Children are 100% our Future

Children are 100% our future.
School age children that attend school often spend more time in their day with teachers, than their families. Families also play an essential role in shaping the minds of the children that they also spend time with.

As I reflected all day about what to share on social media, I thought about why I chose to become a teacher, and an early childhood teacher at that and how the education a child receives becomes embedded into their character from the moment a child is born.

How can we achieve equity, equality and embrace diversity when lower income neighborhoods get funded less than higher income neighborhoods? How is this fair? How is this just?

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1-2-3 My Feelings and Me by Goldie Millar and Lisa A. Berger

1-2-3 Feelings for Me by Goldie Miller and Lisa A. Berger is a comprehensive and well thought out book on feelings. It can help a child navigate and be more aware of how they are feeling and provide ways in which they can categorize their feelings, share them, manage them and empower themselves through self-talk. A great book for school directors, principals, guidance counselors and teachers doing detailed unit on feelings in school or for those who work and interact with children as their profession, such as Child Life Specialists, pediatric nurses, pediatricians and hospital educators. This book can also be an asset to parents who want to better understand the details on feelings and how a child sees and experience, process, internalize and express their feelings.

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Temper Tamers Jar

These Temper Tamers Set Of cards by Free Spirit Publishing are a great for children to practice dealing with anger. The more often someone repeatedly practices listening, sharing and reflecting, the more a person makes it part of their lifestyle; and they carry on with these healthy habits of coping until they are adults. I also really like the order of the cards where the children get to first connect the card to self by sharing, then include tips on what to do when you come across angry feelings, a what would you do section to ask openly what you would do in a situation involving anger and act it out section to reiterate and practice what has been learned!


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Worries are Not Forever by Elizabeth Verdick

Have you ever felt worried? What does it mean? How does my body felt differently when it is worried? Do adults worry too? How can I overcome this feeling? The breathing technique the author highlight in this book is brilliant, fun and relatable to many kids , “Breathe in slowly through your nose like you’re smelling cookies. Breathe out slowly through your mouth, like you’re blowing bubbles.” It honestly taught me a more visual and improved way to breathe in and out. Try it too! Smell those cookies and blow those bubbles!

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From A to Z with Energy by Connie Bernstein Dow

Book Review: From A to Z with Energy by Connie Bernstein Dow uses each letter of the alphabet to suggest different ways to be active. The pacing of the book is constant throughout the story (I counted 13 syllables per page), giving readers the opportunity to clap or tap the beat; and to move along in the story ! Eating a healthy lunch (nutrition), exhaling (breathing/emotional regulation) and playing (playground, hiking, stretching) are just a few of the many ways that Dow chooses to show how energy can be dispersed.

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I’m Happy-Sad Today by Lory Britain, PhD

Excellent book, with superb illustrations on mixed up feelings. Happy to see mom, but sad because you have to stop playing? Scared to be in a classroom for a first time, but brave because you are going to school? Painting, pretend play and dancing are all healthy ways to express yourself. Last few pages can be used to make several lesson plans.

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Cool Down and Work Through Anger by Cheri J. Meiners

Excellent, clear and easy to understand book with examples of when children might get angry and how to work through them in a positive way. Great images. Bonus guidelines in the back of the story for adults on how to engage in discussion with children and a page by page(s) on how to break down the content.

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