Happy March!
Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes new learning opportunities for our students! This month, we're focusing on test preparation for our 2nd through 5th graders and feelings and self-esteem for our kindergarten and 1st grade students.
As TCAP testing approaches next month for our older students, we want to help them feel confident and prepared. Here are some key strategies:
Get Plenty of Rest
- A good night's sleep helps with focus and memory.
Eat a Healthy Breakfast
- Fueling the brain with nutritious food makes a big difference.
Stay Positive
- Encourage your child to do their best without stress.
Practice Relaxation Techniques
- Deep breathing and stretching can reduce test anxiety.
Keep a Growth Mindset
- Remind students that mistakes help them learn and grow!
Our youngest learners are working on identifying emotions and building confidence. This month, we're practicing:
Naming Our Feelings
- Helping students recognize emotions like happy, sad, frustrated, and excited.
Positive Self-Talk
- Encouraging kids to say, "I am kind", "I am a good friend", and "I can do hard things!"
Friendship Skills
- Practicing kindness, sharing, and problem-solving in social situations.
Last month, we focused on diversity and inclusion and the importance of accepting and celebrating differences and sharing similarities. Students participated in an activity: “We Are All Different, Yet the Same” (kindergarten through 2nd grade students created their own unique set of wings and 3rd through 5th grade students created a rainbow based on their own unique set of characteristics). All students decorated a paper strip with something unique about themselves (culture, family traditions, favorite foods, etc.) and we linked them together to create a paper diversity chain to show how our differences create a strong connected community. With February being Black History Month, students were asked the question, "Can kids change the world?" They learned about a 7-year old little girl named Ayanna Najuma. In 1958, Ayanna along with 12 other kids were brave during the civil rights movment by orgainizing sit-ins at local restaurants as a beginning solution to end racial segregation in their local community. Her efforts along with other's efforts inspired further actions toward desegregation. Students learned that no matter their social and ethnic backgroud, race, religion, gender, size, disability, etc., their voice can make a difference.
I'm looking forward to another great month! Remember, spring is not just a time for blooming flowers and warmer weather – it’s also an opportunity for growth and academic achievement. Let’s embrace the season with enthusiasm and positivity as we prepare for success together! If you'd like additional resources on test prep, emotional regulation, or self-esteem, feel free to reach out! I'm here to support our students and families.
Wishing you a fantastic March!
Sincerely,
Kim Hasty, M.S.
SES Student Advocate
