The C.E. Scoop
Digging deeper into social-emotional skills...
Lobna Mohsen
Grade 2
Issue #2, Quarter 2, 2016/2017
Respect & Responsibility for Environment/ Habit 1: Be Proactive
They discovered ways to take care of the Earth by making smart, responsible, respectful choices to Reuse, Reduce and Recycle. They learned about ways to do that and are encouraged to demonstrate such conscious actions.
They started a recycling project in their center with two big boxes they decorated themselves with tips of caring for the environment in which they now put their extra paper and plastics they don't need. This is taken to a recycling association to be reproduced.
We also integrated a planting activity in their field trip to apply what they learnt about its usefulness for the balance of the Earth and how it's counted among a person's good deeds.
Respect for Animals
Responsibility and Community Building: We all play a part...
Goal Setting
Self-Awareness: Brain in the Palm of Your Hand
Something has to be done then...
Students had a blast making a dough that symbolizes how soft feelings are that we need to take good care of, and use it as a stress ball to calm down to "unflip" the brain.
* Here's a useful link for more illustration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_dxnYhdyuY
Self-Management
Respectful Communication of Feelings: I-Message
Students had fun making their "i-phones" symbolizing and displaying the i-message; an effective way of respectful communication of feelings and one way of problem solving. It goes like: "I felt...... when......, and I wish ............."
Students were directed to use specific expressions of feelings rather than the general bad, sad one, and also give details about the situation that they didn't like them rather than generally saying bothered or bugged.
Also they're advised to say use the expression "when people do so and so" rather than saying the name or "you" especially when things are discussed in a meeting or in the presence of an audience, to avoid the other party getting defensive.
In the wishing part, students should try to use a positive demand rather than negating what bothered them or staying stop doing it.
So, an effective I-message should go like: "I felt hurt when you made fun of what I'm dressing, and I wish that you'd respect my choice of what I wear," rather than "I felt bad when you made fun of me, and I wish that you stop!"
Students also were instructed to listen without interruption and reply respectfully, by saying sorry, explaining what happened, promising not to do it again, asking how it can be fixed or even replying back with an I-message, too.
Problem-Solving: The Wheel of Choice
Tips
- Go Green! Use ideas from the songs:
- Separate recyclable materials from your household wastes. Give them regularly to a recycling association near you; awareness is spreading and they've now become popular. Encourage your neighbors as well!
- Be creative: Reuse old things in useful applications.
- Reduce the consumption of water, paper, electricity... as much as possible.
- Demonstrate kindness and care to animals whenever possible- help a needy or hurt animal, adopt a pet, support organizations or websites which care for endangered animals...
- Be a model of a good citizen and your child will follow you: demonstrate your best at work, follow traffic rules, don't litter...
- Self-regulation strategies need practice to be able to master the skill! Please model using them in front of your child and encourage to do the same! Never try to resolve a situation when your child's or your brain is "flipped."
- Have a safe place at home where one can calm down. You can add tools to it like pencils and paper, coloring books, stress balls, CD player, books and a counter.
- Express your feelings often and model using exact expressions and detailed situation, and what you wish to see in the future. "I feel ..... when ...., and I wish...."
- Encourage friends and siblings to resolve their everyday conflicts, use and reply to the I-messages in a positive way.
- Have regular family meetings when you can set goals together, make your own wheel of choices and make important decisions together as a family.
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