Social Worker

Announcements

• OCTOBER EVENTS

  Red Ribbon Week (October 26-October 30, 2020) “Be Happy, Be Brave, Be Drug Free”

  

  Please help your child celebrate Red Ribbon Week by participating in daily themes to promote the spirit of making choices that will lead to a healthy and happy future.

  Monday, 10/26/2020:  All students and faculty are encouraged to wear Red to start Red Ribbon Week celebration.

   

  Tuesday, 10/27/2020:  Happy, Brave and Free from Head to Toe!  Wear Crazy Hair and Silly Socks.

   

  Wednesday, 10/28/2020: Happy, brave and free! What storybook character will you be? All students and faculty are encouraged to  dress up as their favorite storybook character, or wear story book character apparel.

   

  Thursday, 10/29/2020: Wacky Tacky Thursday!  Wear your Wackiest, Tackiest Outfit.

   

  Friday, 10/30/2020: Happy, brave and free! What storybook character will you be? All students and faculty are encouraged to dress up as their favorite storybook character, or wear story book character apparel.

   

  Internet Safety presentations for Grades K-4  (October 19-October 23, 2020) 

  Privacy and Internet Safety

  STOP.THINK.CONNECT. PARENT AND EDUCATOR RESOURCES

  Cyber five internet safety

   

  

  World Mental Health Day 2020

  Internet Safety: Week of October 19, 2020 - Students will be presented with Lessons by Mrs. Carranza, School Social Worker, and Ms. Appel, Computer teacher on Internet safety throughout the week.

   

  

  Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center- What Parents Should Know About Bullying

  Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Month - Kids Against Bullying

   

   

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• September, 2020- SEL Classroom Push in's- Being Unique is Special

  Hello Everyone, 

  So here we are again! It is so exciting to be back. Last week, Ms. Kunz, School Psychologist and I went to the lunch rooms and welcomed all the students back. We talked to them about their mixed feelings regarding the return to school, and the things they were looking forward to this school year.  Everyone seemed so excited to be back. Nonetheless, there were some moments of hesitation, anxiety and nerves, as is expected. This however, did not stop students from sharing about their summer ventures. Whether it was backyard fun, camping, pool,  and beaches, most were out and about trying to have some fun in the sun. Others  reported staying mostly home, but also reported playing games with their family members. We took a moment to review  social distance rules at this time. Students were asked to expressed any feelings  regarding the rules, and they did such an awesome job sharing.  We are here to support and keep your children safe. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need assistance. 

  The week of 9/14/2020 and 9/21/2020, Ms. Kunz and I will be pushing into the classrooms to read a story and talk about what makes us unique and special. I will be showing the YouTube version of two stories (based on grade levels)  and students  will be drawing selfies demonstrating their likes, qualities,  and what  they want others to know about them. Students will have the opportunity to decorate and add descriptive words about their selfie (life). I am looking forward to being in the classrooms with students. 

  Stories by grade level: 

  Cupcake by charise Mericle Harper- Grades K-2

  Carla's Sandwich  by Debbie Herman - Grades 3-4 

   

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Monday, June 1, 2020 - Heartbeat Exercise

  The heartbeat exercise is a wonderful grounding activity because it allows you to focus on the sensations in the body. This exercise is a wonderful activity to do if you are feeling a little nervous or feel like you have a lot going on. 

  For example, if you are working on a class assignment and getting frustrated or feeling stuck, you should  STOP what you are doing and take a break. Stand up and either jump up and down or do jumping jacks for one minute. At the end of that minute,  place your  hand on you heart and pay attention to how your heartbeat and breathing feels.

  Tuning into the physical body is a wonderful way to redirect the focus. With this new burst of energy, you will feel a new motivation to complete the previous task.

   

  

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Tuesday, June 2, 2020- Going on a Safari

   

  Going on a Safari is another creative mindfulness activity that helps redirect the focus away from stress and anxiety.

  Physical activity is a wonderful way to infuse positive energy back into the body. This is a great activity to do when your child has completed their assignments for the day because it gives them a mental break from the work completed. 

  You can go outside on an exciting adventure on your next walk. As you walk put all of your senses to work by paying close attention to your environment. Notice the feel of the air on your skin, notice the sound of the ground as you walk and pay attention to all of the little movements and sensations.

  As you walk, you can also try picking up a small rock or touching a plant or flower. Notice the bugs or the birds. Take a moment to kneel down and touch the earth. Walk mindfully paying close attention to everything. Make sure you walk in silence because you want to notice all those little details.

  Walking is a wonderful stress-relieving activity because it helps clear the mind and sparks creative ideas. Try going on a safari the next time your child gets frustrated and you might be surprised at how well this works.

  

  From: Big Life Journal 

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Tuesday, May 19, 2020- Mindfulness Coloring

  This week,  we will put mindfulness into practice. I will post several activities that will aim at trying to help you relax and feel good inside. For today's activity,  you can use any coloring pages.  Choose your  own coloring page, whether it is a page with dragons, cats, or just patterns. Get some coloring materials that you like. Colored pencils, flair pens, and gel pens are some of my favorites. Try to color quietly on your own. If you  make a mistake, just breathe and move on. Mindfulness is about just letting  go without being so hard on yourself. The link below has different coloring pages. You can also print pages from the attachment. If you do not have access to a printer, you can also created your own coloring page, by drawing your own and coloring it after. 

  Free Coloring Pages 

  Just Color Kids

  • mindfulness-coloring-book-4_25-16.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Tuesday, May 26, 2020-Make a Nature Paintbrush to Create Kindness Cards

  Nature and art go perfect together. You’ll use your keen observation skills to collect natural materials outside. Next, you’ll use those items to create a Nature Paintbrush. Finally, you’ll paint beautiful Kindness Cards to send to people you love and care about. Let’s get started!

  Materials

  For the paintbrushes

  • Twigs sized for paintbrush handles
  • Found leaves, flowers, acorns, pine needles, etc.
  • Small rubber bands

  For the cards

  • Ready-made folded blank cards or blank paper to fold into a card
  • Envelopes
  • Paints (tempera, water colors, acrylics, etc.)
  • Bowl of water
  • Paper plates to use as palette

  Instructions 

   

  • Take a stroll outside to collect natural items — like fallen leaves, flowers, pine needles — you can use as the bristles of your paintbrush
  • Look for fallen twigs that will work as the handle of your paintbrush
  • To assemble the brush, choose a twig and a few of your found items
  • Put one or two small rubber bands around the twig
  • Bunch together the items, then push them through the bands on the twig
  • Dip your nature paintbrush into the paint to create beautiful abstract designs on the front of your card
  • Once the paint dries, write a message of hope and love inside the card
  • Give your card to someone you love or send it to a resident in a nursing facility to lift their spirits and bring them joy

  Send your cards to grandparents, friends and family or drop them in the neighbors’ mailboxes. You can also leave one for mail carriers, package and food delivery people or send them to hospitals to thank essential healthcare workers. 

