Special Education

8 Mindful Brain Breaks with a Nature Theme

October 20, 2020 by pathway2success Leave a Comment

Everyone needs a break in their day. This is true whether students are learning in the classroom (in person) or taking part in a virtual classroom and learning from a distance. Brain breaks are a healthy strategy to help kids and teens clear their minds, refocus, and start fresh.

As a bonus, mindful brain breaks are more than a quick break between academic tasks. They are actually a coping skill kids and teens can take with them wherever they go. By learning techniques for mindfulness, students can work to improve self-regulation skills, manage tough emotions, and develop a sense of calm in challenging times.

In particular, I’m a huge fan of brain breaks with a nature focus. Why? Nature is naturally calming. Everything from the feel of the wind to the sound of the birds singing brings about a sense of calm. Venturing off into nature to calm down is great, but sometimes we don’t always have that luxury. That’s where brain breaks with a nature theme come in.

It’s worth mentioning that all of the brain breaks listed below come from a Mindfulness Brain Breaks for Nature set you can grab and use with your learners. They are printable and digital, making it easy for you to use in the classroom or virtually.

Mindful brain breaks are a helpful tool to help improve focus, encourage self-regulation, and just give a fresh start. Use these mindfulness brain breaks in the classroom or virtually to help students to do their best!

Get started with mindfulness nature break breaks with your learners.

In the meantime, here are are 8 mindful brain breaks you can use with your learners (or just for yourself!) right away:

Mindful Observance. Pick any object around you. This can be anything from a water bottle to a book. Of course, it’s even better if you can choose an object from nature, such as a leaf, rock, or stick. Focus all of your attention on that object. Think about what it looks like, what shapes it contains, how it moves, and even how it makes you feel. Keep focusing on that object for at least two minutes.

Feelings of Gratitude. Sit comfortably. Breathe in and out. List 10 things in nature you are grateful for. You can say them out loud or write them down. Picture them in your mind as you think of them.

Be the Hawk. Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Imagine you are a hawk flying over land. Imagine what you can see, smell, hear, feel, and taste as you fly. Breathe in and out as you imagine this.

Like a Plant. Stand up tall like a growing plant. Stretch up to the sky and hold your pose. Think about all the ways you have grown in the past year. Release and come back to normal. Try again three more times.

Butterfly Breathing. Imagine you are a beautiful butterfly with colorful wings. Use your arms to pretend you are flapping your wings as you breathe in and out slowly.

Rainforest Visualization. Imagine you are standing in a rainforest filled with green plants and waterfalls rushing over rocks. Just breathe. Think about what you can see, hear, feel, smell, and taste.

Songbird. Imagine you are a bird perched on a branch overlooking a vast green forest. Quietly hum a song to yourself as you slowly breathe in and out.

Floating on a Cloud. Sit in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and imagine you are floating on top of a cloud. Relax all of your muscles and let the cloud control your weight. If you can, feel free to try this while lying down!

Remember that brain breaks should be simple and fun. While they might seem “silly” at first, practicing them a few times can provide kids and teens with the quick break they need to get back to learning their best.

10+ Phrases to Avoid Saying to Learners with Executive Functioning Challenges

October 6, 2020 by pathway2success 1 Comment

Kids and teens who struggle with executive functioning challenges go through a lot every day. From trying to focus in class, remembering to turn homework in, and working through daily challenges that pop up, it can be stressful. Executive functioning challenges are real.

What are executive functioning challenges?

Executive functioning skills are the life skills we use every day to accomplish daily tasks. They include planning, organization, time management, task initiation, self-control, working memory, flexibility, and perseverance.

When you think about it, these skills are ingrained in everything we do. For example, when you need to clean or tidy a room, you use a variety of skills all at once. You need organization skills to help you figure out where things go, time management skills to work most efficiently, self-control to help you stay with it when you want to watch television instead, and task initiation skills to get started in the first place.

Over 10 phrases to avoid saying to kids and teens with executive functioning challenges.. and what to say instead! Use these strategies to build kids up and help them become independent. — *Grab your free executive functioning skills poster.*

Humans aren’t pre-programmed with these skills. Some children learn them at home, with peers, during real life situations, and at school. While many kids and teens walk into the classroom with these skills intact, it’s safe to say that many still do not.

Kids and teens with executive functioning challenges are going to struggle with a variety of tasks. As individuals, we each have our own unique profile of executive functioning strengths and weaknesses, so this may look different for different kids.

You might see a student who loses homework assignments or never remembers to bring the right binder to class (planning and organization). This might be a child who continually calls out in class and acts in impulsive ways (self-control). You might see this in a learner who gives up too quickly on assignments because they are “too challenging” for that student (perseverance). Perhaps it is a teen who spends the entire working period on one math problem instead of being able to move on and work on other questions instead (flexibility and time management).

Can executive functioning skills be strengthened?

In a one-word answer: yes. Executive functioning skills can be strengthened and improved over time. Just like improving math or reading skills, learners can also strengthen their abilities to plan, stay organized, and use self-control in challenging situations.

Most importantly, adults (both parents and teachers) do not have to be experts in executive functioning skills to help kids and teens make improvements. There are many different ways to teach executive functioning skills to students, from board games to discussions.

If you need something to help young adults learn these skills right away, I’ve put together an entire yearlong executive functioning set filled with printable and digital activities.

Get started with executive functioning activities for the year.

How do our words impact kids with EF challenges?

As adults, we play a huge role in supporting learners through these challenges. And one thing is for sure – our words can be powerful.

Below, I highlight some phrases to try and avoid saying to kids and teens with executive functioning issues. Just an important note that many of these things I’ve said (some many times). This is in no way meant to shame or embarrass anyone who has said them. Instead, I share this as an educational and supportive post meant to help us all grow and learn along the way.

Additionally, this isn’t just a way to “sugarcoat” what we want to say. It’s really about working with kids and teens in the best way. If we can make small changes in what we say to help kids feel more confident, strong, and empowered, it makes sense to give it a go.

And of course, while the intent is focused on learners who struggle with EF needs, it should go without saying that many of these strategies could be applied to all kids and teens.

10+ Phrases to Avoid (and what to say instead):

#1 “This is easy.”

I am guilty of using this phrase in the past. It sounds like it should be encouraging, but actually can have the opposite effect. Just because something is easy for one person, doesn’t mean it is easy for another. And if a student is struggling with something that should be easy, it could be a big blow to their confidence.

