Hello there Line Creek Families,
Students learned a lot of information during our Emotion Management Unit. Kindergarten, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 5th grade will continue to learn more ways to manage their emotions in January.
In 3rd grade, we used Character Strong's program to guide our Emotion Management Unit. To learn more about this program, please visit, Character Strong's website.
Topics we focused on:
- Calm down steps
- Gratitude (3rd grade)
- How their brains and bodies react when they have strong emotions
- Calming strategies (coping/relaxation skills)
I'm here to help you and your student(s) every step of the way. Do not hesitate to reach out if needed.
With gratitude,
~Mrs. Collins
 |  |  |
KindergartenWe focused on:
| 1st & 2nd, 4th & 5th gradeStudents learned three steps for calming down:
| 3rd GradeSharing how we feel with others is a way to advocate for ourselves. 3rd grade students will practice sharing their emotions and expressing what they need. Students will use the Emotion Elements to name their emotions and I-Statements to communicate when faced with a challenging situation.
Emotion Elements
I feel ____ when _____ and I would like ______. |
Kindergarten
We focused on:
- Naming our feelings by finishing the sentence, "I feel____."
- We feel feelings in our bodies: students learned that when we pay attention to our body, it can give them a clue of what they are feeling.
- Taking belly breaths (click on photo to hear instructions on belly breathing).
- Talking to a grown up when a strong feeling is experienced.
1st & 2nd, 4th & 5th grade
Students learned three steps for calming down:
- "Stop"-use your signal: A word students can say to themselves to signal their brains to not react and to pay attention to clues in their body.
- Name your feeling: Labeling feelings can allow students to manage their feelings. I like to say, "name it, to tame it." It empowers students to take responsibility for how they feel and become self-aware. It gives them words to say to prevent them from saying something they will regret later.
- Calm down: strategies to help students regulate their emotions and prevent them from flipping their lid.
3rd Grade
Sharing how we feel with others is a way to advocate for ourselves. 3rd grade students will practice sharing their emotions and expressing what they need. Students will use the Emotion Elements to name their emotions and I-Statements to communicate when faced with a challenging situation.
Emotion Elements
- Wind represents feeling words like inspired, anxious, playful, and nervous.
- Water represents feeling words like concerned, thoughtful, tired, and bored.
- Fire represents feeling words like annoyed, overwhelmed, excited, and scared.
- Earth represents feeling words like motivated, focused, confident, and proud.
I-Statement Structure:
I feel ____ when _____ and I would like ______.
Brain Hand Model
We discussed the thinking or “upstairs” (pre-frontal cortex) and the feelings or “down stairs” (amygdala) part of our brain. When emotions are regulated, our upstairs brain is in control. However, there are times when people perceive a situation to be overwhelming, or too much to handle and that is when their lids are flipped and emotions take control.
Flipped lids prevent students from thinking logically. Students may respond in the following ways once their lid is flipped: fight (throw objects, kicking, hitting, etc.); flight (run away or attempt to escape the situation); and freeze (shut down, does not respond, disconnected). To keep from flipping our lids, it is important to listen to our bodies, know our triggers, and implement a calming strategy when we notice we are experiencing a strong emotion. Here is a video that explains what happens in our brain when our lid is flipped, Why Do We Lose Control of Our Emotions?
Home Learning
When your child(ren) are experiencing big feelings, ask them how their body feels.
- Attempt to connect how their body feels with a feeling. Example: You said your tummy feels tight, your heart is beating fast, and your palms are sweaty. You maybe feeling nervous.
- Once you ask them how their body feels, model with them how they can name that feeling by using the sentence, "I feel______." Ex: "I feel nervous."
- Now that you have supported your child with naming their feeling, it will be important to choose a calming strategy with them. There are many different calming strategies you can engage in: belly breaths, coloring, counting, physical activity, fidgets (pop its, thera-putty, etc.).
Many of the activity sheets we completed in counselor, you can find in your student's AVID binders. This will be a great resource to review with your child and begin to use these strategies at home. Skills and concepts are retained best when regularly practiced, reinforced, and are talked about.
The Next Counselor Lesson Topic
Kindergarten-2nd Grade Lesson Dates:
- January 9-13
- January 23-27
- February 6-10
3rd-5th Grade Lesson Dates:
- January 16-20
- January 30-February 3
- February 13-17
Small Group & Individual Counseling
Small group and Individual counseling are available for students to support their social emotional skill growth, and/or academics.
School counseling is not intended to take the place of therapy, or outside counseling. It is short term, 4-8 weeks, and uses a solution-focused strategy.
Individual and small group counseling are led by Mrs. Maloney (School Social Worker), Synergy Resiliency Specialist (Ms. Lindsey Geller), or me (Mrs. Collins, School Counselor).
Also, if a student, needs to check in with me to discuss a problem or feeling they are experiencing, I am available for that as well. Students can request to see me by asking their teacher or emailing me. Please remind your student that if what they want to speak to me about is an emergency and/or someone is in danger, to tell an adult immediately.
Parent Support
As you continue to reinforce and discuss counselor lessons with your child(ren) at home, consider the following resources.
Learning and Engagement:
December is a month that means Christmas to many of us. However, not everyone celebrates Christmas. Check out We Are Teachers for their Favorite Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Christmas books for kids. Along with the titles they include great descriptions so you can choose the books that would be the best fit for your family!
Social Emotional Learning & Awareness:
- As you go through this year and your child(ren) experiences big emotions, Park Hill has created a virtual relaxation room on our website for students to access anytime.
- To learn more about creating a calming corner at home, read this article: "Setting up a Calming Corner at Home."
Asking for Help
- If you need a Safe Place, go to any QuikTrip, Police Department, or Fire Department and tell them you’re in need of a "Safe Place" and they will help. Or call 816-741-8700.
- If you are in need of other community resources or assistance, visit 211kc.org or dial 211 (United Way).
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 (24-hour access)
- CrisisTextLine.org: text 741741 (24-hour access)
- CommCare Access Crisis Intervention: 888-279-8188 (24-hour access)
Taneka Collins, School Counselor
If you have questions regarding your student, the information shared in this Counseling Connection Newsletter, or need help finding a mental health professional in the Kansas City area, please reach me at either of the contact options listed at the bottom of this page.
You are also welcome to reach our School Social Worker, Bonnie Maloney at 816-359-6744 .
We look forward to partnering with you and your student!