  Please see video for reference.

  Make a Nature Paintbrush to Create Kindness Cards- Activity from Mindful littles. 

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Friday, May 22, 2020- Blindfolded Taste Test Activity

  Happy Friday Everyone! 

  To end this amazing week in a fun way, I encourage everyone in the family to engage in this wonderful and fun activity.  Use a blindfold for each child and adult and take turns experiencing food tasting. This could be a small pieces of fruit, a piece if cheese, crackers, or any other fun  food you would like to use. Experience these foods as if it was your first time eating it. Set  3 -4 dishes in front of the blindfolded person.  direct them to pick up a piece of food, pause, feel the food and describe the texture of the food.  Then direct them to  put the food in their mouth and describe the flavors as they  are eating the piece of food very slowly. Repeat the above steps for every food you you would like   them to guess and at the end have them guess the foods they  just ate, Please let them know that they are not allowed to tell you until they  have  gone through all 3 -4 taste tests.  Once they had tasted all three, have them name the food and the order that they ate them in.  Have a wonderful three day weekend. 

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Thursday, May 21, 2020- Blowing Bubbles

  Go outside and have some fun with Bubbles.  As you are blowing bubbles, take in a deep, slow breath and exhale steadily to fill the bubble. “Sometimes worry feels like little bubbles inside our mind.  We can feel worry in our tummies, in our brains, or pretty much anywhere inside our bodies.  This activity is designed to help you release worry bubbles so that you feel more calm and relaxed.”

  1.   Find a bottle of bubbles

  2.  Think about the worry that is bothering you and picture that you are blowing the worry into the bubble as you blow a bubble

  3.  Picture the worry inside the bubble.

  4.  Watch it float away and pop, carrying the worry far, far from you.

  5.  Know that the worry has popped and is outside of you now, unable to bother you any more.

  6.  Keep blowing bubbles until you feel more calm and relaxed.

  Questions:

  1. Check in with your body right now.  Does it feel more relaxed?  Does it feel less worried?
  2. Were you able to picture your worries floating away in the bubbles?

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Wednesday, May 20, 2020- Connect with Nature

  Take a ten minute walk with and adult,  while  on your walk try to take in the environment utilizing your senses. What can you see, How does it smell, what can you hear, and what can you touch.  Focusing on your environment will bring you calmness. When you get home you can draw about your walk, or write everything you experienced through your senses.  

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Monday. May 18, 2020 – “Just one Breath” Breathing Activity.

  Happy Monday!

  I would like for you to start your Monday in a positive note. Try the following exercise to help you cope with any negative emotions you may be experiencing.  Try to use this during the course of the week when you are feeling upset, bored, or like too much is going on in your life. If you can’t do it on your own try and ask an adult to help you the first couple of times, but soon you will become a pro at practicing this exercise on your own.

   

  • Find a relaxing place, sit comfortably, and set a timer for one minute.
  • Breathe deeply in and out while paying attention to any sensations you notice or sounds you hear.
  • Take another slow deep breath, imagine the air moving down into the lungs and back up.
  • Take one more deep breath and hold for a moment, then release it.

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Friday, May 15, 2020- Family Bingo

  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Try and enjoy family time by completing some of the activities on the attached Bingo Family Sheet. Sometimes we feel most calm and happy when we are enjoying special time with the people we care about, and not have to think of our weekday responsibilities. Take the weekend to relax, and enjoy each other.

  • family_in_the_house_family_activities_bingo_mylemarks_llc.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Thursday, May 14, 2020- Anger Bingo

  Write down a helpful coping skill for anger in each of the squares below. See if you can use 3 of the coping skills in a row either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally over the next two days!

  Here is a list of some coping skills, please feel to use these or other’s you and your parents come up with.

  • Take 10 deep breaths
  • Think of a happy memory
  • Squish playdough
  • Wrap your arms around yourself and squeeze
  • Write a letter to someone
  • Do wall push-ups
  • Write down what’s bothering you and rip it up
  • Squeeze a stress ball
  • Talk about it
  • Scribble on paper and crumple it up
  • Do jumping jacks
  • Put the palms of your hands together, push and release
  • Do stretches

  • anger_anger_bingo_mylemarks_llc.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Wednesday, May 13, 2020- Feelings of Anger

  What is Anger? a strong feeling of displeasure

  There are many different ways people react when they’re angry, both positive and negative. What are some of those ways?” the attached worksheet will allow you to think about how your body reacts to anger. Where do you feel the anger? remember you can feel the anger in many different parts of your body.  Before being able to find ways of dealing with anger, it is important to identify the emotion you are experiencing. Please use the attached worksheet and circle where your body reacts and write down how does it react when you feel angry. 

  • anger_body_reactions.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Tuesday, May 12, 2020- Feelings of Sadness

  Emotions are often linked to colors. Think about the movie Inside Out. What were the colors of the characters? If you haven’t watched the movie you can use the link below to watch it. What’s great about the movie is it demonstrates that no emotion is a ‘bad’ emotion, and it’s good to experience a full and wide range of them. What’s important too, is talking about our emotions and having as many ways to do this as possible. Why do you think this is important?

  So, in Inside Out, blue was sad. Blue is associated with low mood and low energy. Can you tell me the names of some emotions we might relate to the color blue aside from sad?  

  Please complete the activities attached as a fun way to get rid of your blues (sadness)! 

   

  Inside Out (2015) full movie English For Kids

  • Inside out- Sadness coloring Page.pdf
  • Inside-Out-Spot-The-Difference.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Monday, May 11, 2020-Feeling Sad

  Happy Monday!

  I miss you all so much. I know we are all experiencing different emotions about how this school year is ending. I recognize that we may be experiencing sadness, and frustration about our current situation. But don't let those feelings take control. Understand that there are better days ahead of us, and this will pass. We will all come together again. 

