Social Emotional Learning

Secondary Family Resources

June 2020

COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE COVID-19 RESPONSE

During this unprecedented time many families are finding themselves in need of resources to keep their family healthy. You can find a comprehensive guide for housing and community resources by going to Tacoma School District McKinney-Vento page https://www.tacomaschools.org/mv/Pages/default.aspx and clicking on the “Housing and Community Resources” link on the right hand side. Below we have highlighted some more commonly asked about resources. You may also simply call 211.

BASIC NEEDS DSHS: To access basic food, cash assistance and medical insurance needs Information found at: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/food-cash-medical Food Banks: FOOD BANKS IN PIERCE COUNTY: https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/454/Food-Banks Free Groceries: Saturdays at 1:00 The Empowerment Center 4340 Pacific Ave Tacoma 98418

HOUSING AND SHELTER *The district does NOT have hotel/motel vouchers or funds to help with rent* Access Point for Housing at 253-682-3401 The Rescue Mission Adams Street Family Shelter 253-383-4493 - Ask for Adam’s St Family Shelter Salvation Army 253-572-8452 The Serra House Youth Shelter for ages 13-17 253-328-6127 Email: Tacoma@thecoffeeoasis.com Catholic Community Services Family Day Center : Offers drop support services for families experiencing homelessness. Families can access onsite caseworker, showers, laundry, computers and kitchen facilities. Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9:00am-4:00pm Wednesdays: Noon-6:00pm Address: 5050 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, WA 98409

FINANCIAL HELP Such as Unemployment Assistance, Mortgage Assistance, Paying Rent, Paying Credit Cards, Utilities Assistance, Short Term and Emergency Loans https://dfi.wa.gov/coronavirus/financial-resources#rent https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-announces-relief-for-businesses-workers-renters-and-more-in-response-to-covid-19-outbreak-c09c13a02690

MCKINNEY-VENTO The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth. If during the COVID 19 pandemic you have had a change in housing situation and are currently in an unstable housing situation such as living in a shelter, motel or campground, doubled-up with other people, ”couch-surfing”, living in a car, park you may qualify. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR BUILDING COUNSELOR, SOCIAL WORKER, FAMILY LIAISON OR WHOMEVER YOU HAVE CONTACT WITH AT YOUR STUDENT’S BUILDING.

Whole Child Secondary SEL Lesson Packet

Let’s Learn Let’s Breathe Let’s Move Let’s Grow

Students and Families,

We hope your new schedule and routines you worked on in the past few weeks are working well

for you, and if not, feel free to adjust and refine them!

Especially during this difficult time is important to reflect on and understand our feelings and

know that whatever you are feeling during this time is ok. While practicing physical distancing,

there are easy self-care strategies that can help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety or

prevent anxiety before it even starts.

Use these tips from the MHFA to take care of your mental health while practicing physical

distancing.

1. Eat healthfully to keep your body in top working order.

2. Exercise reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, whether we’re working out at home

or taking a solo jog around the neighborhood. (use any of the Let’s Move section activities)

3. Practice relaxation therapy. Focusing on tensing and relaxing muscle groups can help you

relax voluntarily when feeling overwhelmed, stressed or anxious. (use any of the Let’s

Breathe sections in this packet so you can use it when needed)

4. Let light in. For some people, increased exposure to light can improve symptoms of

depression. If you can, open the shades and let more sunlight in.

5. Be kind to yourself! Treat yourself with the same compassion you would a friend.

6. Stay connected. Even if you can’t get together face-to-face, you can stay connected to

friends, family and neighbors with phone calls, text messages, video chats and social media.

If you’re feeling lonely, sad or anxious, reach out to your social support networks. Share what

you are feeling and offer to listen to friends or family members about their feelings. We are

all experiencing this scary and uncertain time together.

7. Monitor media consumption. While you might want to stay up-to the minute with COVID-19

news, too much exposure can be overwhelming. Balance media consumption with other

activities you enjoy, such as reading, cooking or listening to music.

Self-care doesn’t require you to go outside or spend a lot of money. Adding small changes to your

routine can make a big difference to your overall mood and well-being.

These packets topics include self-motivation, confidence and efficacy, appreciation of diversity,

an opportunity to reflect on your values and how that guides your decision making and more!

