Mental Matters
March 31, 2023
What a New Year!
I don't know about you, but I'm ready to say goodbye l to this stop-and-go schedule we've been dealing with since Winter Break! Getting back into the swing of things has been quite challenging when we aren't consistently here. To add to the mix, I've been recovering from foot surgery I had over the break, and I've had to take additional days off during my recovery. Here's to hoping for more consistency as we move forward into the new year! 🤞
It Can be Fun to Fail
Failure is often seen as a negative outcome, I know this used to be my biggest fear. But not succeeding can actually be a valuable learning experience. Some reasons why failure can be a good thing are:
Learning Opportunity: Failure provides an opportunity to learn from mistakes and grow. It helps individuals understand what went wrong and how to improve in the future.
Resilience: Experiencing failure can build resilience and perseverance. It teaches individuals to bounce back from setbacks and continue striving for success.
Innovation: Failure can lead to new ideas and innovations. It encourages individuals to think creatively and find alternative solutions to problems.
Humility: Failure can foster humility and empathy. It helps individuals understand the challenges others may face and promotes a supportive environment.
Motivation: Overcoming failure can be a powerful motivator. It can drive individuals to work harder and achieve their goals with a renewed sense of determination.
Remember, it's important to create a supportive environment where failure is viewed as a stepping stone to success rather than a roadblock. That is the foundation that we are building at Mission Trail with our students. We encourage them to learn from their mistakes to make themselves stronger. See below for a wonderful resource from Big Life Journal that will help your child overcome the fear of failure.
Kindest Kansas Citian Contest
Due by Friday, February 16, 2024
The Kindest Kansas Citian Contest is a wonderful opportunity for the students of Mission Trail to participate in an initiative that celebrates and recognizes acts of kindness within our community. This contest encourages children to nominate an individual in the Kansas City area who has made a positive impact through their acts of kindness.
Your child can nominate a person in the Kansas City community who they believe has demonstrated exceptional kindness. This could be a neighbor, teacher, community leader, or anyone who has made a positive difference through their actions. The contest aims to shine a spotlight on the kind-hearted individuals in our community. It's a chance for our children to acknowledge and celebrate the everyday heroes who make Kansas City a better place through their kindness. By participating in this contest, our children have the opportunity to learn about the power of kindness and the positive impact it has on individuals and the community as a whole.
Encouraging our children to participate in the Kindest Kansas Citian Contest not only promotes a culture of kindness but also provides them with a valuable lesson in empathy, gratitude, and community involvement. It's a chance for them to honor those who make a positive difference in the lives of others.
If you want to participate, please click the link below for step by step instructions.
Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
In my latest lesson with kindergarten students, we worked on the size of problem. For this age group, I simplified this concept into two categories: "kid-sized" and "adult-sized" problems. We started by reading "Tattle Snake," where the main character learns when it's necessary to seek adult's help or how to independently solve kid-sized problems. Following our discussion of the book, we engaged in a game called "Tell or Tattle," requiring students to determine whether a situation warranted reporting to an adult. This lesson also provided the opportunity to reinforce the students' problem-solving skills when faced with kid-sized problems.
The first graders have been focusing on understanding the significance of offering meaningful apologies. To illustrate this concept, we read "I'm Sorry" by Michael Ian Black. This delightful book sparked a discussion about situations that warrant apologies and the importance of sincerity in expressing remorse.
Then the students learned a structured approach to apologizing, consisting of four steps:
"I'm sorry for ________": This step encourages students to pinpoint the specific reason for their apology.
"It was wrong because ________": Acknowledging the mistake and its impact can be challenging but crucial.
"Next time I will ________": By offering a plan, students have a guide for handling similar situations in the future.
"What can I do to make things better?": This step allows the other person to express their own need in the situation.
After learning the four-step apology, the students engaged in role-playing activities to put their new learning into practice. I have since witnessed this concept being applied to real life situations!
The second graders further explored the concept of "size of problems," building upon their previous lesson. They participated in a game called "How Big is My Problem," which presented them with various scenarios ranging from emergencies to pebble problems. Their task was to categorize each scenario and justify their placement, followed by explaining how they would respond to the given situation before moving on to the next one.
Moving forward, the students will continue to learn how to match their reactions with the size of the problem, recognizing that appropriate responses contribute to others feeling safe and comfortable. This understanding fosters stronger connections among the students.