What to do or say instead:

Teach positive affirmations to help kids and teens develop a positive inner voice. (example: “You’ve got this.”)
“On a scale of 0-10, how easy or difficult is this for you?”
“Let’s get started and see how you do.”
“How are you feeling about this so far?”
“Do you want me to show you some strategies that can help you through this?”
“You can do this with hard work.”

#2 “Hurry up.”

Kids and teens with executive functioning challenges are more likely to take longer on tasks. This can be due to slower working memory, weak attention skills, or difficulty with task initiation. While it’s normal to want to move along quicker, telling a child or young adult to hurry up actually can have the opposite effect. It can create feelings of shame, worry, and anxiety. It’s clear that doesn’t solve the problem and often only makes it worse. Instead, let’s remind kids and teens to go at the pace that’s right for them.

What to do or say instead:

Remember to have empathy and give patience first and foremost.
Give wait time.
“Think about it and I’ll come back to you in a few minutes.”
Give a heads up before calling on a student in class.
Make a checklist for tasks together to serve as a written and visual reminder. This can help build independence.
“Go at the pace that’s right for you.”
Teach time management skills.
“Let’s take a time check. Think about where you are and what you need to finish.”

#3 “I already told you.”

Imagine this situation: A child finally figures out that they need to get started on an assignment but realizes they have no idea what to do. When they go and ask for help, they are told, “I already told you.” This is a huge motivation and confidence killer. There are several reasons why the student might not have understood or heard the instructions the first time around. The goal is always to help kids and teens learn the skills and become independent. So, when a learner comes around asking for help, it’s important to give them that support instead of turning them away.

What to do or say instead:

“What could you use help with?”
“Where could you find that information?”
“Do you need a refresher? That’s okay! We all need that sometimes. I can explain.”
“What questions do you have?”
Incorporate visuals and written reminders to help promote independence.
Provide interventions for attention skills.

#4 “I’ll just do it.”

Learned helplessness is a real threat for kids and teens with executive functioning challenges. This is what happens when they learn they just can’t do thing on their own. Eventually, they figure out it’s easier if someone else just does it all for them, stripping them of their independence. Even though it’s often more challenging and time consuming for kids and teens to complete tasks on their own, it’s critical they go through the process.

What to do or say instead:

Give prompts and encouragement, but let the child do it independently.
“What do you think you should do next?”
On most challenging tasks, take turns with the student. For example, the adult can write one sentence and the student writes the next. This provides support, while still setting the expectation that the child is also doing the work on their own.

#5 “You’re lazy.”

Kids believe what is said about them. By labeling a child or teen as lazy, it can be incredibly dangerous in the long-term. And while it’s pretty obvious that this is a phrase no adult should ever say directly to a child, I think it’s worth stating that it’s not something that should ever be said about a kid, either.

What to do or say instead:

Teach strategies for task initiation.
Consider incentives to help motivate the child or teen.

#6 “You should already know how to do this.”

As educators, we’ve all thought this one. We teach a skill or expectation and have the belief that every child should know how to move forward on their own. In reality, that’s not always the case. If a child or teen doesn’t complete a direction or task, there is a reason why. Consider where the breakdown is and go from there.

What to do or say instead:

“What do you think you should do?”
“Where could you find the directions for this assignment?”
“Who could you ask if you are stuck?”
“What strategies can you use if you are stuck?”
Stop and consider what skills that student might need to be taught. If they are lacking a skill, teach it explicitly before moving on.

#7 “Calm down.”

Telling an agitated person to calm down doesn’t actually help anyone calm down. Working through executive functioning challenges can absolutely be stressful and difficult day after day. And it’s okay if kids feel frustrated sometimes. Instead of “calm down,” try teaching and practicing some coping strategies together.

What to do or say instead:

Teach and practice coping strategies together. Use this free coping strategies activity to help students develop their own coping strategies list.
Practice mindful breathing exercises.
“Let’s take a walk together.”
“Let’s take some deep breaths together.”
“I can tell you are frustrated. It’s okay to feel that way.”
“What would help you right now?”
Create a calm down area to support self-regulation.
Create a coping strategies binder for the student to use when needed.

#8 “Act your age.”

The idea of acting your age is an interesting area for discussion when it comes to executive functioning skills. Some researchers, such as Dr. Russell Barkley, have indicated that learners with EF weaknesses (specifically learners with ADHD) actually behave younger than they would without those challenges. Quite often, this statement is really intended to help kids and teens make better choices. Here are some strategies to get there.

What to do or say instead:

“What are the expectations you should be following?”
“What should you be doing right now?”
“I know you can make a better choice. I believe in you.”
“Let’s reflect. What did you do well? What could you do better for next time?”

#9 “You need to redo this. You did it wrong.”

Kids and teens mess up sometimes (we all do, right?). So, there is nothing wrong with having them redo assignments or tasks when they aren’t right. In fact, it’s often important. What’s critical is the way that we, as adults, approach this. Simply telling a child they did something wrong often invites shame and discouragement. When we want kids to improve, it’s important to build them up and help them understand what they can do better.

What to do or say instead:

Use rubrics or checklists and have students assess themselves first.
“Let’s reflect together. What did you do well? What could you use help on or improve?”
“Before turning that in, I’d like to to re-read the directions and make one improvement.”
Use the sandwich technique (give positive feedback, then criticism, and then more positive). Ex: “You really did a great job on your introduction here. I like how you explained your argument clearly. I noticed on your next paragraph, you could add some extra details to support that claim in a stronger way. You made a HUGE improvement from the last paper, so I’m so excited to see the final product. Keep it going!”

#10 “Sit still.”

Many kids and teens with executive functioning challenges have difficulty sitting still for extended periods of time. If a student seems like they need to move, it’s usually because they do in fact need to move. Further, many times these students often learn better moving than sitting still.

What to do or say instead:

Give movement breaks.
Incorporate brain breaks between tasks.
Allow students to stand while working.
Consider flexible seating.
“Could you answer up at the board for me?”
Practice mindfulness.
“Let’s take a movement break before getting back to work.”
“Go ahead and stand while you work if that’s best for you.”

#11 “I like the way _____ is acting.”

This is one of the phrases many of us educators learned in college. It is supposed to be a classroom management strategy. Instead, it teaches kids and teens to always compare themselves to others. While the intent is good, the impact can be a negative one for learners.

What to do or say instead:

Instead of comparing, just be explicit with expectations.
Meet privately with the student if they are not meeting expectations.

#12 “You should have brought that with you.”