These lessons can be done alone or with others in your home. Have fun this week! Try something

new, and don’t forget to wash your hands!

Remember we are in this together, reach out to others if you need anything. Your friends and

family, teachers, counselors and everyone at your school are a resource for you to connect with,

ask questions of, and are here to help support. The teachers and people at your school care

about you, believe in you and miss you. You got this!

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Topic: Self-Motivation

Why is this important? The ability to motivate yourself—self-motivation—is an important

skill. Self-motivation drives people to keep going even in the face of set-backs, to take

up opportunities, and to show commitment to what we want to achieve. Motivation is what pushes us

to achieve our goals, feel more fulfilled and improve our overall quality of life.

Practice: Improving our self-motivation doesn’t happen overnight, certainly not in a challenging

time like we’re experiencing. However, there are little things we can do to improve our self-

motivation. One way is to create a to-do list, but not with overwhelming tasks, perhaps just with small

things you’d like to accomplish during the day. Use the template below to create a to-do list of 1-3

tasks you’d like to accomplish today. Remember to start small, this could include things like:

brushing your teeth, going outside for a walk, washing your face, doing one load of laundry, etc. If

you already make a to-do list, try using the time management schedule with your task list.

Reflection: Did you know that writing things down on a to-do list can help you

prioritize and complete tasks? How might creating a to-do list help you accomplish your

tasks?

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Goal Setting: Like mentioned before, increasing our self-motivation doesn’t happen

overnight. How many tasks can you accomplish by using a to-list? Set a goal for yourself and

work your way up to making a full task list. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Today I had ____ active minutes. Tomorrow, my goal is ____ active minutes.

Mindful Observation

This exercise is simple but incredibly powerful

because it helps you notice and appreciate

seemingly simple elements of your environment

in a more profound way.

The exercise is designed to connect us with the

beauty of the natural environment, something that

is easily missed when we are rushing around or

feel stuck inside all day!

1. Choose a natural object from within your

immediate environment and focus on

watching it for a minute or two. This could

be a flower or an insect, or even the clouds

or the moon.

2. Don’t do anything except notice the thing

you are looking at. Simply relax into

watching for as long as your concentration

allows.

3. Look at this object as if you are seeing it

for the first time.

4. Visually explore every aspect of its

formation and allow yourself to be

consumed by its presence.

5. Allow yourself to connect with its energy

and its purpose within the natural world.

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Topic: Self-Confidence

Why is this important? Self-Confidence is about believing in one’s own ability, trusting

your own judgment and abilities, and that believing in your value feel worthy, regardless of

any imperfections. One of the ways to support your self-confidence is the regular use of positive

self-affirmations, to deliberately install desired beliefs about yourself. Affirmations are uplifting

statements that we say to ourselves. Read on to learn more about how to integrate this practice daily.

Practice: Here are several key strategies you can teach your students about using affirmations:

• Affirmations must be firm, defined statements. Conditional affirmations are not nearly as effective.

Avoid words like “hope,” “should,” or “wish” because these are soft and lack the confidence to be

effective.

• Keep affirmations in the present tense. They should not be something you will become in the

future; they should always speak to what you are now.

• Repetition and frequency are critical. We all know the power of repetition when building new

habits. The thoughts we have today are simply habits we’ve solidified throughout our lives, so

applying affirmations frequently is the key to rebuilding them. Just before bed at night and first

thing in the morning are the two most powerful times to employ affirmations.

• While saying affirmations to yourself is a start, saying them out loud is more powerful. Writing

them down is even more potent. The most impactful time to make an affirmation is in the moment

of need (e.g. saying or writing the affirmation, “I am good at math” while you are taking a test).

• It is important to manage the number of affirmations. Prioritize the top 3 to 5 and start off by

focusing on those. You can always expand into new areas over time. Circle which might be most

important to you to focus on for now.

