March 30, 2015

Slice of Life Challenge 19 | calming tools



Together with M, we made a little ring of calming tools. She made the illustrations.


In our class, we talk about glitches, bummers and disasters with how to handle different kinds of problems. Language I picked up from chartchums a couple years ago.


This is a breathing figure 8 tool from "Zones of Regulation". She often makes the 8 on the hand of our wonderful EA, Lori.


M loves to watch the smiling faces float around inside.


She has a black sketch book that I purchased from Dollarama. It's another place to express herself through drawing. We draw a lot in our classroom, but M loves to draw all the time. It's terrific!


M is a joy to have in my classroom! She is so precious.

As I share the calming tools she uses, I am reminded of how helpful they are for all of us.

It's a reminder to take a little time to do something that calms our hearts.


https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2015/03/27/sol15-day27/


23 comments:

  1. LOVE this!!!!!! Thank you for sharing. Looks like Calming Tools is on our agenda today.

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    1. Mary, I'm glad you found it helpful!
      Have a wonderful day!

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  2. Something tangible to remind oneself is so important to some. What a great idea!

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  3. This is brilliant! I will be pinning this on Pinterest so I can come back to it again. (And I may make a modified one of these for my daughter for when she gets frustrated -- using mostly picture clues since she's four.) Really smart work!

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    1. Thank you, Stacey! Earlier in the year I saw wonderful ring ideas in different places (probably Pinterest), and it got me wondering how I could personalize one for my student by having her make it with us and using tools that were working for her. It has been very helpful!

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  4. I love this, too - definitely passing along this wonderful idea.

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  5. These are great tools. Both my sons have had something like this to "solve problems," independently. Fantastic ideas!!

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  6. This is such a testimony to the kind of teacher you are. You obviously respect and love your students, evidenced by giving the tools in order to make them successful. Wonderful!

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    1. Oh Holly, thank you for your encouraging words!

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  7. Love this. I will be sharing this with a the helper of a little girl in one of the classes where I work.

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  8. Tangible tools for calming. Making the learning visible. Easy to pick up and delve into at the appropriate time. This is a learning resource that is easily accessed and instantly supports those for whom calming is necessary. I feel calmer just thinking about all this.

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    1. Alan, thank you for this wonderful comment.

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  9. Wow - this is awesome! The strategies you use with your students and the positive outlook you hold for them too! Thanks for sharing these great ideas and her adorable drawings!

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    1. Thanks so much, Michelle!
      I wish I could show you her sketches when she writes!

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  10. Helping students learn these skills will become one of the best tools you can provide. Your students are very lucky that you help develop life skills even though they aren't on a Pearson test. Clearly you see the test of life as most important and I love that!! Going to make these for a few teachers at my school.. I love yours!

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  11. Loralee,
    What a wonderful post! Helping students to develop agency and solve their own problems isn't always easy for us. It's hard to resist telling kids what they should do and how they should be. This is such a powerful example of helping students know they can own their decisions. Love. Love. Love.

    Cathy

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    1. Thank you, Cathy. Your words are always so encouraging!
      I sure miss my little M this summer! Wish I had her again in the fall!

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  12. I need to remember this! I have a little fellow who has been a challenge since November. I'm to the point of waving the white flag. He's so hard. I love that figure 8!

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