The Gathering Zone: A Space for Teens to Chat, Listen, Create, Laugh or Chillax!

This ongoing gathering room is intended as a safe, no-pressure, and inviting drop-in place for teens. Students are invited to talk about their hobbies, and interests, share their artwork, chat about whats going on, or simply listen and doodle if that is their comfort zone. As a Socio-Emotional Teacher, trained mediator and experienced teen parent, I love to organically weave life skills learning into the conversations with the intention of fostering communication confidence, to teach strategies that help manage emotions, teach how to navigate conflict, friendships and goals. The undertone to all discussions will be to promote a positive mind-set, and to build and/or maintain self-esteem.

This class is semi-learner directed. We will learn about each other and our interests, and from there build our discussions based on weekly themes. Many studies support the fact that learning which is relevant to the lives of the learners helps students make connections to the content and from that place of familiarity build their knowledge, understanding, vocabulary and skill set. We will begin each class with a warm welcome and self-introduction. We will discuss recent experiences the group might have (or be going through), areas of interest, and have guided discussions on those topics. As a social-emotional teacher I will seek to intervene with life skills lessons when they can be organically woven into classroom discussions. There will always be a teacher-directed weekly theme to get conversations going. Students will be encouraged to participate and share their opinions and thoughts, in an atmosphere of mutual respect. In addition to active dialogue and discussion, activities in the class can include ⛳️ games, 🦋 role-play, and 🎨 art projects. 

🌼Week One (July 8-14): Fostering Communication Confidence

🌼Week Two (Within July 15-21): Defining Healthy Friendships and What That Can Look Like

🌼Week Three (Within July 22-28): Goals, Goal setting and Forward Thinking

🌼Week Four (Within July 29- Aug 4): Promoting Positive Self-Esteem

🌼Week Five (Within Aug 05- 11): Proactively Handling Conflict

🌼Week Six (Within Aug 12 - 18): Learning About Emotions and Broadening our Emotional Vocabulary

🌼Week Seven (Within Aug 19 - 25): Promoting Positive Thinking
**example sub-topics: fuelling your mind with positive thoughts, focussing on the glass half full/not half empty, storing a "happy box" with items that bring you joy, the benefit of hobbies, being aware of the effects of what we allow ourselves to view, the power of relaxation and good sleep, etc.

🌼Week Eight (Within Aug 26 - Sept 01): What Listening Means and the Power of Listening
Ongoing class
Etc...