SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING NEWS
SEL-SERVICE LEARNING-CULTURE & CLIMATE (CYCLE III)
OUR MISSION AND VISION
Our mission is to advance educational equity and excellence through the implementation of social and emotional learning by: EMPOWERING all learners through the development of social and emotional skills, FOSTERING environments of equity and inclusion, and CULTIVATING collaborative partnerships for the holistic development and well-being of our stakeholders.
We envision that all Garland ISD students and adults will co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities with the social and emotional skills needed to become responsible decision makers and productive contributors of the 21st century global society.
Through social emotional learning, GISD schools nurture safe, supportive and equitable learning spaces where adults feel confident, empowered and responsible for helping students develop into productive and successful citizens who thrive in college, career, and life. We also support and encourage families to join us in learning ways they can support their children to help develop well-rounded individuals.
Goal Setting for Students is Easier than you Think
Educators and parents regularly think about goal setting for students. From improving behavior and social skills, meeting academic standards-- to being kind and accountable for their choices, there’s always something for students to strive toward. Have you tapped into the power of setting goals with students, though? Research spanning decades shows that setting students goals improves both motivation and achievement. Goal setting encourages a growth mindset and development of skills students need to be prepared for their future educational choices. As we are approaching testing season remember it is important for students to feel a sense of accomplishment and success. By supporting and encouraging students to create goals it empowers students to set and achieve bigger goals in the future.
Sending Love and Light,
GISD Guidance and Counseling Department
Effectiveness of a Calm Down Corner
Creating calm down corners help children manage their emotions through self-regulation, These are effect in classrooms or at home. .Student's emotions can be a rollercoaster and this creates stress which manifests in the form of impulsive outbursts, anger, meltdowns, crying, yelling, arguing, or other types of emotional release. Kids must learn to recognize and regulate their own emotions. The video below shows how an effective calm down set up and how it helps students deal with emotions and manage stress.
Surviving Standardized Testing Season by. Wendy Taylor (Learning Essentials)
For parents
- This is a stressful time for families. Parents can help ease the test anxiety by telling their children that, like any assessment, these tests are simply one measure of proficiency. They are not indicative of a person’s overall intelligence or ability; the score should not define children’s perception of themselves.
- Plan some after-school activities that allow children to expel any pent up energy. Since testing schedules can mean long, stagnant periods of sitting and focusing on a screen, parents will want to consider outdoor activities that allow kids to socialize, stretch their legs, get some fresh air, and utilize creativity. This could mean visiting an obstacle course or trampoline park, decorating the driveway with sidewalk chalk, setting up scavenger hunt, or taking the dog for a walk around the neighborhood.
- Help prepare children to be in tip-top test-taking shape by setting them up for success at home. This means encouraging a regular bedtime, planning to eat a healthy breakfast to stave off hunger pangs, and suggesting comfortable layered clothing in case the classroom temperature fluctuates.
- Ask the school about accommodations that will or will not be provided, as well as any other concerns:
- Will children with IEPs and 504 plans be provided with their usual testing accommodations?
- Will classes be testing by homeroom, English class, or math class, etc.?
- What will the whole school schedule look like?
- Will classes continue with instruction as usual?
- Will students still see all of their classes/teachers?
- Should students expect to have homework or other assignments during the testing week?
- Are students permitted to bring water bottles, snacks, or have bathroom breaks as needed?
- Is there an option to opt out of the assessment? If so, how does one formally request that a child opt out and what will he/she be doing during testing?
Does your child experience "Test Anxiety"?
What are the signs and symptoms? While anxiety is physiological, it can also have cognitive, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. Physical symptoms include sweating, heart racing, fainting, etc. Other symptoms include depression, negative self-talk, anger, distress, and more. What can I do to help? Fortunately, there are ways we can help our children to overcome test anxiety and manage stress! Some ways to help include exercising, drawing, and practicing breathing and mindfulness activities. It is also important to validate your children’s feelings when you hear them express worry or self-doubt. Use statements like “It sounds like you are feeling a lot of pressure.” Or “It is understandable for you to be feeling anxious.” Help your child establish relaxation strategies for the day of the tests and exams.
Here are 5 Statements you can use before an exam:
MINDFULNESS CAN BE EFFECTIVE during testing season
Test anxiety is a growing concern for students as it can negatively impact student performance. The good news is mindfulness helps calm everyone down about the process of testing. Instead of worrying about tests, being present for them enhances students’ chances for success. Asking students to take three deep breaths before a spelling quiz every week prepares them to do the same before taking tests for which the stakes are higher.
