The SEL

We have a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum in our district. Every week, I pull out a big card with a photo on it and then I read a text on the back.  At first I rejected this whole deal. Scripted Curriculum?  I think not. 

At first, I only used the cards sporadically, but come to find out, the 3rdLanders are interested in the scenarios and like talking about stuff like empathy, friendship, and the complexities of emotions. Now I read a card a week during afternoon meetings.  The end of the day is never pleasant because we all want to get the heck out of there, but we end up having some good chats with the SEL cards.

Last week's card focused on Positive Self Talk (PST), a favorite strategy of mine. Whenever life gets overwhelming, and I feel like a parasitic gremlin is pinching my stomach lining, I take a breath.  Then I deliver a rational, caring inner monologue to get my head back in the game.  I highly endorsed PST to the 3rdLanders.  I even wrote on the board: "Use positive self talk" as something we should talk more about. 

Later that week, we got our chance.  As you know, moving kids quietly through hallways is one of my least favorite parts of the teaching gig.  On Thursday morning, the 3rdLanders got ready for Gym by forming a boisterous non-line at the classroom door. I rang our pleasantly sonorous chimes with little effect.

At last I got their attention after it dawned on them that they weren't going anywhere. I suggested that we all take a couple of deep breaths and use PST to figure out what we needed in this moment.  "Maybe you'll tell yourself something like, 'This is my Gym time and I love Gym. I'm going to stop shouting and jumping and grabbing people's bodies so I can get to Gym and have fun." I could see from their faces and their bodies that they were engaged in some serious PST.  Off we went.  

In short, our SEL curriculum helped us all out this week.  The right wingers hate SEL, but as usual, they are wrong. 

 

The Caterpillars

 We have finished 3 weeks in 3rdLand.  I'm still feeling more tired than I think is appropriate, but maybe my energy will return in time.

On the good side, I have rescued 2 monarch caterpillars and Nancer and I are raising them. As citizen scientists, we are committed to teaching our students how to be good stewards of the earth.  The 3rdLanders voted to name our caterpillar BOB.  I was against this, but ... democracy.  There's one 3rdLander who has bug phobia so when he first saw Bob's habitat, he curled up in a fetal position on the floor and expressed his fears with plaintive cries.  We talked it out and he seems fine now.  Keeps his distance.

We also continue living with a haiku spirit, noticing and caring about nature.  This week we cut construction paper frames and went out to the garden to zoom in on whatever captured our visions. We did this with our first grade buddies.  First graders are adorable and I am fascinated by them.  But I also love teaching 3rdLanders because you can tell them to go do a thing with their buddy and they go off and do it.

Foto Credit: Nancer

I can't take credit for the paper frame idea.  We read about it in a picture book about Sister Corita Kent, who was called the "Pop Art Nun."  Cool gal. Believed creativity is our life path. 

On an unrelated note, I learned today about mammals that lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. There were some small ratty types doing just fine during the Jurassic Period.  

The Re-entry

Friends,

We're back in 3rdLand.  24 Kiddos, the standard amount, and yet, 24 feels like a teeming mass at this point in time.   I'm feeling like Fred Flintstone in his pre-historic car.  Legs moving frenetically.  Car standing stock still.  

I have been trying to write here and there, to no avail.  

2 weeks ago I started this snippet of a blog entry...

 There's a new exhibit at our History Center called Breaking the News.  It's about the history of our local papers.  It's a fine exhibit.  I was surprised to see a copy of our first newspaper, The Gazette from 1824.  We had about 500 people in Bloomington back then and we had a newspaper?  My sense of newspaper history is faulty, I have to just admit that right here and now.  Learn more at the MCHC if you feel like it.

Then, one week ago I started research to accompany this photo of tussock moth caterpillars. The research was fascinating but never resulted in a post.

As you can see, my writer identity has suffered because of my teacher job.  I don't know the 3rdLanders well yet, but they seem like a pretty good group.  Maybe I'll climb out of this handbasket of hell sooner rather than later. Please hang in there, both of you dear Readers.  I'll be back.