  It’s normal to feel sad once in a while. Lots of things can make someone feel sad, like being left out, being called names, losing at something, missing someone (like I know we all are, right now)  moving to a new place or other changes ( like school from home) like what we are going through now. But remember that lots of things can make you feel better. If you’re feeling sad, one of the best things to do is to talk about your feelings with a trusted adult. When you tell someone how you feel and why, it helps you know that you’re not alone in your sadness. It also lets other people know what you need. Saying how you feel helps you get ready to do something that puts you in a happier mood.

  Write about what might be making you feel sad. What are some  things you can do to feel better? Are there people who might make you feel better? 

  Draw a picture of what might make you feel better and doctorate it which ever way you like!

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Friday, May 8, 2020- Calm Down “Toolbox”

  A great way to self-soothe or help yourself calm down and feel better is to help make a calm down “toolbox”. It is important to remember that what may help to calm us down one day may not work the next, and that’s why we need many “tools” or strategies in our tool box. Decide what you think might help you when you are feeling nervous to calm down, and place those items in a box (feel free to decorate the box whichever way you would like). You can put items such as a stress ball, slime, bubbles for breathing, a photo album filled with happy memories, a stuffed animal, coloring books and crayons.  You can also make a list of strategy ideas that may not “fit” into the box, such as taking a bath or going for a walk with an adult, listening to music or watching a favorite show.

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Thursday, May 7, 2020 – Butterflies in my Stomach

  Everyone has problems and worries. The body reacts in many different ways to stress or what is making us worried. For example, when person is scared, their heart might pound faster, or when a person is sad and about to cry, they might feel a lump on their throat. Have you ever heard the expression, “I have butterflies in my stomach.” The thing that might make your stomach feel funny or jittery, as if you have butterflies in your stomach. YOU DON’T really have butterflies in your stomach, it just feels like you do.  Think about anything that might be making you worried, or have worried you in the past.  Tell me about your worry. What could you do about this worry to help yourself feel better? Is there anyone who can help you with this worry?  Please complete attached worksheet and decorate and color your worksheet the way you want to.

  • WhatGivesYoutheButterflies.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Wednesday, May 6, 2020- Worry Box

  Very often we can feel as though we are controlled by our anxious thoughts and feel helpless in stopping them. Sometimes we may even have a hard time stopping ourselves from talking about specific topics that are causing our anxiety. A great activity that I have found helpful for many children struggling with Anxiety is creating a “worry box”. This activity can be as simple or as elaborate as you would like. You can decorate a box however you would like—with glitter, markers, stickers, etc. The box will be a place where you can keep your worries. Write your worry on a piece of paper and place it in a box to be addressed at a later time. It will give you the power to be in control over your anxiety, you and your parents can set aside a certain time of day to talk about your fears. When you no longer feel as though you  need to address a certain worry that is in the box, the piece of paper can be ripped up and thrown in the garbage as a sense of accomplishment that you have overcome your fear.

  How to do it:

  You will need

  -Paper/Sticky Notes

  -pencil

  -small box

  -scale 1 - 10

  • Set aside a short amount of time, maybe 15-30 minutes.
  • Take pieces of paper or sticky notes and write your worries on the notes.
  • Using a scale of 1 - 10 (1 being a little worried and 10 being the most worried), place the worries along the scale. This will help you get a better idea of what is bothering you and how much it is bothering you.
  • Take time to talk about each worry, and as you talk about it, put it in your worry box.
  • Once all your worries are in the box, give it to your trusted adult to hold on to.
  • Set up the next time you will come and discuss your worries. It may be tomorrow, or it may be a week from now, but make sure you set up a time to talk with them.
  • The next time, start with the worries in the box, and place them on the scale. Have any of them moved? Do you have any other worries you need to add in?
  • If you’d like, you can take some time to decorate your worry box in any way that you’d like!

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Tuesday, May 5, 2020- Parent Information – Coping with Anxiety

  These past weeks have been challenging to say the least. It has not been easy for all adults and children alike.  These are trying times and as we continue in this journey it is important to keep moving forward.  Due to these times, it is important to know that as a child learns more about the world, the list of things they fear tends to grow. During this time of uncertainty, it is important to recognize that children are experiencing emotions that may be as a result of feeling worried or scared of the unknown.

  
  Suggestions for helping your child include:

  • Let your child know that you take their fears seriously.
  • Give your child truthful information, and let them know you are willing to answer any questions.
  • Encourage your child to confront the object of their fear, one step at a time at their own pace.
  • Allow your child some control. For example, if they are afraid of current times, and getting sick, ensure that they are taking measures to stay healthy, such as hand washing, not putting hands on their face to take some responsibility over how they can stay safe. 
  • Daily routines and rituals give a child a sense of stability and security, and may ease  anxiety.

  Quick Ways to Calm Down

  Sometimes you’ll need a quick way to help your child calm down and you don’t have much with you. The following are some tips you may want to try with your child.

  • Imagine your favorite place - it’s like taking a mini vacation wherever you are
  • Think of your favorite things
  • Name animals alphabetically (alligator, bear, cow, dog, etc.)
  • Squeeze Something (play dough, clay, silly putty, stress ball)
  • Get a Cold Drink of Water

  Attached you will find an exercise sheet you can do with your child, should you feel there is a need for it.

  • Grounding Exercise.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Monday, May 4, 2020- Emotional Check-In

  New Monday; New Week; New Goals- Wishing Everyone A Great Week!

  Life is different right now, for everyone. Being home away from friends, teachers, and having to learn from home is a huge adjustment in your daily school routine and that will bring up some emotions, and sometimes some pretty big emotions.

  To help you better understand and express your emotions, attached you will find an emotional check-in worksheet that you can complete on your own and share it with your family or you can complete with the help of a family member. This feelings check-in asks:

  • How you are feeling
  • What are your favorite new activities while at home?
  • What you miss
  • And things you are looking forward to

  I would recommend doing this worksheet on a weekly basis as a form of emotional expression.

  • Feelings-Check-In-Worksheet-Editable.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Friday, May 1, 2020 – Emotions Scavenger Hunt

  I know that being stuck at home is not easy. You may feel frustrated, angry, scared, and sometimes bored. A scavenger hunt can be a fun way to pass the time. Please see attachment so that you and your family members can begin this fun activity.

  Using the attachment search for things around the house that bring up certain emotions, feelings or memories.  For example, look for objects that:

  • Make you laugh
  • Are part of a new hobby
  • Help you remember a trip

  Enjoy Your Weekend!  Remember We Will Be Together Again Soon! 

