Exploring Career Clusters

What Mark Will You Make on the World?

YOU are already making the world a better place, especially when you follow the Code of Conduct.   Someday you will choose a career where you can be your best you and where you will contribute to the world of work.

THINKING about your future starts with thinking about the things you enjoy as well as knowing your strengths. When you put the two together, we know you will find a path that is perfect for you.

ALL careers are currently organized into 16 clusters. Watch the videos below for an introduction:

Think about it .... what do you LIKE? What are you GOOD at? What do you want to LEARN more about?? Keep your eyes open and keep asking questions we know you will find the perfect job and career that is meant for you!

   Do YOU want to learn even more about careers ? 

Links below:

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Career Fun Bitmoji Room

Maine MOOSE Career readiness Modules

K-12

A- Z Career Lab

Career One Stop

Kids Money Career Videos

Social Skills Are Life Long

 

Did You Know?

      Social Skills are Skills for LIFE

Listening and following directions. Staying on task and using time efficiently. Following school and classroom rules even when no one is watching. Using your organizational skills. Completing schoolwork and homework. Working well in groups. Solving problems appropriately.

The school skills that we have worked on all year

are the same skills that will make you shine your whole life!

Whether you call them social skills, skills for life, or SOFT SKILLS, these skills are people skills, they are JOB SKILLS.

If you demonstrate:

Control of your emotions

Creative thinking

A Collaborative attitude

Good communication

Listening carefully

Time management

       EVERYONE will want YOU to work with them and you will have so many wonderful choices!

So, now let's EXPLORE!

      What excites you? 
            What are your strengths? 
                What are you most excited to learn? 

Use the answers to these questions to begin to think: 

Who am I and what might I want to be?

Play Would You Rather and warm up your brain!

Think about your STRENGTHS too.

What are your skills and talents? How will they help you succeed in a job?

Watch the videos below for MORE ideas!

You don't have to know what you want to do right now. Your ideas will change as you grow and learn and experience more things. The goal is to keep your eyes and ears open to new ideas and to keep being the best version of YOU. 

You already make the world a better place!

HOW DO YOU TACKLE A PROBLEM?

Be a PROBLEM SOLVER!

Being a good citizen means being able to solve problems effectively and fairly. There are a few clear steps we can take to be respectful problem solvers:

First, we name our feelings and calm our mind and body down. This helps us think 
clearly and without strong feelings.

2nd~ Say the problem without blame. Blame assumes that the problem is the fault of one person. True conflict always has two or more sides! What are blame words to avoid?          You always --You NEVER -- 

3rd~ Think of possible solutions. It is important to think of a few possible ideas and to include everyone.

4th~ Explore the consequences of EACH possible solution. Ask yourself, is it fair? Is it kind? What will happen if we choose this solution?

Finally, we Pick a solution to try.

Managing conflict and learning to problem solve is a lifelong skill. It takes courage to stand up for ourselves and it takes respect and compassion to understand our friends, family  and classmates. How will YOU solve conflict?

Conflict

Image from mssepp.blogspot.com on the topic of Conflict.

Learn and Practice More

CHOICE BOARD

Kindness Day ... ALL Year Long

 

friendly, generous, considerate, kind-heartedness, warm-heartedness, goodwill, affection, warmth, gentleness, concern, care, consideration, helpfulness, thoughtfulness, selflessness, compassion, sympathy, understanding, big-heartedness, benevolence, neighborly, hospitality, courteousness, generosity, patience, tolerance, charitableness, graciousness, humaneness, mercifulness, decency

                          

A kind person thinks about other people and looks for ways to be helpful. A kind person shares their time and talents to make things better for others, for themselves, and for the world around them.

FEBRUARY 17th is RANDOM ACTS of KINDNESS DAY!    

This month, and ALL YEAR LONG, we can make an effort to be purposefully kind.  Every act has a ripple effect, whether for good or for bad, so let us be sure to send out ripples of joy and happiness.   

SMILE. Say "Hello." Leave a kind note. Do a friend a favor. 

Hold the door for someone. Give a compliment.  SMILE some more.

Start small. Practice. Practice. Practice.

   And remember to BE kind to yourself as well. 

No one is perfect. Just be the best you can be.

Click -->>>                               HERE for a few more  KINDNESS IDEAS

     

Empathy + Compassion =Kindness

 

EMPATHY is being aware of other people's emotions 

                            and trying to understand what they feel or think.

     COMPASSION is a feeling and creates a desire to help.

          KINDNESS is about doing good to others.

We ALL have the power to make our community kind and welcoming if we develop our skills in empathy and act on our compassion.

 

~ LISTEN to what other people say.

~ LOOK for clues to learn what others FEEL.

~ Imagine yourself in the same situation.

