Oh, spring. The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and the students are…stressed out of their minds? Ah, yes, it must be state testing season! As elementary teachers, we know that testing can be a source of anxiety for our students. But fear not! There are plenty of strategies that we can use to […]
Overcome Test Anxiety: Plant Seeds of Confidence Read More »
Parenting is no easy feat. It’s a job that requires patience, perseverance, and a lot of love. But one thing that often gets overlooked is the importance of allowing children to experience a range of emotions, even the uncomfortable ones. As much as we want to protect our kids from pain and discomfort, it’s important
Feeling Sad Isn’t Bad: Emotional Discomfort Helps Kids Grow Read More »
Hi everyone! Have you ever heard of affirmations? Affirmations are simple, positive statements that we repeat to ourselves to provide encouragement and motivation. And did you know that they are based on science? Our brain’s language is repetition. Whatever we say or think or do repeatedly sticks in our brain. When we practice doing something
Affirmations: Powerful Little Pep Talks for Your Brain Read More »
Winter is the perfect time to have some fun and strengthen those important executive function skills in children! Executive function skills include things like planning, decision making, problem solving, and impulse control, which can help kids do better in school, make healthier choices, and build better relationships with others. So, let’s bundle up and get
Winter Fun Boosts Executive Function Skills in Children Read More »
Today, we’re going to be talking about something that affects all of us – memories. Did you know that we have the power to shape the memories that others have of us? That’s right, everything we do and say gets stored in “memory files” in the minds of those around us, and it’s up to
Teaching Kids the Art of Memory Making: An SEL Lesson about Positive Impressions Read More »
Have you ever had a disagreement with a friend and felt like your emotions were blowing up like a balloon? It can be tough to stay calm and find a solution when we’re feeling strong emotions like anger or frustration. But there’s a fun and educational way to practice managing our emotions and solving problems
Innovative SEL Lesson: The Balloon and Skewer Activity for Regulating Emotions Read More »
Engaging in STEAM activities can benefit brain development, particularly in the areas of executive function for elementary students.
The Power of STEAM for Building Strong Executive Function Skills Read More »
You’re at the grocery store with your child, who is begging and pleading for a box of “Frosted Fudge Flakes.” You’ve told them no, but they’re having none of it. Suddenly, they throw themselves onto the floor, kicking and screaming at the top of their lungs. You’re embarrassed, frustrated, and feeling like the worst parent
From Chaos to Peace: Proven Strategies for Managing Temper Tantrums Read More »
As a parent or teacher of a child with executive function challenges, you may have noticed that your kid struggles with tasks that require organization, planning, or self-regulation. These skills, known as executive function skills, are important for helping us achieve our goals and succeed in school, work, and other areas of life. Before we
Magnets are interesting because they have the power to attract and stick to some things, but they also have the power to repel or push away other things. People are kinda like that. We can use our words and actions to attract others, but sometimes our words and actions can do the opposite – they
Be a Friendship Magnet: An SEL Lesson on How to Attract Friends Read More »
