Training: Calmers and Energizers
-
Upload
the-reading-connection -
Category
Health & Medicine
-
view
1.777 -
download
1
description
Transcript of Training: Calmers and Energizers
Calmers & EnergizersThe Reading Connection
Energizers! 88 Quick Movement Activities that Refresh and Refocus
by Susan Lattanzi Roser
Bananas…Unite! Peel Bananas, peel-peel bananas (x2) Peel to the left Peel to the right Peel down the middle And chomp! Take a bite Chomp, chomp! Take a bite Go bananas, go-go bananas! (x2)
Video of Go Bananas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytnbGpRmOqE&feature=related
Go Bananas!
Leader◦ Dum Dum (Clap thighs)◦ Dah Dah (Clap hands)
• Group◦ Dum Dum (Clap thighs)◦ Dah Dah (Clap hands)
• Possible Movements Touch toes, reach left/right, reach front/back, nod head, snap
fingers, march, jump, arm circles, reach up◦ Ending: whisper words and finish with shh shh shh shh
Video of Dum-Dum-Dah-Dah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RcR1WsxYpA
Dum Dum Dah Dah
I’m walking, I’m walking, I’m walking Now I’m still
I’m jumping, I’m jumping, I’m jumping Now I’m still
Tips:◦ Practice what it looks like to be “still”◦ Remind kids that they’re to maintain their personal space
and not bump into others
Now I’m Still
Each time “1-2-3 calm down me” gets quieter. In the last 2 verses, the kids can say “calm down me.”
1-2-3 calm down me: run hands from the top of the head down the side of the head or face
1-2-3 calm down me: run hands from shoulders down arms to fingers -- opposite hands
1-2-3 calm down me: run hands from shoulders down chests and tummies
1-2-3 calm down me: run hands from hips down legs to feet -- opposite hands on legs
Then have the kids sit down.
From Arika Van Brunt, Center for Alexandria’s Children
1-2-3, Calm Down Me
Activities, Themes and Books
Tailoring Your Read-Aloud to meet the needs of children under stress
Involve several senses, not just vision and hearing: Bring things to touch, smell or taste.
Include humor, fun, excitement or comfort: Silly is good.
Relate to the children’s interests: sports, dancing, cooking, strange or unusual things, pirates, mysteries, popular news, or games. Ask you kids about their interests!
Encourage movement: Act out stories, play games, dance, build things.
Allow kids to practice communicating in a pro-social way: Make time for conversation and expression of ideas and opinions.
Activities that reduce stress and strengthen connections
Explore cause and effect: What happens next? Why did that happen?
Allow kids to explore empathy and perspective-taking: How would it feel if?
Explore persistence
Explore feelings
Topics that are of high interest to the kids
Themes that support children under stress
Books that support kids under stressExplore a range of emotions
Feature characters with diverse ethnicities and backgrounds
The Brown Bookshelf:
http://thebrownbookshelf.com/
Anita Silvey’s multicultural list:
http://childrensbookalmanac.com/cate
gory/multicultural
/
WETA’s Colorin Colorado:
http://
www.colorincolorado.org/read/forkids
Winners of the Coretta Scott King
Award: http://
www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/emiert/cskb
ookawards/recipients.cfm
Books that show kids solving problems on their own
Picture Books Novels
Volunteer Techniques Ways you can help kids at your Read-Aloud get the most out of their TRC experience
Use TRC’s Promises
From the experts:
How do you/could you use them at your site?
Start with only a few rules.
Be sure you know why you are saying no.
Give your kids a voice.
When setting limits, use the language of choices.
Always be consistent.
More techniques
Volunteers Experts say this helps foster
Come prepared to lead
with confidence
Talk to the kids on their
eye level and one-on-one
Use nametags and call the
kids by name
Only adults read aloud to
the group
Reduced anxiety from adults
Attachment, creating a safe
environment, recognition
Attachment, recognition
Reduced anxiety from
adults, creating a safe
environment, security
A brain under stress makes unconscious responses.
Telling a child under stress what TO DO will be more effective than telling them what NOT TO DO:
“Don’t Run” versus “Please Walk”The stressed brain hears “run”
Give kids positive direction for best results.
Use Positive Statements
Follow this link to find handouts for the material covered in this presentation:
http://www.slideshare.net/readingconnection/energizers-compliation-handout-8646711
Related Handouts
Stephanie Berman703.528.8317 ext. [email protected]
Questions or Comments