Social-Emotional Learning News
News on SEL Activities, Wellness, Events, & Training #7
Week of November 15th, 2021
HEY!! Five. More. Days!!
Last week was so fun with the Veterans Day Program, early celebration of World Kindness Day, Signing Day at CHS, the Community Bonfire, the games, and our B-District win!
This week is all about Gratitude! There are some great gratitude activities and videos to share with students this Wednesday for HEY! Day as well as continuing the focus on gratitude all week long if you wish! This is also great to tie in with all the food drives and special Thanksgiving and Christmas care events that are going on in the district and the community.
Remember to wear green on Wednesdays and promote kindness, friendliness, and Gratitude! Green for Gratitude this week!
There is a special link included in the newsletter to order your green HEY! shirt to wear on Wednesdays. Not a jean approved day, but we can ask if we have good participation 😉
Find out more on the Cougar CARES Website!
Take Care and Read on!
Laura
HEY! Week Has Turned Into HEY! Day!! EVERY WEDNESDAY!!
Hey!
Keep up the positivity by having HEY! Day every Wednesday!
You all have created some amazing energy over the past few weeks! We will continue to have a District-wide focus each Wednesday with some options for your campus and classroom. Remember to WEAR GREEN on Wednesdays to promote friendliness!
WE NOW HAVE HEY! SHIRT ORDER OPEM!!
Look below for the link to order your own HEY! shirt, longsleeve, hoodie, and a mask! You order your own and they will be picked up once per week. The first order will be ready for you the 1st week of December if you order soon! Shirts may have some difference or variation in color due to availability and due to having to utilize more than one vendor to meet our requests.
ORDER YOURS TODAY!
SEE BELOW FOR ALL OF NOVEMBER'S HEY! DAYS!!
For your social media photos - tag @Crosby ISD and use the hashtags #HEY #HeyDay
Or you can also send photos over to either Ms. Richard or Mr. Birkinbine via email.
HEY!! Have an Attitude of Gratitude!
HEY! Day November 17th!
On HEY! Day, Nov. 17th, let's write a note of thanks to others today! Have your class write a note to the librarian, the custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, helpers, parents, teachers - whomever they want to to say a kind word of Thanks!
Great activities for all students on HEY! Day Day of Gratitude
Make a big poster of Gratitude and have everyone write on it to say thank you to others -
"What I'm Grateful For".
Mindfulness Thoughts or Writing Prompts - Use these to prompt your students to reflect grateful thoughts about things we don't always think about. Have them sit quietly with their thoughts, journal write, or share out loud:
Who is a person from your past who made you a better person?
What is a modern convenience that makes your life easier?
What’s a past challenge you got through that made you stronger or wiser?
Who is a person who makes you laugh?
Great activities about being Grateful - HERE
Gratitude BINGO - HERE - This is another BINGO game that can be a great motivator to get
students thinking about gratitude and demonstrating it all week! Have a competition with
your class, your campus or share with families to do over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Why being Grateful is important short video - HERE
Kid President 25 Reasons to be Grateful video - HERE
Gratitude music playlist - HERE
Thankful Tree at CMS!
HEY! Makers Thank Veterans!
Mindfulness for Educators
Check Out This Great Mindfulness App for Educators!
Shine is a positive affirming and mindfulness app that I personally subscribe to. They also have a free version of the app that is great. Here is a message from the developers about Shine:
We created Shine for all of us.
We’re on a mission to make caring for your mental and emotional health easier, more representative, and more inclusive—of all of our experiences.
We started Shine because we didn’t see ourselves—a Black woman and a half-Japanese woman—and our experiences represented in mainstream “wellness.” Our bodies, our skin color, our financial access, our past traumas—it all often felt otherized.
We met as coworkers, and the support we found in each other changed everything . We knew we had to help more people cope, process, and heal on a daily basis in a way that worked for them.
That’s what we hope Shine does for you.
We hope it’s your inclusive self-care toolkit to help you deal with the day-to-day highs and lows, and, with time, find healing that will last you a lifetime.
You got this
Check it out with me this week!
Check out the Shine website- HERE
Reduce Stress and Be More Present - That's What Mindfulness is All About!
Check out the Mindfulness strategies and practices on the Cougar CARES website.
These activities are geared to helping calm your brain and reduce stress.
These are great for your students as well!
https://sites.google.com/crosbyisd.org/cougarcaresresourcecenter/home?authuser=0
FREE SEL Conference!!
Second Annual SEL Resource Virtual Showcase
November 16
FREE REGISTRATION
Hosted by SEL4MA, this virtual conference will include interactive plenary presentations, live breakout sessions, exhibit booths, and opportunities to network and connect with hundreds of conference participants.
Discover new approaches to strengthen and enhance social and emotional learning in your community. Learn from national experts and exchange tips with other local SEL champions in this dynamic professional development event.
Topics will include:
- Intersecting SEL, social Justice, and equity for successful engagement across school communities
- Strategies for effective SEL from birth through grade 12
- Educator self-care during stressful times
- Innovative, interactive digital approaches to SEL
- Using SEL assessments to inform instructional practice and data-driven decision-making
- Funding sources to support SEL in schools and communities
Register at no charge. Join for all or part of the day. Take action now to ensure yourself a spot!
3 SEL Signature Practices - #1 Inclusive Welcome
Check out the Cougar CARES page on the 3 SEL Signature Practices and listen to a brief video on how to start using the Inclusive Welcome strategy! Website Page - HERE
Brief video on using the 3 SEL Signature Practices Playbook - HERE
3 SEL Signature Practices Inclusive Welcome Playbook - HERE
Here is the 3 SEL Signature Practices Inclusive Welcome Padlet with great ideas to use!
Please add in your own ideas and share with everyone what works for you!
Project RESTORE Trauma Informed Instruction
This "Lunch and Learn" was about the overview of the Project RESTORE training modules from TEA that help you know more about identifying and instructing students who have experienced trauma or chronic stress, which can benefit us all!
Check out the overview and the online modules at
https://www.texasprojectrestore.org/
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xKT6chuInwea2D4YoMaixriKtj7KH4DxfdtvA0J9jv4/copy#slide=id.p
Laura Ríchard
Please let me know and be sure and check the Cougar CARES website! It is updated at least weekly!
Email: lrichard@crosbyisd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/crosbyisd.org/cougarcaresresourcecenter/home
Phone: 281-328-9200
Twitter: @lrich_99