  • Scavenger-Hunt-Worksheet.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Thursday, April 30, 2020- Big Emotions vs. Small Emotions

  Even though we are constantly experiencing different emotions, and we are working towards identify those emotions, it is also important to differentiate between situations that truly deserve a big emotion and those that really only deserve a small reaction. Some example of this can be your reaction when it’s not your turn to be line leader or you make a mistake on your art project, you don’t know the answer to a math problem,  or your brother/sister took your toy without asking.

  Do you ever have an overreaction to something really small? I can admit sometimes I overact to a small problem.  Look at the attached worksheet and discuss and complete this handout with a family member.

  • Feelings-Worksheet-Big-vs -Small-Emotions.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Wednesday, April 29, 2020- Feeling Happy

  Being aware of our emotions is not only about our negative emotions, this includes moments when we may be experiencing emotions such as feeling happy, excited, joyful, thankful and much more. But today we’re going to talk about happiness.  

  Every day, things happen that make us smile, make us feel good or even make us laugh.  By stopping to think for a few moments about something that makes us happy, and either writing it down or saying it loud, that’s called showing gratitude. What’s gratitude?  Gratitude means showing thanks, being thankful and showing your appreciation for something.

  We’re going to practice exactly that today. Stop for a minute and think about today.  What’s one thing about your day that made you happy (or will make you happy)?

  Here’s why I’m happy:  I’m happy because I get to stay home with my baby girl Samara! I enjoy every moment with her.  

  Now think for a few minutes about what has made or is making you happy today.  Don’t say it out loud yet! Hold on to your thoughts and go find someone and walk over to them and share with them what makes you happy, then ask them what makes them happy.

  Please complete the attached worksheet:

  You can also listen to the story clicking on the link below: 

  "H is for Happy"

   

  • What Makes Me Happy Today.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Tuesday, April 28, 2020- Understandings Why we Lose Control or our Emotions

  Have you ever lost your temper? Did you yell and scream? Maybe your little brother/sister got into your room and played with your toys without permission. Or maybe your teacher gave you too much Homework, or maybe a friend borrowed your toy and then broke it. That made you angry! Everyone gets angry. This is a perfectly normal emotion to have. The hard part is learning what to do with these strong feelings.  As we continue to practice verbalizing how we are feeling, it is important to know why sometimes it is hard to be in control of our emotions. The video link below will help you understand this better. This cartoon explains recognizing and controlling our feelings. The different areas of the brain and their roles in managing those emotions.

  Why Do We Lose Control Of Our Emotions

  Complete the attached Worksheet with family member or on your own and share it afterwards. 

   

  • What Bugs Me-Worksheet.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Monday, April 27, 2020-Emotional Awareness

  Happy Monday Everyone, 

  I see Monday as a day where I can start fresh and begin the week with Optimism. After spending two days simply enjoying my family, watching movies, playing board games, having a barbecue on such a beautiful Saturday,  and most of all having a relaxing Sunday, I feel like I am ready to start the week in a positive note. I hope you all experienced some fun moments over the weekend as well as some relaxation so that you are ready to tackle your week.  Because of our trying times, this week I do want to focus on emotional Awareness. What this means, and what we can do to become more aware of our emotions, so that we can have more success at resolving feelings we may be experiencing during this time. 

  Managing emotional reactions means choosing how to express the emotions we feel in a positive way. Before being able to react to our emotions in a more appropriate manner, it is important to learn about: 

  Emotional awareness. This skill is all about being able to notice and identify the emotions we feel at any given moment. Sometimes, just naming the emotion we feel can help us feel more in charge of our emotions.  This week we will be learning  about emotional awareness. Begin this week, by simply working on stating the emotion you are experiencing. If you are feeling angry, sad, nervous, scared , stressed and or overwhelmed let it be known. Verbalizing your feeling will help others understand you and can help.  Remember, it’s okay to experience all different emotions, but it is important to learn how we can handle those emotions in a more appropriate way. 

   

  Click on the  link below for you to play this quick fun feeling game. 

   

  The Feelings Memory Game

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Tuesday, April 21, 2020 – Kindness Quilt Activity

  It’s TUESDAY! And since it’s CHOOSE DAY: Choose to Smile, Choose to be Happy, Choose to Love, Choose to be Humble, Choose to be Patient, and Choose to be Kind!

   

   Kindness can be defined as saying or doing something positive for someone.  Showing concern about the well-being and feelings of others. Doing something for someone, not because you may expect something in return, but because you feel good helping, and you know it's the right thing to do. I show kindness to others by being respectful. I choose the words I am going to use (I think before speaking), because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. When someone appears sad, I ask how I can help them feel better. This can be as simple as acknowledging their feelings, cheering them up by telling them something funny, writing them a note, saying something nice, or making them a card.   First, read/listen to the book  The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace.  As you'll see in the book, taking time to focus on everyday acts of kindness makes us all strive to do more. After listening to the story follow the instructions below. 

  • Print your “Kindness is…” squares (the attachment below)
  • Cut apart the squares.
  • Try to answer the following questions:
          · How did you share kindness today?
          · How did your action make you feel?
          · How do you think it makes others feel?
          · How did someone share a kindness with you?
  • If you’re feeling crafty, embellish your quilt squares. Gather scrap paper and glue to create backgrounds for the "Kindness is..." Then staple them together to create a quilt just like in the story.

   

  • large quilt squares.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Friday, April 24, 2020- Rainbow Kindness Crafts

  As we culminate the week, I leave you with this fun and creative craft you can all partake in. This week we learned that being kind means being considerate of others feelings, and showing them, you care. We learned that we can show kindness through our actions (helping someone in need) and our words (please, thank you, sorry, compliments). We learned about how it makes us feel when we are kind to others, and how others may feel when we are kind to them.  Continue to practice kindness with each other. This can be showing kindness to your parents by doing what they are asking you to do without giving them a hard time, helping them around the house with chores, making them a special card thanking them for all they do.  You can also show kindness to your siblings by helping them if you are older, or by giving your older sibling some time to themselves. Think about it, how will you continue to show kindness? 

  Please see the picture below for activity instructions. 

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Thursday, April 23, 2020 - A Long Distance Hug

  If someone you know is going through a hard time, or you are just simply missing someone, a long distance hug is a great way to let them know you are thinking about them. This is a great way to encourage thoughts of kindness toward friends and family far away, or even someone in the same city who might need a hug and you can’t give it to them right now.

