Returning to the classroom after this extended period at home will be a challenge for many students. My goal is to begin each day with time to ease into learning through the opportunity to socialize and self-reflect. Each morning, students will have 10-15 minutes to engage with a small group (2-3 students) in an activity of their choosing from these carefully curated materials (ex: building with blocks, playing a math game, or working on a puzzle). Following their play, students will have 5-10 minutes to write in their self-reflection journal answering the prompt: "What did you learn about yourself this morning?"
Students will begin to notice patterns of their own behavior and be given opportunities to develop their own strategies for positively engaging with others both in and beyond the classroom. This early morning play, will be a small piece of the social-emotional focus we'll take in 5th grade. In addition to the morning reflection, students will participate in team building exercises, growth mindset activities, guided meditations, and ongoing focus on reading for empathy. The larger goal is to support their mental, physical, and social-emotional development and prepare these young students for the challenges they will face as middle schoolers in a proactive approach.
About my class
Returning to the classroom after this extended period at home will be a challenge for many students. My goal is to begin each day with time to ease into learning through the opportunity to socialize and self-reflect. Each morning, students will have 10-15 minutes to engage with a small group (2-3 students) in an activity of their choosing from these carefully curated materials (ex: building with blocks, playing a math game, or working on a puzzle). Following their play, students will have 5-10 minutes to write in their self-reflection journal answering the prompt: "What did you learn about yourself this morning?"
Students will begin to notice patterns of their own behavior and be given opportunities to develop their own strategies for positively engaging with others both in and beyond the classroom. This early morning play, will be a small piece of the social-emotional focus we'll take in 5th grade. In addition to the morning reflection, students will participate in team building exercises, growth mindset activities, guided meditations, and ongoing focus on reading for empathy. The larger goal is to support their mental, physical, and social-emotional development and prepare these young students for the challenges they will face as middle schoolers in a proactive approach.