Here are 35 positive affirmations for you to help combat negative thinking:

To increase self-esteem and body image:

1. I embrace my flaws, I know that nobody is perfect

2. I don’t want to look like anyone but myself

3. I get better every day in every way

4. My self-worth is not determined by a number on a

scale

5. I matter, and what I have to offer this world also

matters

6. I love myself deeply and completely

To help deal with adversity

7. This too shall pass

8. Failure is great feedback

9. I am confident about solving life’s problems

successfully

10. I learn from my challenges and always find ways

to overcome them

11. I press on because I believe in my path

To encourage a belief in my future

12. If I can conceive it and believe it, I can achieve it

13. The future is good, and I look toward it with hope

and happiness

14. I can do whatever I focus my mind on

15. I follow my dreams no matter what

16. All my problems have solutions

17. I am open to all possibilities

To reduce comparing myself to others

18. I compare myself only to my highest self

19. I refrain from comparing myself to others

20. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes

21. I am who I want to be starting right now

22. I see perfection in both my virtues and flaws

To deal with bullying or social conflict

23. I belong, and I am good enough

24. No one can make me feel inferior without my

consent

25. I surround myself with people who treat me well

26. I see the beauty in others

27. I am safe and sound, and all is well

28. It is okay to say no because those who matter

don’t mind and those who mind don’t matter

To improve overall attitude

29. I am perfect and complete just the way I am

30. I control my emotions; they don’t control me

31. I am too big a gift to this world to feel self-pity

32. Today is the best day of my life

33. I fill my day with hope and face it with joy

34. I choose to fully participate in this existence

35. The mistakes I made yesterday are creating the

person I’ll be tomorrow

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Reflection: Which positive affirmations will you practice using as a mantra today?

Take time to practice saying it aloud and write it down. Make a plan for making sure to keep

up with saying it to yourself so that it is becomes easier in the moment you need it! __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Goal Setting: Click or tap here to enter text.

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Today I had ____ active minutes. Tomorrow, my goal is ____ active minutes.

5-Minute Mini-Meditation

Relax in a chair, in your bedroom or just about

anywhere with this five-minute mindfulness exercise.

1. Find a quiet spot to sit, lie or stand. Try to pick

a place where you won’t be disturbed.

2. Get in a comfortable position.

3. Rest your hands on your legs or at your sides.

4. Either close your eyes or focus on a single

point in front of you.

5. Listen to your breath as you inhale and exhale.

6. Try to focus on your breathing and not what is

causing you stress or pain.

7. Breathe in slowly and exhale slowly. That is

one count.

8. Continue until you complete about ten counts

of breathing.

9. If your mind wanders and you lose count, start

again.

10. Open your eyes or shift your focus.

11. Notice how you feel.

12. Were you able to calm yourself even a little?

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Topic: Appreciating Diversity

Why is this important? Each of us is unique, and what makes us unique should be

celebrated. How boring would our world be if we were all the same?! When we appreciate each

other’s differences, our classroom and communities are positive places, we can learn from each

other, and we get introduced to new exciting things! and a great way to learn about others is by

kindness, asking questions, and thinking before we speak.

Practice: Think about groups at school or in the community that we tend to lump together

(e.g., kids in band, kids who play sports, all of the girls, etc.). Use your journal to write down

some ideas. Next, use your journal to answer the following prompts: (1) When we lump

everyone from the same group together and assume they all have the same characteristics , what

are we doing? (2) Do you know a lot of people from the groups we tend to lump together? Do

they all fit the stereotype? (3) Why are stereotypes dangerous?

Reflection: Spend the next 5 minutes finishing up your journaling. Answer the

following prompts: (1) How do different parts of our identities combine to make us

the unique person we are? (2) What are the benefits and challenges of living in a

diverse society? (3) How can we celebrate what we have in common, while also honoring our

differences? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Goal Setting: Think about your best friend or a close family member. How are they

different than you? How are they the same? We challenge you to connect with 1-2 family

members or friends and tell them what you appreciate about what makes them different than you and

why you appreciate your similarities as well. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Today I had ____ active minutes. Tomorrow, my goal is ____ active minutes.

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Mindful Steps Exercise:

*Best completed outside if there is an appropriate

space (you can be barefoot if you like and it is safe to

do so).

Begin with three deep breaths.

Then, take 5 or 6 steps in one direction, turn slowly

and take 5 or 6 steps back to where you started.

While walking, bring your awareness to your breath

and your body.

• What does the ground feel like under your

fee?

• Which part of your foot touches the ground

first when you take a step?

• Does your body feel heavy or light today?

• Are you slouching when you walk? Or is your

back up quite straight?

• Try not to change the way you walk, but

instead just notice how your body naturally

moves.