Kids and teens with executive functioning challenges are more likely to forget things. Usually, they know this. They don’t want to forget things; they just struggle with planning and organization.

What to do or say instead:

Incorporate interventions for organization.
Come up with strategies with the student to help them remember the materials they need. For example, come up with a list to keep on their binders or in their lockers. You can even post reminders at the front door before kids walk in.
Set up a classroom office with supplies for students who need them.
“Here, I’ve got this one you can borrow.”
“Is there a classmate you can share with today?”

#13 “Quit doodling.”

Sometimes, when we see someone doodling, we assume that means they are not listening. It’s important to adjust that mindset. For some learners, doodling is a way to keep their hands busy while they are taking in information. Rather than asking kids to stop doodling, give a simple check-in to assess for understanding.

What to do or say instead:

“Can you draw a picture about what you’ve learned so far?”
“Tell me your three biggest takeaways from the lesson?”
“What are your thoughts on that?”

#14 “You’re late.”

Kids and teens with EF challenges struggle with getting to class on time. Perhaps they lost track of time (time management) or started down the hall with the wrong binder (organization). Regardless of the reason, they usually know they are late. This statement can start the tone off in a negative way.

What to do or say instead:

“I’m happy to see you.”
Develop strategies and supports to help assist with getting to class on time, like checklists and a schedule.

#15 “You’re on your own.”

While it’s true that we want all learners to be independent, they also need to know we’re here to help them along when things get tough. Kids and teens with executive functioning challenges are notorious for giving up prematurely because tasks feel too difficult for them (perseverance). Instead of telling them they are on their own, remind them they can do it in the first place.

What to do or say instead:

“You can do this. I believe you.”
“I want you to try on your own first, but I’m here if you need me.”
Teach and practice perseverance.
Teach and practice positive affirmations.

Member exclusive:

When working with any kids or teens, our words mean a lot. If you take just one thing away from this post, I hope that it is that you can absolutely help kids and teens improve their executive functioning skills. Sometimes, that might be big things like teaching skills directly. Other times, it might just be considering the very things we say.

SEL Lessons and Activities for the Virtual Classroom

August 16, 2020 by pathway2success 3 Comments

Social emotional learning is playing a huge role this school year. Of course, SEL is important all of the time, but right now kids and young adults are in special need of support. In order for kids and teens to succeed academically, they also need skills for understanding emotions, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and persevering through challenges. These are just a few small examples of social emotional skills that we use every day.

If you’re unsure about what SEL is, it might be helpful to read about social emotional learning and what the five core domains are!

With all of that said, it’s important for educators to have access to digital social emotional learning lessons and activities. I’ve put together this list with resources to help educators get started.

Besides some of my favorite and most popular paid digital SEL resources, I’ve listed free materials as well. As someone who taught 10 years in the classroom myself, I understand that resources are limited. Free materials are also a great way to test out an activity before making the purchase.

One more note that all materials include digital and print activities to allow you to meet the needs of your students and whatever the year brings you.

DIGITAL SEL RESOURCES

Social Emotional Learning Journal

This social emotional learning journal is a yearlong journal to target SEL skills from self-awareness to decision-making. The idea is simple: just assign one section per day to cover social emotional learning throughout the entire school year. It covers critical topics like friendships, empathy, values, self-control, and a lot more.

Social Emotional Learning Digital Workbook

This SEL digital workbook is a fun online tool to teach social emotional learning skills from A-Z. It includes 40 mini-lessons on various SEL topics, giving kids and teens practice with those skills in a digital way. The activities even use moveable pieces in Google Slides, making the lessons interactive and fun!

I get asked about this one a lot, so here’s a video!

Mindful Breathing Cards

Help kid and young adults learn skills for mindfulness with mindful breathing cards. Practicing mindfulness with deep breathing can be a simple, fun, and effective way to work on self-regulation skills. These breathing activities are also memorable and fun, which means students will be able to use them when they really need them most.

SEL Complete Curriculum

This complete social emotional learning curriculum has everything an educator needs to teach SEL for the entire year. It includes five units targeting the core domains of SEL: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships, and decision-making. Updates were recently added to allow kids and teens access to a completely digital student workbook.

SEL Daily Prompts

One simple way to integrate social emotional learning is with SEL daily prompts. These questions give one meaningful prompt each day to help teach and practice social emotional skills. A student journal is included, allowing kids and teens a space to share their thoughts before moving on.

SEL Choice Boards

Make learning SEL a little bit more fun with social emotional learning choice boards. These boards cover important SEL topics in a fun and unique way. Each board includes 9 activities to target each SEL skill. You can choose to assign all 9 activities or let kids choose their favorite for the week. This can be a homework assignment or extra for early finishers.

Coping Strategies Menu

Help kids and young adults determine which coping skills are best for them with an interactive coping strategies menu. In order to effectively manage emotions, kids and young adults need to practice coping strategies before they are overwhelmed. This activity can help open the door to working on skills to help kids develop stronger self-regulation skills.

Mindfulness Journal

Help integrate mindfulness with a daily mindfulness journal. Another yearlong journal, this activity provides practice using senses, visualizations, gratitude, mindful puzzles, and more.

Social Emotional Learning Digital Workbook

This social emotional digital workbook is a helpful tool to teach SEL skills in a fun and interactive way. It includes step-by-step and guided practice on 25 unique social emotional learning topics from empathy to problem-solving. Digital moveable pieces are included to help make this activity more fun and engaging for younger learners.

FREE DIGITAL SEL RESOURCES

Mindfulness Morning Check-In

This mindfulness morning check-in is a free daily quick activity to encourage learners to start the day in a more mindful way. It includes 5 activities: taking deep breaths, using senses, practicing gratitude, using positive self-talk, and identifying something to look forward to.

Perspective-Taking Lessons

Use perspective-taking lessons to introduce the idea that we all think differently, and that’s perfectly okay.

SEL Journal

Grab a free week of this social emotional learning journal to help kids learn about their individual strengths and challenges. This is a helpful introduction to self-awareness while testing out this yearlong SEL Journal.

SEL Choice Board Activities

These SEL choice board activities teach about managing emotions, strengths and challenges, responsibility, and more. This free set includes a total of 36 activities targeting social emotional skills.

Positive Thinking Affirmation Activity

Start the day with positive thinking affirmations to boost confidence and morale. Students can make their own positive self-talk list using the statements to read when they are stressed, upset, or just to start the day in a positive way.

