I teach mindfulness using the MindUp curriculum. Developed by the Goldie Hawn (yes, that Goldie Hawn!) Foundation, MindUp is evidence-based and built upon four pillars: neuroscience, mindful awareness, positive psychology and social-emotional learning. We begin by learning about the brain and its three main parts:
This year in wellness we are delving into mindfulness. Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present; aware of where we are, what we are doing and how we are feeling; and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what is going on around us. While mindfulness is something we all naturally possess, it is more readily available to us with practice. Research has proven that there are numerous benefits of regular mindfulness practices. For more on these benefits, check out: I will share more about mindfulness, including practices you can do with your child, in later blog posts.
...Snowbuster! Snowbuster was submitted by Karen Cingiser's 1st and 2nd grade class. Congratulations! The other finalists include:
Towards the beginning of the year, I like to connect with every student. This typically takes place through a "lunch bunch" group. I meet with groups of students during lunch, we chat and sometimes play a game. The sole purpose of these groups is to reconnect after the summer, or meet for the first time! I work with the classroom teachers to create these groups. Sometimes we meet during snack time, a "snack bunch" (definitely a less catchy name!).
In wellness we read Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall. In it, the young Jabari works up the courage to take a big, important leap - jumping off the diving board! He feels ready. He has finished his swim lessons and passed the swim test. But when his dad squeezes his hand, he squeezes back. Jabari Jumps is a great story about being brave, overcoming our fears and that it's okay to be scared of something new. Below is a link to a read aloud of the book and some discussion questions.
Students at Moretown Elementary School will have a chance to name one of the many snow plows that crisscross our state during the winter months. In wellness, each class will choose one name to for consideration. Then students will vote on a final name to submit to the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans). If our name is chosen, VTrans will come our school with the plow displaying the plow name and our school. Pretty cool, right?!? Can you think of a good name for a snow plow? If so, leave it in the comments. For more information, check out:
One way to help kids be more resilient, to be able to bounce back and recover from setbacks, is to ensure that they are getting plenty of sleep. The amount of sleep children need varies depending a variety of factors, including their age. The following are some guidelines:
How Much Sleep Do Children Need? (Grow by WebMD) No matter how you go about it, talking with your kids about their art is important. Building connections through art making is natural. Connecting with your kids and talking with them about their creativity is the perfect way to show you care! For strategies, including guiding questions, check out:
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Jason StevensonSchool Counselor - Avid Hiker - Reader - Lego Enthusiast Archives
January 2024
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