  What to do:

  • Trace your hands and cut out the shapes.
  • Cut a length of string or yarn and glue one end to each hand cut-out.
  • Write a message on each hand, or decorate the hands. Add a small card telling the recipient that they are receiving a long distance hug.
  • Have your parents mail the hug to the person, or you can face time with the person and tell them that you were thinking of them and you made a special craft for them. and Surprise them with it during face time.   

   

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Wednesday, April 22, 2020- My Small Act of Kindness

  Every nice thing we do, no matter how small, plants seeds of peace. As a family, illustrate one simple way you can change the world. Think of one small way you can spread peace. Illustrate the idea using words, pictures, or even a collage using the attached template.

  • Do you remember a time when someone was kind to you? How did it feel? How does it feel when you do something kind for someone?
  • Think up (and write down) all the ways people can be kind to one another.

  You can work on this together and create one big poster as a family, or you can do your own and share it when finished with your family. 

  • My-Small-Act-of-Kindness.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Monday, April 20, 2020- Kindness

  Greetings everyone, 

  I hope you enjoyed your weekend! I spent a lot of time playing games with my daughter, laughing and  and just being silly. We were able to play in the yard yesterday since it wasn’t too cold outside.  She loved it. We blew bubbles, and even blew up some balloons and were trying to catch them. I hope you try to reinvent yourselves and make your time in your homes as much fun as I know they can be.  

  This week I would like to encourage you to try and think about what Kindness means to you.  I will post a few activities that you will be able to do with your family or on your own. Stay tuned! But for today, think about what it means to be kind? What does kindness look like? What does Kindness sound like?  After you have given this some thought, I would like  for you to watch the video:  What Does it Mean to Be Kind? 

  As you are listening to the story, please think of the questions above, and write or draw what you think kindness means to you.  You can ask your siblings or parents or even face time with relatives and ask them what kindness mean to them. 

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Friday, April 17, 2020 - Empathy Bingo Game

  This week we have been learning about Empathy, what it means, and how become better aware of how we can show empathy towards others. This is a Bingo game will provide you with vocabulary words that you have seen throughout the course of the week, and other new words you can explore with your family that relate to empathy. Have fun with your Family and enjoy your weekend!

  • Empathy Bingo Board.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Thursday, April 16, 2020- How would you feel...

  Getting along involves thinking about how other people are feeling. When something happens, thinking about how you would feel in that situation can give you an idea about how someone else might feel. It’s important to think about how other people might be feeling and what you can say and do to support them. 

   

  Scenarios:

  You see two kids playing and you ask if you can play, too, but the kids say no.

  You just got back from vacation and you realize you lost one of your favorite toys.

  You see two friends whispering to each other, and you are not included. 

  You just found out you're going to have a new baby brother or sister in a few months.

   

   

  Grades K-1

  Using the scenarios above, draw and color host you would feel if you were in the situation and how you would try to resolve this problem. Have fun and be creative in your drawing.  You can also write feeling words in your drawling if you would like

  Grade 2-4 

  using the scenarios above, write a few sentences about how you would feel if you were in the situation. What would you want a friend to say or do if you were in this situation.  Feel free to draw and color about your response. 

   

  If you get a chance and want to listen to a story about Empathy, click on the following link : Stand In My Shoes

   

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Wednesday, April 15, 2020- Put Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes-Continues

  Have you ever felt sad with a friend just because he was sad? That’s empathy! So, for example, if you feel sad with your friend because he didn’t make the soccer team (even though you aren’t affected by him not making the team) that’s empathy. Sharing his sadness is a kind of empathy. Have you ever been with a friend who just got a new toy and she’s so excited about it and you get super excited too? If you are feeling excited because you know how great it can feel to get a new toy (even though you didn’t get a toy and you aren’t playing with the toy) that’s empathy. Being excited with and for your friend is a kind of empathy.

  Please watch the following video on Empathy.

  Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood S04e09 - Someone Else's Feelings Empathy At School Report

  Please complete the attachment on your own or with an adult.

  • character-education-worksheet-empathy-shoes.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Tuesday, April 14, 2020-Empathy Story

  Empathy means putting yourself in someone else's shoes and trying to understand how they feel. Sometimes, when challenging things happen to us, it's hard to have empathy. But it can help us connect with others who have been through similar experiences, and be there for them in a truly meaningful way.

  • Listen to the story Red: A Crayon's Story.
  • While listening to the story, write down what Red was thinking and how he felt. Also, write about how his mom and teacher felt.
  • Think about "How you can have empathy for Red (understand his situation)?"
  • Think about the following question:

  • • How can having empathy be helpful?
    • How can it build friendships?
    • What can we do to remind ourselves to be understanding of others?

  Red: A Crayon's Story

   

   

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Monday, April 13, 2020: Empathy

  Hello everyone, I hope you all had an AMAZING  weekend!

  This week we will be learning about Empathy, and how we can show Empathy for others. Showing empathy is an important part of being a friend and getting along with people. It means you can think about and understand how other people are feeling.  Before we can understand how other’s feel, it is important to be aware of emotional vocabulary and how our body language tells a lot about how we may be feeling.  Think about the following questions and enjoy the activity.

  • What kinds of things make you feel happy? Sad? Angry? Excited? How do you act when you feel these ways? Can you tell how your parents or your brothers or sisters or your friends are feeling? How?
  • How can you show a friend that you're really listening? What does careful listening look like?
  • How do you feel when somebody interrupts you? What do you do or say?
  • If you found out a friend or classmate was feeling sad, what would you say? How would you help your friend or classmate feel better?

  What is Empathy?

  Activity: Emotions Hedbanz

  Please printout the PDF File attached and cut out the emotions cards

  To play:

  1. Shuffle the emotions cards and place them on a stack face down in the middle of the table.

   

  1. Each player selects a card from the stack and tucks it into their elastic headband (facing out) without looking at it. Now everyone can see which emotion each player has, except their own

   

  1. Starting with the youngest player and proceeding clockwise around the table, take turns to ask one question about the card on your head as you try to figure out which emotion you have, you must not however use the actual emotion word. For example, you might ask, “Would I feel like this if I won a game of soccer?” “Would I have tears if I felt this way? “Did I feel like this when I fell out of bed?” The other players answer yes or no.

   

  1. When a player feels confident that they can identify their emotion, they may take a guess on their turn. The first person to identify their emotion is the winner of that round. The other players can then keep taking turns to ask questions about their emotions card until all emotions have been identified.