Social Problem-Solving Task Cards

This social problem-solving task cards set has been turned digital to help kids and young adults learn strategies for problem-solving in all elements of life.

Coping Strategies Challenge

Use a 30-day coping strategies challenge to help kid and teens learn a variety of coping skills they can use in their life. Let students choose activities or select them and complete together!

Read Aloud List for Social Emotional Learning

Use this SEL read aloud list to select books that teach critical SEL skills. It includes a list of various read alouds that target skills like confidence, empathy, growth mindset, goals, self-control, study habits, and more.

Coping Strategies Notebook

Use this free coping strategies notebook to help kids and teens create their own individualized list of coping skills that work for them.

I hope this list has been helpful to you. It truly is filled with lessons and activities I wish I had years ago.

I’m always in the process of adding new digital resources to support social emotional learning. If there is a lesson you’d like to see, let me know!

12 Reasons Why Every Class Needs Morning Meeting

August 10, 2020 by pathway2success Leave a Comment

Morning meeting is a daily time to meet with students and help frame the day for success. Sometimes it might be called a daily check-in or morning circle. Whatever you call it, the idea is pretty simple. Educators sit with their students, greet each other by name, talk about topics that matter, and give everyone a chance to share.

Morning meeting is also a technique that can be used across all age and grade levels. For elementary learners, morning meeting would most likely happen the first 10-20 minutes of the day in the regular classroom. For secondary learners, morning meeting could take place in homeroom or advisory. It’s always important to make sure the morning meetings work for you and your classroom.

If you are teaching online, it’s worth mentioning that morning meeting can be practiced virtually online, too. Just like your in-person morning meetings, start with greetings, discuss important topics, and give time to share.

Whether you are face-to-face with learners or virtual through an online program, morning meeting sets the tone.

Here are 12 reasons why all educators should implement a morning meeting:

#1 Morning meeting builds strong relationships. By meeting and talking about things that matter to kids each day, you are helping to build strong relationships and a climate of trust. Not only do educators get to know their students on a deeper level, but students will learn from other students, too. During this time, students will likely share their thoughts, feelings, problems, needs, and hopes for the future. You can use this free printable of 100+ relationship-building questions to ask during your morning meetings.

#2 Morning meeting is the perfect time to teach SEL skills. I developed an entire yearlong set of morning meeting cards that focus on social emotional learning skills. Grab them if you’re looking for a no-prep way to run your morning meetings and integrate these skills! Even if this set isn’t something you want to invest in yet, try integrating SEL skills into your morning meeting times right away. Spend a day talking about skills that matter, like empathy, friendships, coping skills, growth mindset, developing goals, responsible decisions, and more. Talking about these skills directly will make a big difference for your learners. Grab this free printable SEL poster to highlight different skills you can target during your time!

#3 Morning meeting can be an outlet for mental health supports. The goal is that with time and consistency, morning meeting can be a place where students will feel comfortable voicing their concerns, thoughts, and needs. This can create a safe space for all learners. Additionally, morning meetings provide the perfect setting to talk about strategies for managing stress and mental health, such as coping skills, healthy habits, and dealing with tough emotions.

Morning meeting or circle time is the ideal time to teach social emotional skills to your students while building community and strengthening relationships. Learn what is morning meeting, why it matters, and grab some activities to get started.

#4 Morning meeting can help learners build confidence. Morning meeting is daily group that gets together to talk about topics that matter, so how can this build confidence? Learners get to know each other so well that they start to feel comfortable stepping outside their comfort zone! They are better able to take risks, share their voice, and feel proud of who they are as individuals. Best of all, these skills don’t just show up in morning meeting. Students who feel more confident might be more likely to succeed in all areas of the curriculum, too.

#5 Morning meeting is a time when kids can just share what is on their mind. This point maybe isn’t obvious, but it’s important. So often, the school day is extremely busy. There aren’t always chances for kids to talk about a new artist they are interested in or the soccer game last weekend. It’s always important to dedicate part of morning meeting to just a share-out time when kids can share what is on their minds.

#6 Morning meeting helps students problem-solve. Let’s face it: kids and young adults deal with some challenging situations from day-to-day. Morning meeting can be a space where learners can ask for feedback or ideas about how to solve problems in their life, like someone being mean on the bus or how to handle a fight with a friend.

#7 Morning meeting is an emotional check-in. A daily morning meeting is a simple check-in time for each student to think about (and share) how they are feeling and what is on their mind. A daily check-in builds self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Most importantly, this can be a big deal for students who might need some extra support.

#8 Morning meeting builds community. This goes beyond just strong relationships with each other. Building a community means caring about each other, having empathy, working together, giving support, and always including others. When you start your day with your group and talk about issues that matter to your learners, it helps build the foundation for that community. Not only does this benefit your classroom by teaching skills for working together, but it also gives the feeling that we’re all in this together.

#9 Morning meeting can teach and discuss academic skills. Morning meeting can provide an outlet to teach skills like studying for a test, getting organized, paying attention in class, and time management. These self-management skills are foundational to academic and personal success. Sometimes, in the busy school schedule, there isn’t always a perfect time for them, which is why morning meeting can be a great solution.

#10 Morning meeting can reduce behavioral challenges. When students feel valued, supported, and listened to, it makes sense that there would be less behavioral challenges. A research study showed that greeting students each day reduced behavioral challenges. Now, just imagine taking 5-10 minutes each day with greetings and discussion. One major benefit to morning meeting is that this time can turn diminish behavior problems before they even start.

#11 Morning meeting teaches that all voices matter. One important aspect to morning meeting is that all students have a chance to share. When morning meeting becomes a daily practice, it teaches all students to respect and listen to one another. Not only is this an important skill for the classroom, but an important life skill, too. Help show that every voice matters by starting with a daily greeting. Download a free poster with daily greetings to build community to start.

#12 Morning meeting increases student engagement. A daily check-in and discussion time can be the perfect recipe to help wake up and engage young minds. Morning meeting focused on social emotional learning can help students become more focused, alert, and ready to go for the rest of the day.

Getting Started

Now that you understand the value and importance of morning meetings, give them a try! You can always start on your own just with greetings, sharing out, and daily activities.

Head over here to learn more about leading morning meetings, setting up your expectations, and how to get started.

If you’re looking for a bit more structure and focus on social emotional learning, I’ve developed a Morning Meeting for Social Emotional Learning for the entire year. If you work with older learners, you can check out this set of SEL morning meeting cards for older kids too!

