Jun. 4, 2020

Contributed by Andrea Oka

During this uncertain time when our haumāna need support, we continue to share weekly tips for educators from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

Now is an opportune time to engage students in activities that affirm their competence, sense of self-worth and feelings of safety. There are many social-emotional learning practices and wellness activities that teachers can encourage students to complete independently or online. 

These activities can promote self-regulation when students are feeling stressed and provide a healthy sense of control over controllable aspects of an overwhelming situation.

One valuable social-emotional and wellness practice is to introduce students to a feelings chart. Promote self-awareness by having students review the chart and share how they are feeling.

To help them communicate their feelings, encourage the use of a scale. Say: “On a scale of 1 to 10, how bored are you feeling?” or “Are you feeling a little lonely, somewhat lonely, or very lonely?”