During our recent lesson, the third-grade students were given obstacles that required persevering. We began by exploring the meaning of perseverance and discussing the various strategies we can employ when initial attempts are unsuccessful. After that, the students viewed a video featuring a llama character demonstrating perseverance in pursuit of reaching blueberries located beyond an electrical fence. This entertaining video conveyed the message of the importance of persistence in the face of initial setbacks.
Following this, the class engaged in challenges designed to cultivate perseverance. First, the students were tasked with using their non-dominant hand to toss a squishy object back and forth, aiming to achieve ten successful exchanges. Any drops meant restarting from the beginning. Another challenge involved the students standing back to back with a partner, linking arms, and navigating from point A to point B.
These activities highlighted the significance of effective communication and a growth mindset to overcome challenges. Finally, we debriefed to reflect on the difficulties encountered and how they were able to persevere through these obstacles.
The fourth graders worked on their understanding of the concept of problem sizes. We began with an overview of different categories: emergencies (representing huge issues), mountains (big problems), hills (medium-sized concerns), bumps (smaller challenges), and pebbles (glitches rather than significant problems).
During our exploration, we discussed the types of problems corresponding to each category and effective response strategies. To enhance the learning experience, we engaged in the interactive game "What's Your Problem?," which prompted students to identify and categorize issues, followed by discussions on appropriate responses.
This foundational concept will remain a focal point throughout the academic year, serving as a valuable lesson as our students progress through Mission Trail and beyond.
In fifth grade, the students explored the concept of the "circle of control." To kick off the lesson, each student was given playdoh to sculpt any shape they desired. They were then challenged to replicate the same shape using a...ROCK. This activity served as a visual representation of the distinction between things we can control and those we cannot. Then, we engaged in a discussion on identifying what is within our control and how to cope when we encounter situations beyond our control.
Following this, the students participated in the "Circle of Control" game, where they categorized situations as either within their control or under the control of others. This interactive lesson prompted the students to recognize that they only have control over themselves, and relinquishing control over other people and factors can alleviate stressors in their lives.
Mental Health Hotlines
Life can be unpredictable, mental health conditions can be too. While no one wants to think about crisis situations, they happen. Below is a list of support lines that you can add to your contact list. When you need help, please call. We all need help sometimes, and it’s okay to reach out.
In fact, it’s brave!
Neighbors Feeding Neighbors
To help alleviate food insecurity, Mission Trail Elementary has partnered with Community for Kids to provide one bag of non-perishable food items each week during the school year for participating children. Bags are typically distributed at school each Friday, except during breaks. Participation is free and optional. If you would like to participate, simply email Sara Register, MTE’s social worker, and tell her that you would like a food bag each week. No other information is needed, and you can easily stop at any time.
Tech Technique
My daughter thinks I am the "worst" because I don't allow her to have Snapchat. I'm concerned about the potential dangers of social media based on what I've seen. Despite the fact that "all" of her friends use the app, I remain firm in my decision. My number one concerns are that there are no parental controls and it shares location with others. These parameters are outside of what we deem as safe in our household. If you're in a similar situation, you're not alone.
For those with a different perspective, I'd like to encourage you to do the research, set guidelines and follow up after you educate your children. I found some valuable information I found on screensanity.org. Click the picture to the left for the parent guide related to Snapchat.
Talk is Cheap
What is your favorite thing about winter?
If you could create a new winter holiday, what would it be like?
What are some fun activities we can do together as a family during the winter?
How do you feel when it snows outside? Why?
Tell me about your favorite winter memory?
What are some ways we can help others during the winter season?
If you could build a winter wonderland, what would it look like?
Try some bonding time tonight. Use this activity to connect with your child.
Family Pictionary
- Prepare small paper slips with various simple words or phrases related to family experiences, objects, or activities. Fold the slips and place them in a hat or bowl.
- Divide the family into two teams.
- Each team takes turns choosing a slip of paper from the hat and illustrating the word or phrase without using any letters or numbers.
- The opposing team has 1-2 minutes to guess what the drawing represents.
- After the time is up, reveal the word or phrase and award points accordingly.
- Rotate turns until all the slips have been used, and tally up the points to determine the winning team.
13200 Mission Road
Leawood, KS 66209
913-239-6700