There is not enough time in the day for a teacher to do an effective job at all the things. You need to prioritize the most important things. Finding ways to weave Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into already planned curricular areas are one of the ways teachers can find that precious time.
Making words is an engaging, word building literacy activity that you can use during word work. It also makes for an engaging literacy center. This can help all levels of students grow and improve their phonics and decoding skills, increase phonemic awareness, spelling abilities and active listening skills.
By having feelings based mystery words like frustrated and overwhelmed, teachers can naturally add in discussion point to help emphasize identifying feelings and talking about how to handle them.
SEL Making Words
Here are a few tips for talking about feelings when Making Words:
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•Once students figure out the mystery feeling word, take the time to discuss the feeling. Talking about feelings is something like a snowball, it is a slow go at first, but the more people share, the more others open up and share as well. Some questions or prompts to ask your students include:
•Does anyone know what this word means?
•Talk to your students about a time you may have felt this way. Be prepared to provide multiple examples if you are able.
•Have you ever felt this way before?
•What is a time you have had this feeling before?
•Share with a partner a time you saw someone feel this way in a movie or book.
•Why do you think some people would feel this way
•Model how you talk about your feelings. Be as specific as you can when using words to describe your own feelings of worry, frustration, or sadness. This will help signal to students the classroom is a safe space to share and using these specific emotional words makes it okay to talk about feelings.
•Help students to describe and label their feelings. This will help students to more easily recognize their own feelings. “You look like you are mad because you pushed the crayons away and made an angry roaring noise.”
•Prompt students to discuss their feelings by answering specific feelings-oriented questions. ”Today we are going to read a story about someone who worries a lot. Tell your partner about a time you were worried.”
•Allow students to have feelings. Use opportunities of challenge and frustration to help your students recognize their feelings and help them cope. Empowering your student to say how they feel and understand that it’s okay to feel that way helps teachers prepare students to handle challenging situations in life.
Free Making Words SEL Activities
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TPT Making Words SEL Resource
I have also created a larger Social Emotional Making Words product in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. This has 20 more making words activities that are different feelings from the free download.
How do you handle SEL lessons? Do you have a dedicated separate time? I would love to hear.
Interested in reading more about student behaviors?
Check Out these posts-
Teaching Students With Difficult Behaviors in the Classroom
Dealing With Difficult Student Behaviors During Morning Meetings
Recess is an Amazing Investment in Your Limited Teaching Time
