Friday, March 27, 2020

Mindful Time for Peace of Mind


Have you ever felt your heart racing 💓, beating like it might pop right out of your chest? Sometimes this is a good thing, like during exercise, or when you hear an exciting announcement. Sometimes it can be a sign of stress, or anxious feelings, and over time can lead to problems.

Practicing mindfulness can help us slow down. It's a reminder to stop and think 🤔 and make good choices. Mindfulness can help us calm our bodies and thoughts. Being more mindful means we can stay focused and in control of our thoughts and feelings. 

I can be mindful
Stopping, breathing, in and out
Still, calm and peaceful.
(Haiku by Mrs. Sawyer 😌)



I Am Peace is One of My Favorite Read Alouds. If you don't have access to the book,  
you might enjoy this great video: 




Five Finger Breathing is one simple way to get you started with mindfulness.

Parents,
    Here are a just a few of the many great sites offering mindful activities
I hope you find them helpful:

Positive Psycholog
y 

Monday, March 23, 2020

The Thing About Books


The thing about books is they will take us anywhere,
     the woods, the mountains, the sea.
Reading carries me around the world, 
     to any place I imagine I want to be. 
Mrs. Sawyer, 2020

We have been practicing social distance now for over a week, and people everywhere are remembering the power of reading. We read because it is FUN, we read to imagine, and we read to explore! I hope you're reading anything and everything you can: novels, picture books, graphic novels, poetry and online resources. Everything you pick up will take you new places, introduce you to interesting characters, and teach you amazing facts.


Always keep a stack of books so you never run out, and if you want to book chat with me, please reach out! I would love for you to share your book love with me! (stacey.sawyer@gorhamschools.org) 

Nothing is better than reading with your family, but below I've shared a few of my favorite online places to hear stories read by some pretty entertaining people.  



#Savewithstories 
An Instagram account where celebrities are reading their favorite books to support Save the Children and No Kid Hungry, two organizations that are aiding children who have been affected by COVID-19.

Audiobooks can be another fun way to know a new book, and Audible is offering hundreds of free audiobooks for kids during COVID-19 school closures.


Friday, March 20, 2020

Better Together!



 Happy Friday Great Falls School!
     I am blowing the dust off of my blog. Life really is better when we are together~and I want to be sure to stay connected to Great Falls students, staff and families.  I will add brief updates throughout the week as long as we are all learning at home.
It is  important for each of us to practice our writing skills and remember that writing can be a fun and powerful way to communicate. Writing posts weekly is one way I pledge to build my own writing routine and share some fun resources with you!

Please visit my blog as often, or as little, as you need. 
 
The Great Falls School, and the wider Gorham community, has proven again, just how amazing it can be when we come together. Thank you for all of your hard work, and most of all, thank you for the support, compassion and humor each of you has shown over the past week. Together we are stronger!

Best Wishes, 
Mrs. Sawyer

 


CELEBRATING GRATITUDE

    N o v e m b e r                                a time of celebration   Thanksgiving is a well-known November holiday celebrated by famil...