February 18, 2021
Dear TMSA Families,
We have been so happy to see the students for over a month consistently in-person! It almost feels like we are starting to settle into a sense of “normalcy”. While adjusting back to in-person learning, we have noticed many of our students are “out of practice” with managing conflicts and the emotions that arise in social situations.
At The Main Street Academy, we aim to prepare our students for success– academically, socially, and emotionally. As we continue to have discussions and support our students in their social and emotional development, we appreciate your support in reinforcing the concepts we discuss here in the building. With regards to managing emotions and conflicts, we encourage our students to focus on emotional regulation and self-care, so they can make the best decisions, with a clear head. Emotional-regulation consists of the following concepts and techniques:
- Identifying your feelings! E.g. “I am feeling so mad right now!” or “I am feeling lonely”
- Know that all feelings are temporary (Watch the wave rise and fall!)
- All feelings are OK and healthy
- If we make ourselves feel guilty for feeling, the feeling will last longer, not go away
- We can choose actions that make the problem better or worse
- Practicing a coping skill can help us regulate
Potential coping skills students may use:
- Talking to a trusted adult or friend
- Journaling
- Listening to music
- Reading
- Exercising
- Drawing
- Snuggling a pet
- Going outside
- Taking a shower/bath
- Using your 5 senses to bring you to the present
- Helping someone else or contributing positively to world
- Watching a funny/cute TV show
- Identify – what is the real problem here?
- Share your side with “I” statements ( e. g. “I felt ____ when you ______”)
- LISTEN to the other person’s side
- Think of possible solutions
- Choose a way to solve the problem and complete it!