In December and January, our 4th grade guidance lessons focused on the importance of mindfulness, self- control, and expressing our emotions.

Mindfulness is taking notice of how your body feels and what you see, smell and taste. Maybe you even feel emotions in your body, perhaps through a tightness somewhere, or a good sensation. Mindfulness is noticing what your mind is doing.

Mindfulness Activities: 
https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/5-fun-mindfulness-activities-children-breathing-exercises

Parent Resources for Self-Control:
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/self-control.html
 

In December and January, our 5th and 6th grade guidance lessons included reputation, conflict resolution, peer pressure, and growth mindset. Additionally, our 6th and 7th graders began the HEPP program! The HEPP program is an 8-10 week program that incorporates evidence-based health lessons and activities that include a variety of topics prevelant to this age group. HEPP includes Social and Emotional Learning, Peer Pressure, Vaping/Alcohol and other topics that promote and encourage positive choices and healthy behaviors.

What is vaping?

• E-cigarettes are electronic devices that heat a liquid and produce an aerosol, or mix of small particles in the air.
• E-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes. Most have a battery, a heating element, and a place to hold a liquid.
• Some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items. Larger devices such as tank systems, or “mods,” do not look like other tobacco products.
• E-cigarettes are known by many different names. They are sometimes called “e-cigs,” “e-hookahs,” “mods,” “vape pens,” “vapes,” “tank systems,” and “electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).”
• Using an e-cigarette is sometimes called “vaping.”

Dangers of vaping: 

• The use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults.
• Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s.¹
• E-cigarettes can contain other harmful substances besides nicotine.
• Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.

Resources:

https://www.youthnow.me/schools/educators/

https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/e-cigarettes.html

http://www.scholastic.com/youthvapingrisks/healthrisksofcigarettes_studentarticle_A.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html

In November, our guidance lessons covered the importance of healthy friendships and relationships. 

Good friendships can be complex because they consist of many different characteristics such as :
(1) Having common interests, likes, or hobbies
(2) Feeling comfortable with sharing personal thoughts, feelings, or stories
(3) Understanding each other
(4) Conflict resolution
Ex: Being able to solve arguments and problems without hurting the relationship
(5) Being affectionate or caring
(6) Equality in the relationship
Ex: A shared friendship where all members are treated the same; everyone is treated fairly
(7) Being loyal and trustworthy
 Ex: Keeping your word in the relationship; actually doing what you say you will  Ex: Keeping secrets in the relationship




October is Anti-Bullying Prevention Month

What is Bullying? Bullying is aggressive behavior that is intentional and that involves an imbalance of power or strength. Typically, it is repeated over time. A child who is being bullied has a hard time defending him or herself. Bullying can take many forms, such as hitting or punching (physical bullying); teasing or name calling (verbal bullying); intimidation using gestures or social exclusion (nonverbal bullying or emotional bullying); and sending insulting messages by e-mail (cyberbullying).

Extra resources/videos on bullying:

https://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources/film-kits/bullied-a-student-a-school-and-a-case-that-made-history

https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/fall-2013/there-are-no-bullies

https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/8b2f9e45-dccb-475e-8b3c-845c96f25d21/bad-behavior-online-bullying-trolling-free-speech/

We must be the change we wish to see

There are many ways in which people can cope with their feelings. These coping strategies can be customized to meet the individual's interests or hobbies. Sometimes people turn to comic relief to help calm feelings of nervousness or anxiety. Interviews conducted with professionals at the University of Illinois School of Social Work, LSU Health Sciences Center, and the National Institute of Mental Health were used to create a zine comic strip. This comic strip intends to use humor to educate students about the symptoms, risks, and safety precautions of the coronavirus. The comic strip has been uploaded to the Guidance Corner. The following link is a tutorial video of how to print out the PDF version in order to turn it into a zine comic: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixqr9e3wCxI

These past few months have been very stressful. We have experienced many new things that we have not had to deal with in the past. These new things can lead to us feeling overwhelmed and worried. A great way to "turn off" these emotions is by releasing them through art. Adult coloring pages have become very popular recently, due to their intricate designs and repetitive patterns. I have seen these coloring books sold in stores such as Barnes and Noble, Target, Dollar Tree, and even HomeGoods! Coloring allows these negative feelings to flow through our bodies, down our arm, and out through the tip of the colored pencil, crayon, or marker that we are using. By applying heavy pressure to our artwork, we can release feelings like anger and frustration. I have included two digital adult coloring books that can be printed out and used to help manage all of the negative feelings that we are experiencing during this time. "

Click here for the Mindfulness Coloring Book

Click here for Mndfulness Coloring Pages