Lately with LiiNK
What is Happening at your Child's LiiNK Campus?
Welcome to the Monthly LiiNK Family Newsletter!
We are excited to welcome you and your children to LiiNK! The LiiNK Project was founded by Dr. Debbie Rhea of Texas Christian University. "The goal of LiiNK is to improve non-cognitive factors in children through the combination of increased unstructured, outdoor recess and character education training" (TCU, 2017).
The 2017-2018 school year marks the third year that EMS ISD schools have participated in LiiNK. Each year a school is in the program, it adds the next grade level of students participating. In 2015, kindergarten and first grade students at Eagle Mountain Elementary were selected to be a part of the LiiNK Research Project; 2nd grade was added in 2016; 3rd grade will be starting LiiNK this Fall. In 2016, kindergarten and first graders at Elkins, High Country, and Saginaw started the project, and will be adding 2nd grade this year. We are also beyond thrilled to welcome kindergarten and first grade students from Bryson, Greenfield, and Remington Point, who will be starting LiiNK this Fall!
LiiNK Information Video
The LiiNK Family
LiiNK Leadership Team
The LiiNK leadership team consists of the TCU-Liink research team and the EMS-ISD LiiNK specialist.
*not featured: Dave Farbo (TCU-Research Associate ), Kim Jones (Lead Trainer/Observer)
"Positive Action is a systematic educational program that promotes an intrinsic interest in learning and encourages cooperation among students. It works by teaching and reinforcing the intuitive philosophy that you feel good about yourself when you do positive actions. The effects of the program range from increased academic achievement to dramatic reductions in problem behaviors" (Positive Action).
LiiNK students enjoy five-15 minute Positive Action Lessons each week. Below you will discover the learning targets and vocabulary to be used during the first month of class. As the school-home connection is a valuable tool for reinforcing positive actions, we encourage families to talk about Positive Action at home.
Unit One Main Idea and Learning Targets
- Positive and negative actions
- Relationship between positive actions and self-concept
- How others impact our self-concept
- How our actions, thoughts, and feelings affect our self-concept
- Introduce the thoughts, actions, feelings circle as the basis of a good self-concept
- Happiness and wellness is a result of a good self-concept
Thought-Action-Feeling Circle
Kindergarten Lessons
One such animal, Abbott Rabbit, liked to play instead of work. He learns that helping others (doing positive actions) made him feel good about himself. Students will learn things they can do to improve their self-confidence.
The jungle animals will teach students how friends and family can help develop students' self-concepts. The animals also teach students that their words also affect how others feel about themselves. Barney Bear teaches students how their thoughts can affect their moods, and how they feel.
Ask your students what Pix-It and Nix-It have been up to each week or what the animals have learned...They will be excited to share what they have learned during Positive Action.
Week 1) Positive Action: To do or cause good things to happen
Week 2) Self-Concept: How you think and feel about yourself
Week 3) Valuable: Precious or great worth
Week 4) Happiness and Success: To feel good about who you are, what you are doing, and how you treat others
Week 5) Unique: To be one of a kind
First Grade Lessons
Students also learn through the experiences of fictional children how their thought, actions, and feelings impact their happiness. Students learn that they can do positive actions to improve the way they feel about themselves. They learn that they get to choose which thoughts they act on. Students discover that their words and actions can improve how others feel as well. They learn to flip their negative thoughts into positive ones to improve how they feel and behave.
Ask your children what Marrott has learned each week, and they will begin to share what they have learned as well!
Second Grade Lessons
Students are introduced to the concept of self-control, and how using self-control contributes to having a good self-concept. They learn the difference between a can do and can't do attitude. Students are introduced to the Thoughts-Actions-Feelings Circle. Students learn that negative feelings make it harder to think positive thought, which makes it hard to do positive actions.
Third Grade Lessons
How many evenings can your family spend a little unstructured time outdoors. We would love to hear about what your family does and how you feel afterwards. Please send us your pictures and stories to the contact email address below.
EMS ISD LiiNK Contact Information
Email: cwilliams-martin@ems-isd.net
Website: http://www.emsisd.com/Page/35085
Location: 1200 Old Decatur Road, Saginaw, TX, United States
Phone: (817) 232-0880
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emsisdliink
Twitter: @EMSISDLiiNK