  • Big-Emotions-Guessing-Game-Cards.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Friday, April 10, 2020 : Mistakes can be good if we learn from them!

  Hello my friends. I want to leave you with this thought for the weekend- Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process, and how we react to them can be either harmful or helpful. When we think in a growth mindset, we remember that mistakes are a normal part of the learning process. When we make mistakes, we can get excited because the mistake is a hint about what we need to learn to get smarter. If we don’t pay attention to our mistakes, we’re much more likely to repeat them, which slows down the learning process and progress toward our goals. Also, sometimes the concepts we are learning in school are just plain difficult and we need to try and fail a few times before we finally get it right. 

  • How do you feel when you make a mistake? Why?
  • How do you think other people see you when you make a mistake?
  • Have you ever discovered something new from making a mistake?
  • Have you ever felt proud of making a mistake? 

  Class Dojo's Growth Mindset Series - Episode 2

   

  Enjoy your weekend, 

   Mrs. Carranza 

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Thursday, April 9, 2020: Creating Your Own Growth Mindset Pep Talk

  Because we know practicing Growth mindset is not an easy task. It is important for you to come up with a way of talking yourself through a tough situation. You can create our own growth mindset pep talk that you can use to overcome your fixed mindset thoughts.  

  Step one: Give your fixed mindset voice/thought a nickname.

  Why? A nickname can help you recognize your own fixed mindset thoughts. Write down the nickname and save it.

  Step two: Identify when your fixed mindset voice/thought shows up.

  Here are some situations when a fixed mindset might show up:

  • Adding, subtracting, multiplying—So many steps! It's so confusing!
  • Playing soccer—Running is quite challenging; I want to give up!

  What are some situations when your fixed mindset voice shows up?

  Step three: Plan out what you'll say to your fixed mindset.

  Here as some things you might say when your fixed mindset shows up:

  • “My brain can change! It just needs time and practice.”
  • “YOU can do this! Maybe you just need to try a different strategy.”
  • “This is hard! My brain will form a lot of new connections as I learn it.”

  When you start hearing your fixed mindset voice/thought, what are three things you could say to yourself in response?

  When I have fixed mindset thought, I will tell myself ____________________.

  When I have a fixed mindset voice, I will _____________________.

  Remember, everyone struggles in different situations! Struggle is just part of the learning and growing process. Please watch the video below, and as you are watching observe Fixed Mindset moments and Growth Mindset moments. Have fun watching the video

   

  Giraffe’s Can’t Dance Animation Movie

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Wednesday, April 8, 2020: How Can a Growth Mindset Help Me?

  Your brain gets stronger when you exercise it, just like muscles get stronger when you exercise them. Training your brain isn't always easy. It’s normal to have both a fixed and a growth mindset thoughts. Having a growth mindset, however is important because when we think in a positive way, we often succeed in what we set out to accomplish. When you have a growth mindset, you can take on challenges and learn from them, therefore increasing your ability to succeed. When we listen to our growth mindset, we say to ourselves, “You can do this!” and think, “I’m not giving up!” I would like for you to practice growth mindset in this fun interactive activity with your family. Please watch the video below for materials you will need and for instructions. HAVE FUN!

  Cup Stacking Team Building Activity- Video

  • Cup Stacking Picture.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Tuesday April 7, 2020: Fixed Mindset Vs. Growth Mindset

   As we continue to learn about how we have the ability to persevere and turn challenges into learning experiences, it’s important to learn what it means to have a fixed mindset vs. a growth mindset. A fixed mindset means you think you can’t get better at things, even if you practice. Wanting to quit, give up, or deciding we’re just not good at something are all the clues we have a fixed mindset. A growth mindset is believing in the power of yourself and your brain! We know our intellect and abilities develop when we try hard things, use the right strategies, and don’t give up. So, a growth mindset is when we know, with practice, we will get better at something. Please watch the Video Below and continue to practice having a Growth mindset when you feel you are stuck. This could be while you are completing teacher assignments, when your parents have asked you to do something you feel might be too hard. Positivism is important for a Growth Mindset. What will you tell yourself when things get hard? Watch the Video below and complete the attached activity to help you practice. 

   

  Brain Jump with Ned the Neuron: Challenges Grow Your Brain

  • growth mindset activity sort.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• April 6, 2020 Assignment – Growth Mindset: Try Saying Something Else!

  I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!  Hopefully you were able to go out on walks, play outside in your yard, got some exercise in, and laughed a lot. Now we are back to our weekly routine of learning new things. Last week we discussed our talents, and attributes and things we do for others that make us feel good. We also began to talk about things that may present as a challenge, and how we can work through our negative thoughts to accomplish anything we set out to do.  This is called growth mindset, believing that abilities can improve over time. Developing a growth mindset is ongoing. Please use this activity to practice growth mindset. Use this handout to learn from mistakes and find new ways to approach challenges. You can start thinking, “What’s next?” and “I can”—instead of “I’m done” and “I can’t.”

   

  • What_I_Can_Say_Instead_Understood.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• April 2, 2020 Assignment - Marvelous Me Collage

  I miss you all. I hope you are enjoying your time with your family.  As we continue to learn about ourselves, it is important to understand the things that make us feel good.  This can be about Helping your family, neighbors, and friends. This can make anyone feel good. What kinds of things do you do for your family, friends, school and community? Pick up garbage that is blowing across the soccer field? Protect library books by carefully putting them in the return box? Make a class or home book that shows the neat things everyone does to help out in your class or in your home.

  As you think about this, and all the things to do to help, begin to think about the kinds of pictures you would cut out to illustrate what you do to help others. Make a “Marvelous Me” collage to celebrate being the helpful you! Look through old magazines, newspapers, pictures online, and cut out pictures and words that describe you. Paste them on a sheet of paper to make a collage. The collage should include things that you do for others.  Remember helping others, makes you feel good and accomplished. Please see Sample Attachment. 

   

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• April 3, 2020 Assignment - My Mindset Matters!

  Parent Note: This growth mindset activity will help your child  consider the idea that we’re not born good at everything, but rather we can get better at different things through practice.

