Teacher Tip Tuesday--Bubbles and Dinosaurs: Showing Self Control in the Classroom

We have spent much of our first few days together learning about what is expected here at school.  After reading How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen, we created some dinosaurs of our own to help us talk about what dinosaurs--and kids--should and should not do at school.  

Using our dinosaur friends and classroom conversation, we are quickly learning school and classroom rules and procedures.





But sometimes knowing the expected behavior is easier than showing the expected behavior.  So, we have also spent some time learning about and practicing self-control.  

We began our discussions about self control by talking about bubbles.  What do you want to do when someone blows bubbles?  You want to pop them of course!  But...if you have self control, you can tell your body to be still and quiet--you don't have to pop the bubbles.  

With some daily practice we are learning that we are in control of our voice and our body.  We can make our voices quiet and make our bodies still, even when it's hard.  We are learning to show our self-control.  

You can help your child practice and recognize self control by practicing at home.  Ask your child to place their hands in their lap for a count of ten before eating their favorite snack.  Play the quiet game (see which family member is the first one to talk).  Asking your child to sit and wait for even a few seconds before engaging in preferred activities will help your child understand what self-control feels like.  

Have a great Tuesday!