🌟 We are committed to interactive classes where children connect with the teachers and have fun while learning. We will learn strategies on how to deal with emotions that might overwhelm them and have opportunities to contribute to making a song together on the tune of 'If You are Happy and You Know It'.

☆ This is an inclusive class. Children of all abilities and disabilities are welcome. If you are concerned about your child's needs, please send us a message and we are happy to accommodate your child and adapt our classes and teaching to meet each child's individual needs. 

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀:
                - belly breathing;
                - hand breathing:
                - pizza breathing;
                - "containing" the anger instead of letting it rummage in our body;
                - balloon breathing and drumming;
                - releasing anger techniques.

𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲:

We will start the class by presenting a range of different emojis that will be shown to the children, and we will discuss which ones show "anger". Then we will tell them a short story with the help of puppets.

1. The story is about 2 animals who were best friends and played together all the time. One day, another animal asked one of the two friends to play with him. The animal that was left out was not happy and felt angry.

2. The puppet will comment about how it feels to be angry. We will also discuss different vocabulary to express a range of emotions. 'Is there another word for 'anger' - 'angry'? 

3. Song: If you're ____ and You Know It - Children can come up with words for this song ie If you are angry/frustrated/mad and you know it, stomp your feet. I will accompany the song with my ukulele/guitar and the children can do the actions.

4. Mindfulness calming strategies: hand breathing, pizza breathing. Children will learn how to use deep breathing in order to calm themselves. Visuals such as drawing around your hand, then hand breathing as well as Pizza breathing technique will be presented.

5. Releasing emotions strategies: Blow a balloon, Drum on a balloon. Children or grown-ups will blow a balloon, and we will drum on the balloon while we sing the nursery rhyme: If You're Angry and You Know It - while we sing and keep a steady beat to the rhythm of the nursery rhymes, our brains will become too busy to think of what made it angry in the first place.


Children don't need to have previous experience of mindfulness or positive mindset strategies. No background knowledge of the strategies is required in order for the children to succeed in this class.

☆ Please note that students can't engage in direct conversation sharing personal feelings and experiences related to their emotions. If you notice that your child's microphone is on, and they start sharing something like that, then I will have to mute them, and they can continue the conversation with you, if you chose so.

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀:
☆ 2 colourful balloons. 1 balloon inflated and 1 not inflated, please. Young children will need assistance to blow the balloon and tie it up as well as parental supervision; please, reach out if you don't have balloons or there are latex allergies involved, I can offer alternatives.
☆ a shaker/bell/maracas;
☆ a whistle/recorder/harmonica...etc to blow on;
☆ felt tip pens and 2-3 sheets of paper to draw on;
☆ space to dance around;
☆ a drum stick or a wooden spoon.


T E A C H E R S :

BELLA ELY:
 💫 Certified K-12 teacher 
 💫 Degree in Social Work
 💫 20 years of experience in elementary, middle, & high school classroom settings
 💫 Level 3 Diploma in Children's Psychology 
 💫 5+ years teaching specifically SEL
 💫 4+ years teaching online

SARAH GEENENS:
🌟 Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Early Childhood Development
🌟 4+ years teaching in public schools 
🌟 experience working with children with dyslexia, ADHD and selective mutism.
🌟 experience leading different programs in schools
🌟 2+ years experience teaching online

SOUMYA K.:

💫 Bachelor's degree in English Literature, Economics, and Home Science
💫 Master's degree in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work, Social and Organizational  Psychology, Family and Child welfare, Family Life Education, Counseling 
💫 Family Constellation- 2023
💫 Emotional Literacy and Emotion Coaching - 2018
💫 Building and repairing relationships, Restorative approaches - 2017
💫 Building Resilience using CBT with Children and Young People - 1
💫 Mediation Skills - 2009
💫  Solution Focused Brief Therapy - 2007

KATIE C.:

💫Bachelor’s Degree specializing in K-12 General Music and 6-12 Choral Education
💫Social & Emotional Learning in Music Education (2021)
💫Culturally Responsive Teaching (2010)
💫Using Children’s LIterature in the Music Classroom (2011)
💫Orff Action: Energize Your Music Classroom (2011)
💫Orff Action: Groove Through the Year (2012)
💫Dalcroze Eurhhythmics and Music (2012)