Even small, mindful actions will help students. Students can put their hands on their bellies and observe their bellies getting bigger when breathing in and getting smaller when breathing out. Or they might notice the shoulders rising with each in breath and falling with each out breath. Tying the movement of the breath to the body can help students anchor their minds when they feel anxious. Paying attention to the breath stimulates the “rest and digest,” calming part of the autonomic nervous system and bringing the body into a state of calamity.
READING CORNER (GRADING CYCLE 4)
Various behaviors are strongly influenced by lack of social emotional skills so incorporating SEL practices into daily curriculum is necessary. Studies have proven strong SEL skills enhance children’s academic success while preventing problems such as mental health disorders and violence. Social-emotional competencies empower kids to grow self-aware and confident, to manage difficult emotions and impulses, to embody empathy which overall translates to improved behavior.
These book choices are suggested for grading cycle 4 to help students focus on "self-management and responsible decision making".
VARIOUS BOOK CHOICES (KINDER-2ND)
Books that help support self-management and responsible decision making include:
- The Bad Seed by Jory John
- I Am Enough by Grace Byers
- Deep in the Sahara by. Kelly Cunnane & Hoda Hadadi
- Lila and the Crow by. Gabrielle Gimard
- Decibella and her 6 inch Voice by. Julia Cook
- Exclaimation Mark by. Amy Rosenthal
- Mirror, Mirror by. Suzy Lee
- I Just Ate my Friend by. Heidi McKinnon
- The Invisible Boy by. Trudy Ludwig
The books help support various skills including:
- Identifying and verbalizing their emotions
- Recognizing the needs and feelings of others
- Understanding how other people see them
- Dealing with their strengths and limitations with confidence
- Using different learning styles
- Understanding how their emotions and thoughts influence their actions
- Understanding what triggers their emotions
- Recognizing the consequences of their actions
- Self-reflecting making appropriate changes
- Learning from mistakes and seek support
"MATILDA" BY. ROALD DAHL (3RD-5TH) BOOK CHOICE
"KNOW YourSELf: A JOURNAL OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING IN SELF-AWARENESS BY. EMILY CORREA (6TH-8TH) BOOK CHOICE
This journal is comprised of a collection of thought provoking quotes paired with reflective and introspective prompts intended to promote a deeper sense of Self-Awareness, an essential SEL competency. Ideally, "Know YourSELf" will be used in a group setting at the middle school level to facilitate the development of relationships, build community, and foster a sense of belonging and acceptance among group members. Each journal activity provides the opportunity for group members to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of themselves and one another.
"INSIGHT: WHY WE'RE NOT AS SELF AWARE AS WE THINK" (9TH-12TH) BOOK CHOICE
The first definitive book exploring the science of self-awareness, the meta-skill of the 21st century, Insight is a fascinating journey into everyone's favorite topic: themselves.
In the book "Insight, you'll learn:
• The 7 types of self-knowledge that self-aware people possess.• The 2 biggest invisible roadblocks to self-awareness.
• Why approaches like therapy and journaling don't always lead to true insight
• How to stop your confidence-killing habits and learn to love who you are.
• How to benefit from mindfulness without uttering a single mantra.
• Why other people don’t tell you the truth about yourself—and how to find out what they really think.
• How to deepen your insight into your passions, gifts, and the blind spots that could be holding you back.
• How to hear critical feedback without losing your mojo.
• Why the people with the most power can often be the least-self-aware, and how smart leaders avoid this trap.
GISD STRIVES TO EDUCATE THE WHOLE-CHILD
How to Make the Ultimate Calming Corner
https://hes-extraordinary.com/calm-down-corner
7 Fun Goal Setting Activities for Children
https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/5-fun-goal-setting-activities-children
The Parent Guide : To Help Anxious Children Dealing with Test Anxiety
https://anxietyfreechild.com/test-anxiety/GARLAND ISD GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING?
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https://www.garlandisd.net/content/social-and-emotional-learning
Guidance & Counseling Department Twitter: @gisdcounseling
Email: NOriji@garlandisd.net
Website: https://www.garlandisd.net/content/counseling
Location: Garland Independent School District P.O. Box 469026 Garland, TX 75046-9026
Phone: (972) 487-3195
Facebook: facebook.com/GISDSEL
Twitter: @GISDSEL