Topic: Ethical Responsibility

Why is this important? Knowing what we value most in our life makes it easier to respond

to opportunities and conflicts with integrity. In order to determine your values, try the Value Card

Sort Activity on the next page, as an excellent way to reflect upon what is most important to you.

Values Card Sort Activity1 First cut the cards on the next page to sort, or create a table to write in.

VERY IMPORTANT IMPORTANT LESS IMPORTANT

1. “Sort” the cards into 3 categories of importance to you (VERY IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT, LESS IMPORTANT). Go one by one, and use your gut, it doesn’t have to take long. Trust your instincts. 2. After your first sort, focus on the VERY IMPORTANT group and narrow down to your top values. 3. Rank your top 3 cards from the VERY IMPORTANT group:

1. __________________________________________ 2. __________________________________________ 3. __________________________________________

3. Reflect on the prompts in the “Reflection” section on your sorting choices in your journal

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Value Cards Sort Activity: Title Cards

VERY IMPORTANT IMPORTANT LESS IMPORTANT

Values Value

Working Hard Taking Time for

Myself Being Successful Fame, Success

Being Organized Being Happy Being Real/Genuine

Being Influential

Being Loyal Having High

Standards

Being a Good

Friend Being Patient

Being Honest Being Responsible

Staying in Control Making a Difference in the

World

Being Respected

Doing the Right

Thing

Being Kind

Helping Others

Being a Life-Long

Learner

Having Fun

Being a Role

Model

Ensuring Others Feel Safe and

Welcome

Feeling Good About Myself

Being Flexible

Faith or

Spirituality

Being Fair

Being Aware of Personal Biases

Being Self Reflective

Understanding

Others

Creativity

Being a Good Listener

Courage, Risk

Taking

Learning about

Other’s Interests

Increasing Social

Justice

Being Loved

Having a Good Sense of Humor

Not Sweating the

Small Stuff

Family

Celebrating Differences in

People

Being a Good

Student

Not Giving Up

Being a Leader

Value Cards

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Reflection: Reflect on the values you determined above, and narrow down to your top 3. In what ways

do you live those values? How about when you are with your family or friends?

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Read the below quote and reflect on what that quote means in your life: As we practice resolving dilemmas we find ethics to be less a goal than a pathway, less a destination

than a trip, less an inoculation than a process. —Ethicist Rushworth Kidder

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Goal Setting: In what way can you commit to living your values today?

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Today I had ____ active minutes. Tomorrow, my goal is ____ active minutes.

Practice This Now So You Can Use Anytime!

Take one hand and gently tap your thumb to each

finger on the same hand.

Think only about what you feel as you alternate finger

taps. If your mind drifts to other things, just gently

bring it back to your fingers.

Notice but disregard all other fleeting thoughts.

Focus on your fingertips. How do they feel right

now? After a minute or two, relax your fingers and

take a note of any difference you feel in your hand. If

you closed your eyes during this exercise, open them.

Gently stretch your entire body and reflect on what

just happened.

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Topic: Organizational Skills

Why is this important? We are all out of regular routines and need to change up how we

organize our time. We are all learning how to best organize our space, tasks, and time at home, so

don’t give up! If your space or your routine isn’t working, change it up!

Reflection: How you have organized your space to do schoolwork? Make sure you

have all you need handy, and ready for you before you start.

How are you organizing your time, and making sure you are taking care of yourself?

Are you making a to-do list, and making sure some of the basics like drink water, get outside, connect

with others or other important ways to take care of yourself on that list?

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Goal Setting: How will you work on getting more organized today?

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Today I had ____ active minutes. Tomorrow, my goal is ____ active minutes.

Musical Drawing

This activity is designed to allow you to experience how outside

forces can influence your mood, pace, and feelings. You will need

either several songs that vary in tempo and mood or one song

that changes tempo and mood throughout, paper and pencil.

1. Play 30 seconds of a slow and relaxing piece of music, then

change a fast-paced beat for about 30 seconds, then back

to the slow and relaxing, then back to a higher intensity

song, then if you can play some peaceful nature sounds.

2. While you listen, draw anything you want, real or abstract.

But keep drawing!!

3. After listening to the varying music--Reflect:

Did your posture change? Did the pace of your drawing

change? Did the strokes become faster or slower?

Did you change the grip on your pencil?

4. Music affects our emotions and body during this activity

and even possibly the outcome of your drawing. Our body,

feelings and emotions are connected and can be

influenced by outside forces.

