SEL Sunday Reads

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood – Fred Rogers

The famous Mr. Rogers teaches kids in a fun and engaging way to build SEL foundations. The book has 75 different songs and poems written by Fred Rogers himself! Themes such as acceptance, feelings, compassion, imagination, empathy and more are included.

The Good Egg – by Jory John and Pete Oswald

This book explores self care. The egg worries about others around him so much that he starts to feel the pressure and cracks – literally. Luckily, through mindfulness, relaxation, and self care he starts to get back to normal.

The Bad Seed – by Jory John and Pete Oswald

This book is a companion to ‘The Good Egg’ and follows an unhappy ‘bad seed” that acts out, is rude and misbehaved. But, he learns self acceptance and self love and turns it around.

After building his midden, Mr. Pack Rat goes for a walk and starts wanting everything he sees. He does this because he believes these things will make him happy, until he realizes that they don’t. 

Self Regulation Activity

Love this idea....



Source: https://www.thepathway2success.com/15-strategies-to-help-build-self-regulation-skills/

Get Outdoors: Mindfulness, eco-therapy, outdoor sensory education

Mindfulness, meditation, embracing the calm can be beneficial for mental well-being. Here are some resources I have compiled from my own exploration and that of colleagues and SEL students - that you may enjoy for your class, your family or yourself!

Mindfulness in the rain - https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/well/mind/how-to-be-mindful-walking-in-the-rain.html

EcoTherapy: https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/econature-therapy

Trudy’s Healing Stone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c06xHmZnso (2 minute video)

Something I really enjoyed when teaching summer school (where you have great weather almost every day) was going outside to read and write poetry, books, and such. The students loved being outside..... here are some cool resources....

Multi sensory reading - take reading outdoors (article):
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/take-reading-outdoors/

Natural Curiosity Manual: https://www.scribd.com/document/105985199/Natural-Curiosity-Manual

Monday Math Games: Outdoor Fun

More outdoor Math games to try

Bowl them over while learning math facts.

Math games using recycled materials are economical and good for the environment. Set up empty plastic bottles labeled one through 10, then roll the ball to see how many you can knock down. Add up the numbers of the knocked-over bottles to get your score.

Learn more: Learn with Play at Home

Compete to win at putt putt math.

Pick up a few dollar store supplies and make your own putt putt course. This can be a simple game where kids simply shoot for the highest (or lowest) number. But you can also drive up the complexity by putting equations on the cups that kids have to solve first to determine which is the best cup to aim for.

Learn more: My Catch a Star Classroom

Design an outdoor board game.

Draw a winding path and fill the spaces with math equations. Kids roll the dice and move from space to space (have them jump, skip, or twirl to mix things up). If they get the answer right, they move to the new space. If not, their turn is over. Customizable math games like this can be used at any level.

Learn more: Look! We’re Learning

Skip count along a hopscotch board.

A hopscotch board can be used for a lot of fun and active math games. Try it for skip counting: kids hop along counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, or whatever you’re currently working on. Learn more at the link below.

Learn more: Math Geek Mama

Paint and hide number rocks.

Painted rocks are always a big hit! Have your class help you make these, then hide them around the playground and send them off to find and answer equations.

Learn more: The OT Toolbox

SEL Sunday Reads: Anxiety, Worry and Stress Management in picture books

Anxiety, Worry & Stress Management in Picture Books

Picture Books are fantastic learning tools for all ages. While primary is where we see the most picture books and read alouds, there is power in using these types of books at all grade levels – yes even secondary! My middle schoolers always loved picture books and inferring and connecting through stories.

Here are a few recommendations for Social Emotional Learning Picture Books, specifically around the topic of managing stress and anxiety Some of these books were suggested to me from teachers taking an SEL education course. Enjoy

The Pigeon has to go to school – by Mo Willems

This book is about a pigeon who is about to start school and has worried himself sick with anxiety. His constant “what if?” fill his mind and the journey takes him to a place of realization. School is a safe place. The book shows how we can overthink things that don’t need to be stresses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_At9HpvVzWA

The Invisible String – by Patrice Karst

This story is about children who learn they are always connected by love, even when they are far apart. The invisible strong connects your heart to loved ones across the distance and even when apart. This is a great story for school start up with young ones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVp9ZBmPu8o

From Far Away – by Robert Munsch

Seven-year old Saoussan and her family immigrate to Canada from Lebanon because of the war and danger they are experiencing in their native land. She attends a school in Toronto and has a very difficult time adjusting because of her language barrier and her unfamiliarity with Canadian customs and people. It goes on to tell how she becomes successful and excels in reading and writing with the emotional support of her classmates.  It is a story that teaches children about diversity and empathy for others. It would be particularly relevant for classrooms that have immigrant and/or refugee children. It teaches us about diversity and perseverance.

https://robertmunsch.com/book/from-far-away

In My Heart: A book of Feelings – by Jo Witek

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIfLgHBwYx4

This picture book follow the main character through different ways her heart can feel –happy, brave, angry, calm, broken, sad, hopeful and more.

When Sophie gets Angry – really, really angry… - by Molly Bang

Youtube Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFvZOjGUTYk

This story is great for students who struggle to cope with their anger. Sophie gets very angry with her sister, snatches her toy away and it escalates from there. She finds her calm again but the story shows strategies to avoid and to calm.