I believe in stopping everything to participate in breathing strategies.  

Every morning my 4th grade class would breathe for a minute.  I introduced one at a time and once they were all introduced, the student of the day could choose which one they wanted to do.  I always pose it as an invitation in case anyone does not want to do it.  They are to remain quiet and respectful, but some choose not to participate.  

Most of these breathing exercises can be found on GoNoodle!  If they are not there, I recommend searching for them on YouTube.  As always, preview videos before using them with your class.

Happy Breathing!
​Jill

I'm a little embarrassed to tell you this, but I was off. my. game. last year when it came to the morning slides.  Some days I literally would walk into my room 10 minutes before the students and try to "whip up" some slides for the morning. smh just thinking about it.  I had "good" streaks, and it made me happy to have the morning slide ready to go.  OR I told myself I'd rather have them seeing footage of an undersea scene with beautiful music.  But, still...I wasn't satisfied with my (lack of) set up.

This year, I am going to do better.  I am working on creating all of my morning slides for the year.  Oh, I said it.  Here's what each slide will have:

• The Morning Meeting question so that students can think about it before they have to share
• Morning Work 
• Indiana Fact of the Day
• Book of the Day (So we can talk about GENRE and Fiction/Non-fiction)
• Word of the Day (I use this in my classroom management.)
• And an empty square for my BITMOJI or other announcements.

Here's the thing I realized.  Putting morning procedure items on the morning slide rubbed me the wrong way.  Why am I putting, "Get a drink and use the RR.  Get 3 sharp pencils" etc. on the morning slide?  All of you who are a step ahead of m e on this, please laugh not at me.  Those items need to be posted on a POSTER somewhere very visible.  Those things need to be cemented in during the first two weeks.  Teach it. Expect it. Enforce it.  (That just came out...thank you for whoever said that first!)

So far I have made the template for the slides and filled in the questions.  Here are my questions for the year and I am happy to share them with you!  

A few disclaimers: 

• You will have to adapt them to your purposes.
• There are different "levels" of questions from easy (What is your favorite color) and more difficult (Tell about a time when you were sad.). I will be sensitive to my students and our community and adjust accordingly.
• Any of these questions will be bumped as we discuss issues and items that come up for us as a learning community.  

If you'd like a copy, CLICK on the PIC below. 

Happy Community Building!
​Jill

EXAMPLE of Wellness Class Slides. Click on image to go to the Canva Template.  

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Click on image and it will take you to the Canva Template.

Click on image to go to Canva Template.

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