1- Life Changes: Discussed big changes that change our lives. Read We are Best Friends and talked about coping strategies for the big feelings that can come with change. Some classes had time to do some mindfulness with a guided imagery script.
2- Coping Strategies: We talked about how feelings can affect our bodies and increase our heart rate. We practiced some breathing strategies to calm ourselves including blowing bubbles!
3- No official lessons this week due to a conflict, but all three classes joined me together to do a lesson the students missed last year about coping with feelings. We talked about things that cause big, uncomfortable feelings and what happens when we keep those feelings inside instead of expressing them. Those feeling will either make us feel sick inside or come out all at once... BOOM!
4- Time Management: Talked about things we do regularly and sorted those tasks into three categories: scheduled have-tos, unscheduled have-tos, and want tos. We did an experiment to show what order we have to put things into our schedule to make sure we have time for everything we need (and want!) to do.
5- Character and Reputation: Who are we inside? What strengths do we have and what traits do we want to strengthen before Middle School? MS is an opportunity to show people who we are--what impression do we want to make and how do we do that? How do the people we surround ourselves with impact who we are an how we are seen (do they build us up or are they a bad influence)?