Recent classroom counseling lessons have focused on strategies and tools that students can use for self-regulation when they are struggling with strong feelings. Students in second, third and fourth grade created classroom inventories of breathing techniques and other practices they can use to get themselves “back into the Green zone.” These lists have been long! Some examples of tools the students have learned and were able to identify include: balloon or belly breathing; washing machine; slow counting; taking a “brain vacation”; rainbow breath; square/box breathing; bumble bee breath; crazy eight breathing; drawing or coloring; reading; taking a walk; stretching; listening to music; exercising. Each student created a personal, individualized “tool-box” that includes at least two self-calming tools that work for them.

In the Kindergarten classes students began to explore what it means to be a “feelings detective” and reviewed how to follow directions and also the “why” of doing so (what are the reasons that it is important to follow directions?). Future lessons in all grades will focus on empathy, compassion and perspective-taking---noticing other people’s feelings and putting themselves in the other person’s shoes, so to speak.