This year I have 10 students that started school last year and 8 students started school at the beginning of the year. I have 11 boys and 7 girls. During the first few weeks of school my focus was on establishing rules and routines in our classroom.Over the past few weeks the children have formed good relationships and friendships with each other. They come to school happy and are excited to learn and be with each other.
My inquiry will focus on the CoL Achievement Challenge:
#5. Improve the achievement of students with additional needs in the learning areas of English/key competency using language symbols and texts.
My focus is using the ENGAGE programme to teach skills to help children self regulate behaviour so that they can manage themselves.
I will use the engage programme, focussing on Literacy in Terms 1& 2 and Numeracy in terms 3 & 4.#5. Improve the achievement of students with additional needs in the learning areas of English/key competency using language symbols and texts.
The engage programme has three domains:
1. The Emotional (Feeling) Domain-RED
Recognising and regulating emotions, calming through breathing and movement, mindfulness.
2.The Cognitive (Thinking) Domain-Orange
Listening and playing attention, remembering instructions, blocking out distractions, fine and gross motor skills, controlling speed of movement, balance, etc.
3. The Behavioural Domain ( Doing) Domain- Green
Controlling impulses, patience, turn taking, delaying gratification.
I will be focussing on two of these domains looking at a group of children however the games will be played by everyone in the class as every child will benefit from these games. Two games are played for 10 minutes over a period of 4 weeks and them the students are assessed.
In Term One, Week 1-4 we played did:
1. Deep Breathing: Emotional/Feeling Domain
Prompt-Things you can say:
This helps us control our breaths in and our breaths out."Big slow breathing can help us to feel calm and relaxed."
Deep Breathing
 |
| Smell the flower. (Breathe in slowly) |
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| Blow out the candle. (Breathe out slowly) |
A fun exercise that encourage children to tense and relax different parts of their bodies according to different instructions.
Prompt-Things you could say:
"We need to relax ourselves"
"We need to take big breathes when we relax"
"It helps us to feel calm"
What have I noticed:
Playing these games consistently do help children self regulate behaviour. They look forward to playing the games. Children are beginning to use the prompts with each other for example: when working in small groups I would hear a child saying " you need to wait for your turn." After lunch eating the children would come into class and find a spot and lie down to calm themselves down."
We were reading a the story called " The Three Billy Goats Gruff." We were discussing a part of the story and the meaning of bad-tempered troll" One children said " I think the troll is angry, maybe he needs to calm down and do breathing like us." The children are making connections which is pleasing to see.
Next steps:
I will introduce two new games for Weeks 5-8. I will continue to play the breathing and relaxation games especially after playtimes or when the need arises.