How can this activity influence what you do during the day to

influence your body, feelings and emotions?

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Topic: Self-Efficacy

Why is this important? Self-efficacy is the belief in your own ability to succeed in achieving a goal—having

the confidence to know you can do whatever you set your mind to by managing how you think, feel

and behave. Having high self-efficacy helps get control your thoughts feelings and emotions, set and

achieve goals.

Practice:

5 Ways to Improve your Self-Efficacy

1. Recall times you have succeeded in the past through your own hard work and strength For example: remember the last time you earned an A on a difficult test, by asking others for

help and studying hard. Pulling on your own of success has the strongest influence on your self-

efficacy.

2. See how others like you achieved success

For example: when you watched your friend train for a big race and win, it makes you feel more

confident in your ability to win at your next race.

3. Helpful feedback from others

For example: when someone you trust (a teacher or friend) coaches you and encourages you, to

help you overcome your own self-doubt.

4. Imagine yourself accomplishing the task For example: any positive images you see in your mind, like seeing yourself figuring out a math

problem before you even begin, or a winning a race before you start running.

5. Learn how to read your body and emotions

We all get nervous when we have to do something challenging, but when we read it in a positive

way- for example we read our feeling as excited rather than anxious helps us see the situation in a

different way.

The more you become familiar in these skills, the easier it will become in using them. Having self-

efficacy doesn’t mean achieving goals is easy, but it means that you believe you can make it happen.

Which makes you more likely to set and achieve challenging goals.

Reflection: It is important you know you are not alone in this, and it isn’t all up

to you. Reflect on a time when you had someone who encouraged and supported you in

succeeding or helped you bounce back from setbacks. Describe how they supported you.

Then reflect on who can you reach out to help support you in reaching your current goals? You can

also do this for others to help build their self-efficacy. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Goal Setting: Self-efficacy matters when setting goals and pursuing them. What goal

do you want to accomplish? Work through the 5 ways to improve your self-efficacy as it

relates to this goal. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Today I had ____ active minutes. Tomorrow, my goal is ____ active minutes.

Mindful Appreciation

In this last exercise, all you have to do is notice 5

things in your day that usually go unappreciated.

These things can be objects or people; it’s up to you.

Use a notepad to check off 5 by the end of the day.

The point of this exercise is to simply give thanks and

appreciate the seemingly insignificant things in life,

the things that support our existence but rarely get a

second thought amidst our desire for bigger and

better things.

For example: electricity powers your kettle, the

postman delivers your mail, your clothes provide you

warmth, your nose lets you smell the flowers in the

park, your ears let you hear the birds in the tree by

the bus stop, but…

o Do you know how these things/processes came

to exist, or how they really work?

o Have you ever properly acknowledged how

these things benefit your life and the lives of

others?

o Have you ever thought about what life might be

like without these things?

o Have you ever stopped to notice their finer,

more intricate details?

o Have you ever sat down and thought about the

relationships between these things and how

together they play an interconnected role in

the functioning of the earth?

Once you have identified your 5 things, make it your

duty to find out everything you can about their

creation and purpose to truly appreciate the way in

which they support your life.

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Fun and games are for people of all ages!

Try to get a bingo with this wellness bingo or complete every challenge!

Whole Child BINGO

I am SAFE I am HEALTHY I am ENGAGED I am CHALLENGED I am SUPPORTED

B I N G O

25 Frog Jumps

25 Sit Ups

15-Minute Gratitude

Walk

30-Minute Fast

Walk

25 Air Squats

20 Arm Circles

(Each Direction)

Trade a Sugary

Snack for a

Healthier Option

1-Minute Wall Sit

20-Minute Bike

Ride

Have a piece of fruit

as a snack

Jump Rope

2-Minute Walk on

Heels

FREE SPACE

15 Minute Dance

Break

1-Minute Plank

Walk Up and Down

50 Stairs

30-Minute

Walk/Run

50 Jumping Jacks

Try a New

Vegetable

10 Minutes of

Mindful Breathing

15-minute run

Cat Cow Yoga Pose

Eat a meal that

includes all 5 food

groups

Eat a Healthy

Breakfast

20 Push Ups

Cardio=

Strength=

Endurance=

Flexibility=

Nutrition=