What makes you mad?

[rebeccaC]

I only focus on being mad/angry long enough to see how I can move on in a personal positive way. My parents thought it important to help me develop emotional intelligence skills starting from an early age. I now look at difficult experiences as teachers that can help me sort through an angry feeling in a rational way and help me learn and apply positive strategies to resolve it. It’s now easier for me to do that than just let anger control my reaction.........i've learned that mindfulness and forgiveness can be worthwhile practices.


a perfect day for a ride to the farmers markets for some of next weeks food

[Veronica]

My parents thought it important to help me develop emotional intelligence skills starting from an early age. I

It's too bad not all parents do that. I suspect it's kind of hard to teach those skills to 25 - 30 students at once. I wish I had a nickel for every time one of my students complained that someone was "staring" at them. And a buck for every day I have to deal with girl drama after lunch recess.

I couldn't get parents to come on a free field trip to the Exploratorium, so having on them work on their children's emotional well being isn't likely happen. "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

Veronica

[Crankin]

I'm kind of like Rebecca, is that I let it go very easily now. The mindfulness class helped (I have to be able to practice what I preach), but drama is developmentally the norm for 5th-8th graders. I spent most of my last few years of teaching "on the rug," with groups of girls. That's what led me to becoming a therapist. That, and the fact I loved the morning meeting/Responsive Classroom part of my day and the other teachers hated it. I get worried, though, when I hear about "drama" from the high schoolers and adults I see now...