindergarten students have heard this story in Social Group. The main character, Kevin, is a koala who clings to the tree and does not like change! Read on and find out what happens!
A Froggy Fable, by John Lechner is a favorite story about a character who does not like change, until....read on and find out how he learns! (Feel free to dialog with your child about ALL of the changes they handled this past year and changes that they can look forward to...even if a little nervous!)
Min Jee’s Lunch | A Read-aloud Video for Young Learners In our first grade groups, we have been discussing what it means to be an "includer." And, what does it mean to be kind. Next week, we will talk about what to do when someone is unkind. Here is a story about the importance of friends helping one another when someone says something or does something that is unkind or hurtful. This is also a story about cultural differences and the importance of respecting others.
Recreational SEL
Nature Weaving and the No Rules Garden from the Chaos and the Clutter offer fun and less structured ways for your child to enjoy the outdoors. (...not limited to children! ;-)
Do People Really Use Robots? Mystery Science does it again! Here is a very interesting episode about why we have robots, what most look like and how people use them.
Here are a set of cute affirmation posters for coloring. These are common phrases or comments used for "self-talk" another way to encourage one's self as kids navigate rough patches. Enjoy!
Parent's Corner
Here are some quick to read guides that offer a little bit of insight into your child's up and coming transition. Just food for thought!
Parent's Guide to Kindergarten
Parent's Guide to Second Grade
Teaching Children Problem Solving Skills, Socially Skilled Kids Here is an easy to read and quick article on some simple strategies to help your child learn problem solving skills.
Mindfulness Activities for Children and Teens from Make Social Emotional Learning Stick is a great poster and easy reference of simple and fun ways to incorporate mindfulness into family life.