I’ve added computer-friendly pages to each set to help educators teach virtual morning meetings from a distance. Just share your screen and discuss the questions to get started. Try it out and let me know how it works for you!

18 Mindfulness Activities for Outdoors

June 23, 2020 by pathway2success Leave a Comment

18+ Mindfulness activities for kids and teens to practice outside. These activities are perfect for a mindful summer activity, incorporating physical activity, or just a planned way to get outside of the classroom during the school day. #mindfulness #pathway2success

Mindfulness is a critical self-regulation strategy for people of all ages. It can help us feel calm, focused, and in control. Learning to be mindful doesn’t have to be confined to the four walls of a building or classroom. In fact, there are numerous opportunities to practice mindful activities outside.

Here are a few outdoor mindful techniques to try:

Blow bubbles. A strategy for focusing on deep breathing, blowing bubbles is an interactive and fun way to practice mindfulness. You can find bubbles at your local dollar store, online, or make them yourself with dish soap. Before blowing the bubbles, talk about mindful breathing and focusing on your breath. This is one of the most foundational elements to mindfulness. When we calm our breathing, we can calm our minds.

Watch wildlife. Spend time watching wildlife in your backyard, a local park, or on a hike. Once you spot something, spend time actually watching the behavior of the animal. Binoculars help, but this is something you can do without them, too. Afterwards, talk about all the things you saw that you never noticed before.

Go barefoot in the yard. In a spot that is safe, like the backyard or a sandy beach, kick off your shoes and let your toes touch the ground.

Watch the clouds. Sit or lie down on the ground. Breathe in and out as you watch the clouds roll by. And of course, take note when a cloud looks like something else. This is a fun activity by itself!

Practice mindful breathing. Of course, mindful breathing is a technique you can practice anytime. Essentially, mindful breathing is focusing on our breath as we breathe in and out. One summer breathing activity is to imagine you have a dandelion in front of you. Slowly breathe in and breathe out. Grab these mindful breathing exercise cards or read up on more mindful breathing strategies to get started.

Play “I Spy” outside. This is an outdoor games that practices mindfulness through mindful observation. Have one person find a target item. They might say, “I spy something green.” Others in the group should look around and take turns guessing what item might be the target.

Take a walk. Put the electronics away and just go for a peaceful walk. Notice what you see, hear, smell, feel, and taste. These sensory sensations on the walk can be calming and mindful.

Read outside. Find a nice shady spot under a tree or on a park bench. Read a good book aloud or silently for a period of time. When practicing mindfulness, it’s important to focus on feeling calm and relaxed. Don’t pay too much attention to the academic portion of reading in this case. Read and just be!

Go on an outdoor scavenger hunt. Choose a list of outdoor items to look for. You might seek a plant, a butterfly, something that starts with an s, and a bird singing. The options for this are endless. Put together your list before you head out or grab these printable mindful scavenger hunts. Then, take time to find the items as you walk in the yard, field, around the block, or in a local park. Can’t find everything on your list? That’s okay, too! Part of mindfulness is learning to just be and avoiding the need for perfection. That’s a lesson in mindfulness just as well.

Practice yoga. Learn some yoga poses ahead of time and practice them outside. Some of the best postures for kids include warrior pose, tree pose, and downward dog. There are lots more!

Color with sidewalk chalk. Draw fun designs or positive messages with sidewalk chalk. If you’re not sure what to write, look up some positive quotes ahead of time.

Stack rocks. Find some different sized rocks. Stack them and try to see how high your rock tower can go. This activity works on mindfulness and balance. You can talk about what balance means in our lives.

Color on a clipboard. Grab some coloring pages and a clipboard. Then, find a cozy spot underneath a tree to sit and color mindfully. You can use these free printable mindfulness coloring pages to give it a try.

Have a picnic with mindful eating. Mindful eating is the practice of thinking about the sensory experience as you eat something. That means thinking about how it feels, smells, sounds, looks, and tastes while you are eating. If the weather is warm, try mindful eating with summer foods like ice cream, watermelon, or smores.

Smell flowers. If you happen to find a garden or some flowers growing, use them for mindful breathing practice. Slowly breathe in to smell the flowers. Think about what sensations you feel as you smell them.

Paint rocks and hide them. Rock painting can be extremely calming. To get started, find some smooth rocks (or you can purchase at a craft store). Use paint to design them with positive messages or interesting designs. Let them dry. Then, when you’re ready, head out to a hiking spot or walking path and hide them somewhere for someone else to find.

Build with sand. Use a sandbox or head to the beach for this outdoor mindful activity. Build some sandcastles or just feel the sand in your hands or a mindful experience.

Gardening. Taking care of plants and weeding is a mindful activity on its own. As a bonus, gardening works on lots of other skills like empathy and responsibility, too.

Journal write. Free writing outside on a sunny day can be extremely calming. Grab a journal and encourage writing time. Encourage kids to write about their feelings, respond to a prompt, write a story, or write about anything they choose. If you’re a Pathway 2 Success member (thank you!), grab the free Mindfulness Journal in the free resource library.

If you love these mindful activities but aren’t sure exactly how to teach mindfulness, I’ve got you covered with this set of mindfulness lessons and activities.

More Mindfulness Ideas:

9 Books to Highlight Kids with Disabilities

May 18, 2020 by pathway2success 1 Comment

It is so important to read and discuss books that highlight students with disabilities. Not only does it help students become more knowledgeable and understanding about specific needs and challenges, but it also helps kids to become more inclusive, too.

All students can relate to these books in some way, supporting the overarching idea that celebrating our differences is often what brings us together.

The links to books below are Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means when items are purchased from any Amazon affiliate links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Of course, you’re also welcome to find them at your library for free!

Here are some books to highlight kids with disabilities:

My Sister, Alicia May by Nancy Tupper Ling – This beautifully illustrated book shares the story of Rachel and her sister, Alicia May, who has Down syndrome. This honest story highlights how similar we all are. The author writes, “In some ways, my sister is like any six-year-old. She likes dogs and horses. She likes to paint her toenails with polka dots, and she loves bugs.” I love the message that even if we are all different in our own ways, we are often so similar, too.

Nine books to help highlight and discuss kids and teens with disabilities, like ADHD, autism, and more. These are perfect for class read alouds and a great way to celebrate diversity! #pathway2success

Isaac and His Amazing Asperger Superpowers! by Melanie Walsh – I love the idea of comparing someone with Aspergers’s to a superhero. This is a great book to help identify and discuss all the strengths that come along with autism! My favorite line is, “You can’t catch it. It just means my brain works a little differently.” By teaching kids that people with autism are unique and think differently, we can promote acceptance for everyone.

