Lately with LiiNK
What is Happening on Your Child's LiiNK Campus?
We are Thrilled to Announce the Newest Playmates of the EMS ISD LiiNK Program!
LiiNK Project Research
Although data analysis is still ongoing, preliminary results show LiiNK students are happier and more physically active than non-LiiNK students.
If your student is happier as a result of his/her involvement in LiiNK, and you have a story to share, please contact us.
Positive Action in the Classroom
Kindergarten
Pix-It and Nix-It traveled to Getting Along with Others Island where they learned about respect, empathy, friendliness, kindness, cooperation and positiveness. The forest animals headed to the same island too. Cindy Squirrel and Abbott Rabbit were scared of Jareef Giraffe when they saw him, because they had never seen a giraffe before.
Pix-It and Nix-It helped Cindy and Abbott to understand that it is important to get to know someone, give them a chance and see good in them instead of simply deciding not to like someone because he or she looks different or is new. Teachers and students used the magic mirror to see the good in each other. Students took turns sharing good traits that they recognized in their peers.
After becoming friends with Jareef, Cindy and Abbot wanted the other forest animals to meet their new jungle friends. At first both groups of animals used negative actions and some said ugly things to one another. They thought they would rather make friends with animals resembling themselves. A few took a chance, said hello, and smiled. In turn, the other animals smiled too. They all learned that smiling is understood in every language. The animals turned their differences into something positive and became friends.
Kindergarten students also learned about Helen Keller and the great challenges she faced. Although she had good reason to feel discouraged or be negative, she maintained a positive attitude and accomplished great things. Students were encouraged to follow Helen Keller's example when facing challenges.
First Grade
Maurice the Mouse and his cousin Marrott helped students to understand that they can be good friends and get along with others if they treat others the way they want to be treated. Maurice and Marrott were stuck in the negative TAF (thoughts, actions, and feelings circle) because they didn't want to take responsibility or be at fault, and spent their time arguing and blaming each other. Students helped Maurice and Marrott get out of the negative TAF, by teaching the mice to think positive thoughts and choose positive actions towards others.
Polly the Parrot taught students to see the good in others by introducing them to the spy glass. Students used the spy glass to recognize good things about their peers and share what they saw to the class.
Students practiced empathy by determining how others would feel in various scenarios. They discussed showing compassion by being aware of other's misfortunes and trying to help them. Students role played different scenarios where they modeled emotions that matched, while their partners worked on recognizing the emotions being displayed.
Students became Secret Agents of Positive Actions. Each student was assigned a secret pal, and they were challenged to do as many positive actions for friendships as they could for that person. At the day's end, students got to guess who their secret pal was and share all of the positive actions that their pal did for them. The classes then discussed how completing positive actions made them feel good about themselves.
New sandbox fun
Using finger puppets to practice showing appreciation
Friendship
Second Grade
Students were introduced to the eight positive actions for getting along with others.
- showing love and caring
- thinking about how others feel
- being fair
- being friendly
- being kind
- being courteous and patient
- cooperating
- using a positive sense of humor
To reinforce the positive actions for getting along with others, the students created a personal code of conduct. Their code was based on the Golden Rule: their ideas about how they want to be treated by others. They learned that everyone wants to be treated in the same ways through: kindness, fairness, honesty, respect, courtesy, patience, love, and cooperation.
Students determined rules for each behavior; the rules were positive actions they could do to help them follow the code of conduct.
Students were introduced to the magnifying glass and shown how it was used to see things more closely. Students used the magnifying glass to help them see something that they may have overlooked. They learned that everyone has good things about them, but often, we don't see those good things because we aren't looking for them. The students used the magnifying glass to see positive things about each student.
Second graders learned about the Fruit of the Friendship Tree.
- Grapes-No grape is by itself, they are grouped closely like our friends and classmates. They learned to treat others kindly in order to have friends.
- Orange-When you see the good in others, tell them what you see.
- Apple-Do nice things for others. Students learned that it is the thought that counts, not the gift...it means someone is thinking about you!
- Peach-Say nice things to others. Letting others know we see the good in them will help them feel good and you too. When you say nice things, you show respect.
- Pear-Think how others feel.
- Banana-SMILE! We like it when others smile at us, so we should remember to greet everyone we meet with a positive smile.
- Plum-Show appreciation and say thank you.
- Strawberry-Say nice things about others behind their backs.
- Lemon-Have a sense of humor. If you take everything too seriously, only see the negative, and let little things bother you, you will feel bad about yourself.
Positive Action's Real World Application
One first grade student came to school and proudly announced that he had done a positive action for a neighbor. He told his teacher he was outside with his mom and saw his neighbor working on something. He asked his neighbor if he could help him. It was clear that this student felt better about himself through using positive actions.
Positive Action is changing the way our students interact with their peers, families and neighbors!
LiiNK Teachers at Play
The LiiNK Parent Challenge
According the Centers for Disease Control, "Prolonged sitting is the # 1 contributor to chronic diseases, with negative effects beginning after just one hour of sedentary behavior; just one hour of sitting is as unhealthy as smoking two cigarettes."
Parents need LiiNK breaks too!
Rhea, D. (2016). TCU LiiNK Project: Training Day 1 [Power Point slides].
EMS ISD LiiNK Contact Information
Email: cwilliams-martin@ems-isd.net
Website: http://www.emsisd.com/Page/35085
Location: 1200 Old Decatur Rd, Saginaw, TX 76179, United States
Phone: (817) 232-0880 6655
Facebook: facebook.com/emsisdliink/
Twitter: @EMSISDLiiNK