~ ASK people what they need 

                  and then help them if you can.

~ What ideas do YOU have for spreading kindness?

It is important to pay attention to our own feelings and manage our own emotions. Sharing our feelings with others helps them to understand who we are and what we need.

EMPATHY is noticing and connecting to how other people feel and sharing ways to help. How does the character in the video clip below show empathy??

The next time you notice someone feeling angry or sad, or excited, practice  EMPATHY. Try to understand how they are feeling and see if you can find a way to help or share their in experience.

Want to learn more about EMPATHY? 

Read books about Empathy and Kindness on EPIC   (class code mte2015)

Listen to these great stories:

                            

Scroll below for more resources:

   
 

Even More Links:
https://startempathy.org/
https://www.tolerance.org/ 

https://www.empathylab.uk/

https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

Boundaries and Personal Space

 

   Boundaries and Personal Space ... 
            It's Polite and KIND 

YOU MATTER. I do too. Each of us deserves to feel safe and respected, and it all begins with defining our personal space.

Boundaries are like the lines on a sports field. It’s like drawing a line that you don’t want someone to cross and telling people it is not ok to treat you a certain way – and it works both ways. It’s important for you to set boundaries for yourself and to also respect the boundaries that others set.

Personal space is the comfortable distance between you and another person.

You might have different bubbles depending on who you are with, where you are, and what you are doing. 

Personal space is important because it helps people feel safe and comfortable. 

You can allow someone into your personal space if you want to, like if you want a hug. These people should be people you know and trust.

You should respect other people by staying out of their personal space and respecting their boundaries.

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Personal Boundaries 1-2-3

1. Look around you. Watch faces for emotions and body language too.
Be respectful and stay out of other people's personal space so they feel comfortable. 

2. Be kind to your friends. Your friends have their own idea of personal space. Ask before you give a hug or hold a hand. It's RESPECTFUL and KIND. Keep your hands and feet at a safe distance. Your friends shouldn't have to ask you to move.

3. Stand your ground.
 You are important and your space is too! Use your words and body language to protect your personal and private space. Ask an adult for help if you need it. You deserve respect and kindness!

There are many good books and other resources to help you understand boundaries and personal space. Scroll down to see a few!

Harrison Bader Space Invader

Ruby's Bubble

Don't Hug Doug

NO Hugs

A Fun Song for Our Youngest Learners

Boundary Song

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Click for More Books On EPIC

Class Code: MTE2015

 

Finding and Keeping Our Calm

It's December, time to give ourselves a gift~ 

Strategies to help us feel happy, peaceful and calm.

 December is fun with snow and so many holidays. It can be a happy time! We might also feel other BIG feelings.

If you feel
silly, angry, worried or SAD 
do YOU know what to do? 

Practice and use the Calm Down Steps, and they will be a big help when your feelings feel BIG.

step 1 STOP This is the hardest step when your feeling are BIG. Remember to tell yourself STOP, or WAIT, or THINK to give yourself time to pause.

   

step 2 NAME YOUR FEELING  Happy, sad and mad are easy to remember, but don't forget new words like DISAPPOINTED, FRUSTRATED, ANNOYED AND WORRIED. It is important to KNOW and name our feelings and why we are having them. Say them out loud. Share them with an important grown-up.

step 3 CALM DOWN We all have our own ways to calm down, what are yours? Choose a few that you know will work for YOU!

~ Ways to Calm Down ~

Did you know just NAMING YOUR FEELING begins to help you calm down? Expressing our thoughts and feelings can help us feel more in control, and that feels good! 

Focus on Your Breathing. There are so many different kinds of breath. Try one we learned, or explore with your important grown ups and find more ideas!

Take a walk. Have a drink of water. Hug your pet or a stuffy. Dance. TALK to a friend or important grown up. Listen to music. Play outside. Hug a person or a pillow. Rest.

Use positive self - talk: 

                    I AM STRONG. I AM KIND. I AM SMART. I CAN DO ANYTHING!

Draw, paint or craft, or Zen Doodle to give your body and brain time to relax. 

       

Can YOU think of other ways to calm down?

Did you know that being kind to others makes you happy too? This month and all year, try to practice Random Acts of Kindness. Below is a calendar to get you started!

Even MORE ideas:

Mind Yeti shares some wonderful research-based videos that help kids and their adults calm their minds and focus their attention. 

 Cosmic Kids Yoga has fun yoga and breathing stories!

The Virtual Calm Down Room has virtual ideas for calming down.

In the Feelings Bitmoji Room you will find many different emotions and strategies to explore!

Create your own calm corner.  You'll find a few ideas here!

 

The more we practice noticing and naming our feelings, the easier it is to manage our emotions and

Be Our Best Self!