Jack’s Worry by Sam Zuppardi – In this story, Jack is ready to play his trumpet for the concert, but realizes he has a worry that just won’t go away. Jack struggles with his feelings of anxiety until he talks about them and gets the help he needs. My favorite part of this story is that it doesn’t show a “perfect” ending. Feelings of worry can still be there, but you can get through them!

My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete – This book is written from the perspective of Callie, Charlie’s twin sister, and highlights the real challenges and positives that kids with autism have. Charlie struggles with using his words and even saying, “I love you,” but Callie notices that Charlie show his love in different ways.

Mrs. Gorski, I Think I Have the Wiggle Fidgets by Barbara Esham – This story highlights David, who is working to overcome the “wiggle fidgets.” He learns strategies to help him stay focused in class and make good choices, like playing with a fidget, using a silent timer, and using attention cards. For kids who struggle with ADHD or just paying attention in class from time to time, this is a helpful read!

My Buddy by Audrey Osofsky – A boy with muscular dystrophy tells the story of how his dog, Buddy, helps him throughout his daily life. This can be a great text to highlight that fair isn’t always exactly equal. Even though not everyone can, the boy brings his dog around everywhere because it’s what he really needs to be successful.

My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook – This is a helpful text to highlight kids with ADHD, or kids who just struggle with self-control and shouting out often. Louis has a tendency to speak out without thinking until he does some perspective-taking and thinking of his own! I love this book for thinking about how others feel and learning to wait your turn.

If You’re So Smart, How Come You Can’t Spell Mississippi by Barbara Esham – I love this book because it highlights dyslexia in a clear and meaningful way. Katie’s dad is a smart and hardworking attorney in Chicago. He is the smartest person she’s ever know, but he can’t spell Mississippi! When Katie finds out her father has dyslexia, she goes ahead to do her own research and find out what that really means.

All Are W e lcome by Alexandra Penfold – While this book doesn’t specifically target kids with disabilities, I think it’s an important one to mention because of its overt theme of inclusiveness across the board. This is a timeless picture book focused on diversity and inclusion of everyone. It’s a must-read for every classroom.

Ella Bella Just Can’t Tell Ya! by Hallie Sherman – I know I’m over 9 books here, but I just had to add this one in after grabbing it. The story is about a young girl who struggles with word retrieval challenges. She works to learn strategies to help her along the way. SO many lessons can be learned from this book, including empathy and perseverance.

I hope you love this list as much as I do! If you have other suggestions for great books to highlight learners with disabilities in a positive way, please feel free to mention in the comments.

Strategies to Focus on SEL Through Distance Learning

April 7, 2020 by pathway2success 4 Comments

9+ strategies and ideas to focus on social emotional learning during distance learning. This post includes free ideas, printables, and even digital resources to help teachers and support staff get started. #pathway2success

In the midst of a challenging situation, it’s critical to make time and space for social emotional supports for learners. Simply put, social emotional skills are the foundation for overall well-being. Kids and teens need to feel safe, respected, loved, and valued. They need to have strong coping skills to work their emotional challenges and they need to improve cognitive flexibility to deal with the changes that are happening, so many outside of their control.

For these reasons, it’s important that social emotional skills take the front seat when it comes to distance learning. While these skills are important all of the time, it’s easy to argue that learners need them now more than ever.

Whether you are a classroom teacher, school counselor, social worker, paraeducator, or parent, this list includes specific strategies and ideas to help support all learners during this distance learning experience.

SEL Distance Learning Strategy: Read Stories

It’s easy to say that literature is a great way to integrate SEL into the day. Pretty much any book or short story targets a variety of social emotional skills like kindness, empathy, perspective-taking, and more. It’s important to note that picture books aren’t just for little kids. Many older kids love a good read aloud, too!

Record a video of you reading a text (making sure the author gives permission for this first) and send to your students. You could even do a live read aloud with some videochat tools, like Zoom or Screencastify.

Use this free digital and printable list with ideas for SEL read alouds.

If technology isn’t an option, you can always recommend students and families read books as use. Use this free printable that highlights picture books for every area of social emotional learning.

SEL Distance Learning Strategy: Virtual Morning Meeting

Morning meeting is the semi-structured time of day when students and educators greet each other, check-in, and learn some important skills before starting the day. While it’s certainly preferable to lead a morning meeting in a face-to-face way, it’s also important to note that virtual morning meetings can work, too!

One of my favorite ways is to use a video conversation app, like Flipgrid, to start the conversation on a daily SEL topic. Topics you could choose might be positive self-talk, staying organized, or showing kindness. The specific topic is really up to you. After choosing the topic, record a video of you briefly explaining the skill.

Then, ask a question you want kids to respond to. If you are focusing on kindness, you might ask them to share a kind act they’ve done in the past week. If you are highlighting strengths and abilities, you might ask kids to talk about something they are great at doing. The best part is that with a video conversation app like Flipgrid, kids get to connect with you and each other.

Another option is to schedule a weekly or daily time with your learners to meet online using the software or programs your school is encouraging. That might be Zoom or any other program, depending on your school or student needs.

If you need some extra ideas for morning meeting topics to discuss, I’ve created this set of morning meeting cards for older learners and this set of morning meeting cards for elementary students. They specifically target one SEL skill every day, making it easy to go over all the skills kids need in every domain of social emotional learning.

SEL Distance Learning Strategy: Virtual Emotions Check-Ins

This is a stressful time for everyone, kids and teens included. Spend 1:1 time with individual students and check-in with how they are doing. Use this virtual conference time to ask students how they are feeling, what strategies they are using to focus on wellness, and techniques for managing stress.

Virtual check-ins can be simple messages through emails or Remind, or they can be in the form of videos using Google Hangout or other video programs.

Use this free digital and printable activity as a mindful morning check-in.

I also created this free digital and printable mindful morning activity to help learners start off the day in the right way.

SEL Distance Learning Strategy: Digital Task Cards

As an educator, I have always loved task cards. They are a simple activity to teach skills in a way that feels so different from a worksheet. Of course, in times of distance learning, it might not be as practical to send sets of task cards to each of your students. That’s where digital task cards come in.

For many of my favorite social emotional task cards I’ve already created, I have added a digital component. This makes it easy for kids and teens to still get the social practice they need, while responding to the cards right on the digital Google Drive page.