  This week I have been posting activities to try and help us understand who we are as individuals.  I hope these activities, have helped you learn more about the talents you possess, and things you do for others that make you feel good about yourself. However, there are those times, when we doubt our abilities, times when we think we are not good at something. We doubt that we can accomplish something, and we often give up because we simply feel like we “CAN’T DO IT” I want you to take a moment to understand what things you feel are challenging for you.  When we begin to open up about those things, we can begin the process of taking over those negative thoughts and changing our mindset so that we can accomplish anything we set our minds to. This takes a lot of work and a lot of practice. I want you to complete the attached handout and as you are completing the handout, I want you to think about what you would say to yourself, when presented with a challenge.  Taking over those negative thoughts, can change our reaction to things we find difficult. and it can push us to keep trying until we have successfully mastered something that we thought was hard! 

  Next week we will continue to Learn about Growth Mindset!

  • growth-mindset-worksheet.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Feeling Good About Yourself- April 1, 2020

  Hi there!  I hope everyone is staying Healthy and Safe!  One of the things that I would like to encourage you all to do is to think about the things that you are good at. It’s important to feel good about yourself. What are you good at doing? Playing a certain game? Making your bed? Making your mom smile? Things that you are good at doing are called your talents. What are your talents? For example, you might be talented in the way you take good care of your pet. Knowing that you have a talent or are good at doing something makes you feel good. That good feeling is part of your self-esteem, or the way you feel about yourself. A talent can make you have such good self-esteem that it can give you courage to try new things and to make good choices.

  Make your own personal flower. Using art and drawing supplies, make a flower that has pictures of you and all of your talents. Try to  use the following instructions.

  1) Draw a large circle on a sheet of construction paper for the head of a flower.

  2) Draw and color a picture of you inside the head of the flower and cut it out.

  3)Then, draw or trace leaves and petals for the flower on a separate piece if paper.

  4) On each leaf and petal, draw and color a talent you have.

  5) Cut out those pieces

  6) Make a green construction paper stem, and glue all the flower parts together. 

  Be creative! This is about you, and  celebrating your talents. After you have completed this activity, share it with your family and even on face time with friends or other family members that do not live with you.  You can  save it for when you come back to school and want to show your friends and teachers all the fun and creative things you have done. 

  If you would like to send me a picture of your beautiful art and creation, please have your parents e-mail me with your picture at: Fcarranza@islandparkschools.org, I would love to see all the amazing things you have been doing from the lessons I am posting on my page.  

  Love,  Mrs. Carranza 

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• The Best of Me - March 31, 2020

  Create illustrations to show how you interact with others being your best self. Follow the  link below for instructions on an activity by Crayola. Showing your best self in many different situations, can help you become more self-aware and become more confident in your interactions with your friends, teachers, family and others.  

  If you do not have all the materials needed, just use four pieces of blank paper, and the colors you may have to complete the activity. Please share your work with your family.

   

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VqQgX8aFpI&list=PLNEtCPZKpimb6mJ_-v-2iDCUWaqllkmS1&index=3

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Believe in your #Selfie- March 30, 2020

  This time you are spending at home, is also a time you can use to reflect/think about who you are as a person, what makes you special. Think about how you would draw a selfie of you utilizing the following questions to guide you.

  What colors would you use and why?

  What would you add to your selfie and why?

  How can the selfie you draw, tell your story?

  Would you draw yourself with sports gear because you enjoy sports?

  Would you draw a selfie of you reading a favorite book?

  If you were to choose your favorite place to add to your selfie, what place would that be?

  Would you draw a selfie of you and your favorite meal?

  Think about your feelings, would you try to add that as part of your selfie?

  Think about these questions and download the template I have attached to draw a selfie of you. Students in Grades K-1 should work with someone to complete the activity. Students in grades 2-4, please complete this activity on your own, and share it with your family. This week we will be focusing on learning about ourselves.

  • AllAboutMeSelfieTemplate.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• March 27, 2020 - Social Emotional Learning

  Grades K-2: Zones of Regulation Game

  I want to end the week with this fun interactive Zones Bingo. You can print out as many cards as you may need! As the designated person calls out the feelings,utilizing Zones of Regulation colors, please mark your card with the color you believe represents the emotion (i.e. marking the space yellow for silly, or green for happy).

   

  Grades 3-4:  Positive Behaviors for solving Conflict

  Children find themselves in precarious situations that often lead to escalated conflict with their peers. Conflicts arise in the classroom, lunchroom, school bus, playground, while standing in line, and any place where kids gather. It is important to instill problem-solving skills in children in order to help them navigate day to day conflicts. Please work with your child on identifying positive behaviors  for solving conflict in the attached worksheet.

   

  Please stay Healthy and Safe! 

  • Postive Behaviors for Conflict Resolution.pdf
  • Zone of Regulation Bingo.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• March 26, 2020- Social Emotional Learning

  Feelings Collage

  Grades K-2

  Zones Feelings Collage - This is a fun activity to do at home as a family or just instruct your child to do this as a fun craft. Find stacks of magazines and give your child art supplies: Construction paper or regular paper, scissors, glue sticks.

  -Have your child divide their paper into 4 equal parts and have them color each part with the zone colors (Blue, Green, Yellow, Red). 

  -Have your child cut pictures from the magazines of people expressing any kind of feeling, and instruct them to put each of the feelings in their designated color (i.e. silly face will go on the yellow) to build a “feelings collage.”  

  Have your child keep their collage and post them in a prominent place at home for use in practicing identifying and labeling their own feelings.

  Grades- 3-4

  Empathy

  This is a fun activity to do at home as a family or for your child to do this as a fun craft. This activity will help your child recognize emotions in others through facial expression and or body language.  

  Find stacks of magazines and give your child art supplies: Construction paper or regular paper, scissors, glue sticks. Have your child cut pictures from the magazines of people expressing any kind of feeling, and instruct them to use these images to build a “feelings collage.” Hand out markers and ask students to label each picture in their collage with a feeling word; then, have your child explain their collage

  Encourage your child to elaborate on the details of what they noted regarding the person’s facial expression, their body language, or the context of the photo or illustration.

  Ask your child to write how they have shown empathy towards someone else.

  Have your child keep their collage and post them in a prominent place at home for use in practicing identifying and labeling their own feelings.

   

   

   

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• March 25, 2020 Social Emotional Learning

  Grade K-2 : Zones of Regulation “Inside Out” movie

  For younger children, Inside Out can be a great tool to talk about what each emotion looks like and feels like. When the child is feeling sad, does he or she feel like Sadness: tired, droopy and wanting to cry? When the child feels angry, does he or she resemble Anger: making fists, yelling and wanting to run or hit? Having these types of conversations can be a crucial first step in teaching emotion regulation.

