Social emotional spring cleaning: how to organize the brain for successful learning.

Inside this post: 3 simple steps to clear the cognitive cobwebs for optimal learning.  Steps include easy to implement resources and effective classroom tips.


Spring has sprung! 

And so has the spring cleaning, sorting, and organizing.  

Just like your house seems to run smoother and more manageable after spring cleaning, the brain also can benefit from a little fine tuning with this new season.

So, before you watch an episode of The Home Edit or re-organize your "junk drawer" let's clear those cognitive cobwebs, shake out the daydreaming dust bunnies, and start this new season with clarity, focus and awareness.


It always feels easiest to re-set when we have a new season at hand. 

Spring is the perfect time to encourage a richer social emotional learning curriculum in your classroom.  

Spring Cleaning essentials:  (No Windex or paper towels here)

  • Self Awareness - students learn to recognize, name, and explore their feelings.  This exploration and identification is supported through a DAILY JOURNAL. 
    • Journal prompts guide students through various emotional domains and encourage thoughtful responses.  Teachers and providers are able to seamlessly communicate with students as they dialogue based on student responses.  The feelings journal is an easy first step to enhancing self awareness.
  • Teaching Strategies - introduce students to skills that they can apply for emotional regulation. As my students have so clearly taught me, "a mind works best when it's calm."  A calm, regulated mind and body is one that is ready for learning.
    • The PLANTING YOUR CALM bundle is an essential classroom tool to highlight calm. This resource walks student through planting and growing their calm from within themselves.  A variety of lessons, activities, and visuals enforce the skills of emotional regulation. 
  • Skills and PLAY - solidify and reinforce the previous 2 steps through some social emotional FUN learning tools!! 
    • Whether you want to utilize the Conversation Cards from the PLANTING YOUR CALM series or the Memory Matching Game - there are plenty of ways to encourage skills through play.  The Road Of Emotions has quickly become a favorite with my students.  
You're ready to start!! Grab your resources (and leave your feather duster at home) ignite these steps in your classroom for a STRONG START to SPRING and towards the final push of the school year.

🍏Stay Mindful,

Victoria