For the first lesson with Kindergarten I will introduce myself to the students and explain to my role within the school. We will then read the book "What If Everyone Did That" by Ellen Javernick. I use this book to talk about how rules can be different at school due to the number of children in one room, and how we can follow these rules. I then end the lesson by playing a game of Simon Says. I introduce the game and instruct them that I have two extra rules. The first rule is to be quiet, the second rule is to be honest when they get out. After we finish the game, the lesson is over.

For the month of October we will begin by reading the book "Thinking With your Eyes", book 3 in the We Thinker's book series. We will talk about the importance of looking at something when we are supposed to be thinking about it. This could be looking at the teacher during directions, a friend when playing, or a ball during a game. We talk about how this shows other what we are thinking about and helps us to learn new information. 

For the second lesson in October we will be reading the book "Body in the Group", book 4 in the We Thinker's book series. We will talk about the importance of having our bodies under control when in a group. We talk about how when our body is not with the group it makes others believe that someone doesn't want to be a part of the group. We talk about how if you want to play with someone or be apart of a group you have to have your body with the group.

For the month of November we will be reading the book "Whole Body Listening", book 5 in the We Thinker's book series. I will talk about the importance of having one's body under control when with a group. I talk about how listening isn't just with our ears, we listen with our whole body. We will then talk about how we show others we are listening, or not, through how our body looks. 

In December we will be working on being grateful. We will be reading the book "Thank You, Omu!" and then talking about the importance of giving and being thankful when we are given gifts of kindness. I then talk about the importance of being grateful for what others give us and how we should respond when someone is kind to us. 

January's lessons will begin with introducing the size of the problem. When I speak to students we will be talking about how to look at a problem and figure how big a problem it really is. Then to decide how to react to a problem. I categorize problems into three varieties. Small problems, medium problems, and big problems. Students will show the size of the problem with me by using their hands. They put them together and then leave a small gap for a small problem, and bigger gap for a medium problem, and then stretched as far as they can go for a big problem. A small problem is a problem that a person can solve by themselves and should have a very small reaction. A medium problem is a problem that needs some grown up help but should still have a smaller reaction. A big problem is an emergency and they need to get grown up help right away. I list these as tornados, hurricanes, fires, etc. We talk about how we shouldn't have big reactions to small problems because it makes it harder to solve those problems. We will then read the story "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day". I will ask the students to rate the size of his problems, which are mostly small, and then ask if he had a good reaction to those problems.

The second lesson will be about the Zones of Regulation. The Zones are a way to categorize feelings in a manner that makes it easier for students to understand and label without any negative connotation for any feeling. The four zones are the blue, green, yellow, and red zones. Each zone is differentiated by energy level and amount of control an individual has. Blue zone is when a person has a lack of energy and is feeling down as a result. An example of feelings in the blue zone would be sad, tired, sick, and bored. Within the framework of the Zones, none of those feelings are bad. They are something everyone can have which at times are positive or understandable, and times where being in the blue zone is inopportune. 

 

In the month of February we will begin by talking more about the green zone in the Zones of Regulation. The green zone is a zone where we feel calm, collected, focused, and or content. Being in the green zone means that one is in control of their feelings and body. We will then read "A Little Peaceful Spot" and talk about how it relates to the green zone. 

The second lesson will be about being welcoming and welcoming differences between people. We will read the book "All Are Welcome" by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman. We will then discuss how everyone is different from one another and why that is a good thing for our community. 

To begin the month of March we will be talking about the green zone in the Zones of Regulation. The green zone is a zone where we feel calm, collected, focused, and or content. Being in the green zone means that one is in control of their feelings and body. We will then read "A Little Peaceful Spot" and talk about how it relates to the green zone. The green zone is taught as the zone we want to be during times where we have to focus, like during a lesson, but students are also taught that you can't and shouldn't always be in the green zone.

The second lesson of the month will be on the yellow zone for the Zones of Regulation. We will talk about how the yellow zone is when we have more energy and are a little out of control. Feelings within this zone could be excited, silly, worried, nervous, jealous, embarrassed, frustrated and more. When I speak about this I will emphasize how none of these feelings are bad, they are just parts of being human and having feelings. We will read "Ruby Finds a Worry" by Tom Percival. We will talk about how to manage the yellow zone when it isn't a good time to be in the yellow zone.

For the month of April we will begin with the red zone. The red zone is feelings where we have too much energy and lose control. Feelings within the red zone could be angry, terrified, aggressive, and elated. We talk about how any of these are ok feelings, so long as they do not lead to negative actions. We will then read the book "A Little Spot of Anger". We will then talk about how to manage these feelings and then review the zones. 

The second lesson we will talking about coping skills using the "Clovis Keeps His Cool" by Katelyn Aronson and Eve Farb. During the book the main character uses many different coping skills to try to keep his cool when people are making him understandably upset. I will ask to students to identify them as we read the book and then we will practice a few while reading the book. The book also uses colors the align with the zones of regulation, which we will be noting as we read the book.

For the month of May I will be ending the year talking about careers. We will read the book "When I Grow Up" by Al Yankovic and discuss how there are so many careers out in the world. We will identify that a career is a job you want to have for a long time. I will then ask students to draw themselves in a career they would like when they grow up.