  During the movie, you can review Zones by asking your child what Zones each character depicted on the movie is in. Ask your child about coping strategies, or things that they could do to  feel better as way of beginning to identify strategies they can use during day to day problems or situations they encounter. 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h543LXnOzos

   

  Grades 2-4: Empathy

  Empathy is the ability to imagine how someone else is feeling during a particular situation and allows us to respond with care.  Students can learn empathy when they are able to engage in perspective taking, where they show their understanding that others can have different thoughts and feelings from their own.  Practicing empathy and perspective taking helps prevent conflict.

  Have your child practice utilizing perspective taking and empathy by completing the worksheet attached.

  • Empathy- Grades 3-4.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• March 24, 2020- Grades k-2 Zones of Regulation Review / Grades 3-4 Conflict Resolution Review

  During Social Emotional Learning (SEL) classroom push-ins students have been learning about Zones of Regulation. Please work with your child on the activity attached as a way of practicing Zones of regulations at home. You can remind them that its okay to experience all kinds of feelings, however it is important for them to be able to express their feelings in a positive way. Discuss with your children different strategies they can use when they are experiencing a negative emotion.

  The four zones of regulation are:

  -Blue: Sad, tired, Sick, Bored

  -Green: Happy, calm, Okay, Ready to learn, Focused, In Control

  -Yellow: Frustrated, Silly, Excited, Disappointed, Nervous, Some Control

  -Red: Angry, Scared, Out of Control, Yelling, Hitting, Kicking

  Please have your child listen to the following Story: 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITPUxVQ6UIk

  Complete  sorting activity attached.

   

  Grades 3-4 Conflict Resolution Review

  During Social Emotional Learning (SEL) classroom push-ins students have been learning about Conflict Resolution.  During the last Push-in, students began to learn about the steps that need to take place in order to resolve a conflict.  They were introduced to the Acronym "STEP” (S= Stop/think/cool off) (T= Talk it out) (E=Evaluate possible solutions) (P= pick a realistic solution). Student learned about what “Stop/think/Cool off” meant.  During this lesson they got to evaluate how each situation made them feel, by stopping themselves from having an initial outward reaction, thinking about how intense they were experiencing the emotion, and considering if they could talk it out at that moment in time, or if taking a break or cooling off was a better alternative.

   

  Practice with your child to “Stop/think/cool off” utilizing the following scenarios in the attachment.  You can also modify scenarios so that it can apply to their home life in relation to interactions with siblings or their interaction with adult family members.

  • Conflict Resolution Grades 3-4.pdf
  • K-2 Zones of Regulation Sorting.docx

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Brain Break Ideas- March 23, 2020

  Sometimes you just need a break from studying or doing your daily house chores.  The attachment has some ideas for healthy breaks depending on how much time you have for one.

   

  • Brain Break Activities.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Identifying Emotions/ Coping with Change - March 19, 2020

  Grades K-1

  What does happy look like? Help your child understand feelings with this fun and creative drawing exercise. Have your child draw each face to match the emotions of sad, happy, angry and scared. Also, for each emotion, have your child tell you of a time they experienced that emotion, and what they did to cope with the emotion, or what they could have done to cope with the emotion in a more positive way.

  Grades 2-4

  We live in a constantly changing world. Most of us, and especially children, appreciate some level of "sameness" in our lives. Children need time to process all the information that they are exposed to and appreciate daily routines and repetition, or they may become stressed. Children thrive on the predictability of daily routines. During times of change talking, listening, and providing reassurance can help children. Also, maintaining routines will help them feel more at ease. Attached you will find a worksheet you can utilize with your child to encourage open communication.

  • Dealing with Change Grades 2-4(1).pdf
  • Understanding-Feelings Grades K-1.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Calm Down/Mindfulness Jar Activity- March 20, 2020

  The Calming Jar Activity is a great tool to help children decompress and calm down while having fun. The Calming Glitter Jar is a mindfulness tool can help to relax both kids and adults of all ages. The idea is that your children can learn to use the jar on their own when they are experiencing difficult emotions.

  HAVE FUN and enjoy the moment!

  • K-4 Calm Down Jar Activity.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Monday, June 8, 2020- Planning for the Summer

  Good Morning, 

  I hope you had a wonderful weekend!  The end of the school year is only but a few days away.  As I think About this, I look back and know we had some challenging past months. Things were very different, everyone had to get used to all these changes.  This is our last full week of school and in looking ahead, I think its important for you to think about what you are looking forward to over the break.  Consider completing the worksheet attached as you plan ahead and think about what your summer will look like, what you may be looking forward to doing during the summer. Talk to your parents about this. Ask if they have any family plans. Will you feel happy you are taking a break from school? Will you feeling alone? Will you miss your Google meets with your teachers and students? talk to a trusted adult about any concerns you may have as the end of the school year approaches. 

  The first worksheet has three sections:

  1. A list of six “Activities” that promote social and emotional development
  2. A section for your “Goals” for the summer
  3. And five “Journal Ideas” for you to select from to write about what you are experiencing and how you might be  feeling.

  The second worksheet is a lined, free-form page you can use to write about your experiences and feelings (mentioned above).

   

  • Summer-SEL-Practice.pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Coping Strategies- March 17, 2020

  Coping skills are a valuable tool for managing worry. These techniques can provide distraction from moments when you may be feeling worried or they can help manage long-term anxiety if used regularly.

  The Worry Coping Cards each describe a unique skill for managing worry, such as deep breathing, journaling, and mindfulness. The front of each card has a colorful image to help you remember the skill.

   

  If you can print the cards, please select the option to print on both sides of the paper.

  • worry-coping-cards(1).pdf

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• My Feelings Journal

  You may print the attachment or use a regular sheet of paper. Monday-Friday Grades 2-4 write and draw ; Grades K-1 draw, about  feelings you are experiencing during the day.  Discuss your feelings with your parents and/or caretakers. Key Point to consider when you are writing and/or drawing: 

  How was or am I feeling? 

  What made me feel this way? 

  What did/can I do  to make myself feel better (if experiencing a negative emotion)? 

  • My Feelings and Me- Journal Page.docx

  F. Carranza, Social Worker

• Hours and Contact Information/ Horas y Informacion de contacto

  Monday- Friday /lunes-viernes 

  8:30 am - 3:30 pm

  Phone /Numero- (516) 434-2685

  F. Carranza, Social Worker