While there are many distance learning activities to choose from, these social problem-solving task cards are a free set to get learners started.

Use these free digital task cards to help learners work on social skills.

SEL Distance Learning Strategy: Video Instruction

Using videos can be a valuable tool in teaching a variety of skills. Some educators are using pre-recorded YouTube videos to share with their learners, while others are recording their very own personalized videos to send to their students.

If you aren’t quite sure how to get started, try recording yourself on your phone while teaching a mini-lesson to your students. For example, you might record a lesson teaching about using coping strategies, using positive self-talk, or practicing mindfulness (all skills that are extremely important right now).

Make a quick video just to practice and get started. Then, send it to your learners. Not only will you be sending valuable skills, but your students will love seeing you teach again.

SEL Distance Learning Strategy: Digital Lessons and Workbooks

One of the best ways to provide lessons through digital learning is Google Classroom. Using Google Drive digital-friendly resources, students can respond right on the workbooks and activities. Not only does this make things much easier for the student and families at home, but your students can then send their completed assignments straight back to you for review.

Browse a complete collection of digital resources for kids and teens.

I have added digital versions to a number of social emotional resources already. The reason why I’m adding digital version to pre-existing materials is simple. If you have already purchased a social emotional activity from me, you get the update for free. You deserve to have both options so that you can use digital materials now, but always have the choice to using print/paper copies in the future. Browse through the complete collection of digital resources to get started. Many resources are paid, but some are free, too!

SEL Distance Learning Strategy: Using Apps and Websites

There are a number of websites and apps that students can use to practice social emotional skills. Some are free all of the time, while others have offered free membership for a period of time. Some possible apps and sites to try out include:

Breathe, Think, Do
Emotional ABCs
Smiling Mind
GoNoodle
Calm

SEL Distance Learning Strategy: Daily Journal

More than ever, now is a great time to get kids journaling on a daily basis. Not only is writing in a journal a calming and mindful activity, but it’s also a great way to help kids share thoughts and feelings. Even more, you can use journaling as a specific way to target social emotional skills.

Each day, assign a journal topic for kids to write about. For example, you might have them list out some positive thoughts and then writing in a journal about how positive thoughts can be helpful.

Another simple strategy is to encourage kids to journal about their thoughts and feelings each day. Not only will this help them in the moment, but we are living through historic times, so it will be meaningful to them later on.

If you are looking for a simple solution, there are many pre-made digital journals to choose from. You might have students fill out a daily mindfulness journal, for example.

Use a daily journal to target social emotional skills.

My favorite journal, though, is a daily SEL Journal, with every week targeting a different social emotional skill. I created this SEL Journal for elementary students and this SEL Journal for older learners.

SEL Distance Learning Strategy: Family Check-Ins

With all that is going on, it’s also important to check in with families. If we want kids and teens to do well, we need to also support the families they live with. Provide a weekly check-in with families just to briefly ask how things are going and if they need any support.

With a weekly check-in, educators can also suggest a couple of simple activities for families to help build SEL skills at home, such as reading literature, playing board games, having conversations, or even watching a movie together and talking about how characters feel. It’s important to note that there are numerous strategies to work on SEL at home, but we have to give families the tools to get there.

SEL Distance Learning Strategy: Assign Mindful Activities

Whether learners have technology or not, educators can always encourage mindful activities at home. Assign 10 minutes of mindful time each day. You can ask students to complete a specific activity or have them choose from some ideas below:

Drawing or coloring
Free journal writing
Spending time outside
Reading
Go on a mindful scavenger hunt
Practicing deep breathing
Listening to music

Use digital mindful breathing cards to help focus on self-regulation skills.

One of my favorite mindful activities is mindful breathing because it’s a strategy kids can use anytime. I recently added a digital version to these mindful breathing cards, making it easy for kids and teens to carry them along with them wherever they go.

If you’re still looking for ideas, know that I have several free digital resources you can download and send home to students and families right away.

Side note: I’ve recently gotten some questions about how to properly send materials to students/families, so I’ll share here, too. All of my resources, free and paid, can be sent to families and students through e-mail or any other password-protected means, like Google Classroom or an app. Just please don’t post openly on a website, since these can be found from a Google search.

As always, if you have any questions or feedback, please reach out. Thank you for all you do.

Executive Functioning Activities to Start the Morning

February 17, 2020 by pathway2success Leave a Comment

Use engaging and fun executive functioning activities to help jump start kids and teens in the morning. Simple activities like mindful breathing, brain games, journaling, and exercising, can help activate students' brains in the classroom. #pathway2success #executivefunctioning

We all want kids and young adults to start their days off calm, confident, and ready for success. Helping learners nurture their executive functioning skills can be a strategy for getting there. EF skills are the brain abilities we use to plan, organize, and start tasks. Ultimately, our executive functions impact everything from smaller activities like putting the right binder in the backpack to head out to school, to much more complex tasks such as planning for an essay to start and finish before the end of a class.

While some learners struggle with executive functions more than others, all students can build and improve them along the way. Here are eight executive functioning activities you can try to help start students off on the right foot.

Materials Checklist

It’s helpful to have a materials checklist listed just as they enter the door. My favorite spot to post this is actually right outside the classroom. For example, if students need their textbook today, post it and let them know. This gives kids a chance to ask themselves, “Do I have everything I need?” before even walking through the door.

For many classrooms, the list will be the same every day and that’s okay! It serves as a reminder for all students to have a pencil, their notebook, homework, and any other materials they need to succeed.

Preview of the Day

Start the morning by listing your daily schedule on the board. Review it by quickly highlighting your plan for the day. For example, you might say, “This morning, we’re going to review our homework, learn about how to visualize as we read, practice the skill, and start the homework for tonight.” This only has to take a minute, but it can have a positive impact on mindset because it prepares learners for what’s coming.

Morning Meeting

Holding a daily morning meeting helps build community. While at first, it might not seem like this practice is directly related to executive functioning skills, it is. By starting the day with a specific and predictable routine, this can help learners organize their thoughts.

Additionally, morning meeting can be the perfect time to talk about skills like organization, self-control, and perseverance.

Another thing to consider is that the classroom can be a scary place for kids with executive functioning challenges. We ask these learners to take risks every day by working on skills that don’t come easy to them. With that, it’s critical that classroom space is welcoming, encouraging, supportive, and accepting of mistakes. One way to gain that sense of positive classroom community is by leading a daily morning meeting. When students feel safe and loved, they will be better ready to pay attention, initiate tasks, and persevere through challenges.

