This week, students continued their participation in Social Emotional Academic Development (SEAD) education. If you are wondering how to continue these conversations at home with your students, read on for summaries of their learning and questions for you to ask!
Lower School
Because 3rd - 5th grade students are in contained classrooms, teachers have the flexibility to incorporate SEAD lessons into the daily schedule during J period, D period, or during other times throughout the day as time allows and as needed.
Grade 3
Third grade students worked on conflict resolution and problem solving this week. They practiced what to do or say if they have a conflict with a friend or in a group situation.
Possible questions and conversation starters include the following: What language is effective to use when you are trying to resolve a conflict? What is one way you problem solved this week?
Grade 4
Fourth grade students did the lesson titled "Feelings Review: Feelings and your Brain." The objectives were the following: To provide an overview of the brain and how emotions and thinking work together; To help students understand the importance of self-control for appropriate expressions of emotions; To increase motivation for mastering self -control; Help visualize what happens when their brains process emotions; To explain the concepts of the thinking brain (cortex) and the emotional brain (the limbic system).
Possible questions and conversation starters include the following: What did you learn about the brain and feelings this week? What does self-control mean?
Grade 5
The fifth grade lesson was "Making Good Choices." It focused on belonging to groups, handling peer pressure, making good choices, and listening to your conscience. The objectives were the following: To explain why people want to belong to groups; To remind children that they can control the choices they make; To discuss how to stand up to peer pressure. Students also discussed the differences between a healthy group and an unhealthy group.
Possible questions and conversation starters include the following: What does it mean to listen to your conscience? What does a healthy group look like?
Middle/Upper School
Students in Grades 6-12 talked about the locus of control. Locus of control is a positive psychology term. For students, the word locus of control refers to students' perceptions about the causes or reasons for their academic accomplishments or struggles. This week students learned about how understanding what they can control and what they cannot control can help them be better learners, help their relationships, and help them stress less. Students and advisors discussed how it is often beneficial to let go of things that are out of their control and to focus on things that are important to their personal value systems.
Possible questions and conversation starters include the following: What things are under your control? What things matter most to you and require your attention?
If you have any questions about SEAD lessons, please contact your child's advisor.
- Mindful SEAD
