How to Help with Math Anxiety

I have shared this infographic from www.mathsinsider.com with my parents via Twitter. My school has data to show our girls in grades 3 and 5 do not do as well on standardized math assessments as the boys. It is not a difference in ability so this year I am trying to raise parents awareness of ways to encourage girls in math (and science) and identify and remediate any barriers. 

RELAX Bingo

For the final session of my Chill groups in grades 3-5 I first give the post-group survey and then I review all the strategies we have covered with a bingo game I made called RELAX. I just create the cards in a word document using a table. It works best if you have about 30-35 choices so everyone does not have the same choices. It takes a little time to put the skills  in different places in the columns. For the cards to call the game remember to put the letter for the column (R- blow bubbles). When I call I frequently give a reminder of how that connects to deep breathing or whatever skill was taught. The students love playing bingo and it is a useful fun activity for closure to a group.

Sid the Science Kid Susie Songs: Breathe In Breathe Out

Great music video to encourage slow breathing to calm kids.

Hurt Feelings book

In a sequel to her bestselling When Sophie Gets Angry..., Caldecott Honor Illustrator Molly Bang asks: What hurts your feelings, and what do you do about it? This book was published in September 2015 but I just discovered it when looking for books to teach children to self-regulate. It teaches kids to accept different points of view.

Everyone's feelings get hurt, and it's especially painful in childhood. In this story, Bang's popular character Sophie is hurt when the other children laugh at her and tell her she's wrong. Sophie's face gets hot, and tears begin to flow. Then she questions herself and the value of the choices she's made. I am planning to use this with a small group but it would make a great lesson to cover some of the ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors in the area of self-management and social skills.

Academic Lesson for Grade 2

I wanted to share one of my session plans, PowerPoint, and handout to evaluate if students met objectives.

Academic Success Grade 2 Lesson Plan by mbmcc

Skills for Learning Grade 2 by mbmcc

Doing My Best Grade 2 Handout by mbmcc

Self Regulation books

                                                         

These are 3 of my favorite books to use in classroom lessons and group sessions to teach about self-regulation. Julia Cook's character RJ really needs help with self-regulation! Zach really appeals to second graders. The book comes with a link to a download of the frustration triangle described in the book. I use "Take a Deep Breath" in first grade after teaching the Conscious Discipline breathing strategies. 

Self-regulation

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Self-regulation is the theme for our classroom lessons in January. I Students need to develop emotional, behavioral, and cognitive self-regulation. One research based intervention for self-regulation is Conscious Discipline that includes a 5 step model, several breathing techniques that are fun and engaging for young students. I teach the breathing techniques to all kindergarten and first grade students. The Shubert series of books that I use in a small group with students who need more work on these critical life skills.