Morning Exercise Routine

Exercise activates the brain. Help give kids a jump start every morning with a quick daily exercise routine. Spend a few minutes with a daily workout video. You could also lead students through simple stretches, jog in place or practice yoga postures.

If you’re looking to make things more interesting, try a timed scavenger hunt around the room, or outside if the weather is nice. Kids can do this in partners or on their own.

Not only is exercise encouraging a healthy habit, but it will also help students improve focus and be ready to learn.

Organize and Prepare Time

Explicitly schedule time first thing in the morning for students to organize and prepare for the day. During this time, students can sharpen pencils, gather belongings, tidy desk or backpack, write in homework log, and turn homework in.

Question of the Day

Writing can be used as a predictable routine to help students start off the day focused, organized, and calm. Choose a daily prompt to write on the board or projector. As students come in, have them respond independently in their journals. You can even touch other social-emotional bases using questions that target critical SEL skills, like empathy, organization, and problem-solving.

Grab a free week of daily social emotional learning journal prompts to start the morning.

Free-write Journaling

Similar to a question of the day, a free write also helps provide a predictable routine. The difference is that students are choosing what to write about entirely on their own. This can serve as a safe space for students to free their minds before starting the day. It can also help them ask any questions or share feedback with you in a private way.

Class Read Aloud

Choose a read aloud or have your students pick one for the morning. In particular, short picture books are a simple and quick way to increase attention for the day. Also, this can be an easy way to integrate other executive functioning skills like flexibility, self-control, and perseverance. As you read, stop and talk about the characters as they use each of those skills.

Brain Games

Brainteasers, riddles, and other puzzles are simple activities to help students activate their brains in an engaging way. Whether you use a crossword, word search, memory game, or play on words, these activities will help start the day off strong. As an added bonus, they can also help practice skills like organization, planning, working memory, attention, and perseverance.

Classroom Jobs

Classroom jobs are a healthy way to start each morning, as they give every child a purpose in the room. This can be a positive strategy in just setting a predictable routine, helping your students feel valued, helpful, and organized for the day. It’s helpful to assign specific classroom jobs to best suit your learners. For example, if a student has a strength with using technology, have them turn on the laptops first thing in the morning. If another student is especially artistic, give them the role of drawing a positive welcome message to others. A classroom job can help all students start the morning with a positive frame of mind and allow them to feel mentally prepared for the rest of the day.

Practice Mindful Breathing

Think of mindful breathing as a brain break. They are a quick activity to help students reset and refresh before moving on. Not only can they be an effective morning strategy, but really can be used between any tasks. Learn more about mindful breathing, why it’s important, and a few simple mindful breathing exercises you can use with your learners.

Positive Affirmations

All kids and young adults could use more positivity in their days. This is especially true for kids who struggle with executive functioning skills. These are the students who are more likely to struggle with basic tasks like following directions, starting work right away, and paying attention. Over time, these challenges can lead to reduced self-esteem. To counteract this, use positive affirmations to help build kids up and feel good about themselves before starting their day. More confident learners are more likely to task risks, stay motivated, and work to their individual potentials even in the face of difficulties. Grab a free positive affirmations list and let your students create their own individualized lists to start.

Download a free printable list of positive affirmations for kids & young adults.

If you want to help build learners’ executive functioning skills, just give one or two strategies a try! Even small steps are steps in the right direction to helping kids and young adults strengthen their executive functioning skills.

Interested in more executive functioning posts? Check out the following articles:

Using Positive Affirmations as a Morning Routine

February 4, 2020 by pathway2success 1 Comment

Use morning positive affirmations as a positive and motivating way to start each day with your students! Learn how you can follow a few steps to promote a more positive classroom climate with a free printable download right away. A great way to integrate social emotional learning into every teacher's classroom. #sel #positiveaffirmations #pathway2success

Positive self-talk is a powerful social-emotional tool that can help kids and young adults in many ways, from managing tough emotions to persevering through challenges. Reading positive affirmations, or sayings, in the morning is a healthy strategy to create a routine that builds our positive self-talk voice.

The power of positive self-talk is real. When used on a regular basis, positive self-talk can help build confidence, reduce stress, encourage risk-taking, improve mood, and promote a sense of happiness overall. By taking just a few minutes each day, we can teach kids and young adults skills they can use throughout their whole life.

So often, kids and young adults speak with a negative self-talk voice. Here are a few examples you might have heard:

“This class is dumb.”
“I can’t do this.”
“I’m not good at math.”
“I can’t believe I’m so stupid. How did I make that mistake?”

By explicitly teaching and practicing positive self-talk, we can help those students instead say things like:

“Today will be a great day.”
“If I work hard, I can do tough things.”
“I am strong and beautiful.”
“I make mistakes sometimes, and that’s okay.”

One of the most important ways to change negative self-talk to positive self-talk is to create an ongoing routine. It is truly a practice; one that requires effort, consistency, and encouragement. To create a positive morning routine, just use this free printable affirmations list and follow the simple steps to get started right away.

Grab your free printable positive affirmations activity to start right away.

Discuss the Importance of Positive Self-Talk

Explain to students that positive self-talk are the words we say to ourselves to provide encouragement. We might use positive self-talk before a tough test, when we feel overwhelmed with homework, or after something doesn’t go our way.

Read and Choose Affirmations

Have students highlight or circle their top affirmations. Encourage students to internalize the words and think about what they mean to them. It is helpful for every student to have their own individualized list of positive affirmations, so that it is personalized and special to them. Students can even come up with their very own positive affirmation statements.

Write a Positive Affirmation List

Have students list out their top ten affirmations on a piece of paper. After writing them out, students can color or design their affirmation list. This will be the set of affirmations kids and young adults will refer to day after day. While it’s true that they can go back and add or change statements, it’s helpful to have one static list to start.

Read Affirmations Each Morning

Students can keep this list in their folders, binders, or anywhere else that they will have access to it each morning. Start a morning ritual by giving 2-5 minutes each morning to read through their positive affirmations out loud to themselves (or silently, if you prefer).

Using Affirmations as a Coping Skill

Of course, morning isn’t the only time kids and teens can use their positive affirmations. Positive self-talk is a healthy coping skill. Teach them to pull them out and use them whenever they need them, such as before a challenging assessment or feeling let down by a friend.

Use these simple steps and this printable positive affirmations list to get your learners started. It will make a difference for now and in the future!

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