Over the past year I have pulled out some of my teacher resources which have been sitting in boxes to use to help my kids develop some basic skills. Some have been handwriting worksheets and others like puzzles and games such as memory have been to play with as well as building some skills which students should have when they start school.
One resource that I am using currently is one I used to use with an individual child or the whole class, is the Happy or Sad Dial.
Individually I would use it with a child so they could let me know how they were going emotionally during the day. It was great as they didn’t always have to verbalise how they were feeling. Great for those kids that struggle with using words to tell you how they feel.
As a group I would actually be the one using the dial to say how I was feeling during the day. Great silent indicator of the noise level, behaviour, work completion. For those students that are visual it works much better than the grumpy teacher raising her voice to get their message across. At the end of the day if I was really happy we would have 10 minutes to go outside, play a quick game or listen to an audio book.
This is the second time I have retrieved it at home. I started using it because Hayden wasn’t talking a lot and was feeling frustrated when trying to tell you how he was feeling. So he could use it and tell us how he was feeling.
Yesterday I decided to start using it again as a help in the mornings to get Hayden to school….how do you feel when you leave and how do you feel when you get home from school? Showing him that he is happy when he comes home because he has had a great day at school.
Today he has moved it about 5 times already. Once because he was cross at his sister for knocking down his cubby house. Now he can link the words and tell me why he has chosen the picture he does. At the moment Mikala has moved it to the really sad crying face, because she was put in her room for knocking down the cubby house. Chance to chat to her about how to be happier and make the right choices for that.
So if you have a child or children like me this might be a great little tool that you could use to help them with their feelings. You could just draw it on a whiteboard, find a printable or make one up yourself. Sorry I cant link straight to this one – I have had it for 10+ years and not even sure what PD I went to and was shown the idea. I hope you find the ideas helpful!
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Great idea Annaleis. I hadn’t thought to use a chart like this for children. We used to use similar in brain injury rehab, where people were unable to speak.
We have several of the “when I am feeling” …sad, angry, happy, kind, scared and jealous books. These have been great to help link feelings to words and to build emotional intelligence. x
Thanks Lee! We use some of the feeling books too so we can build the language associated with how we feel and what it might look or feel like. We are still getting there, but least turning the dial I have found can take some of the anger out of the situation, gives Hayden something else to focus on. ~A x
Thanks Annaleis – I have given up the Netball coordinating and have had time to look at your blogs. YOu have given me motivation that I have been needing for a while. I have def been working on the health and fitness thing since xmas and already my body is getting stronger. This feeling dial is going to be sooo helpful for both my biggish girls particularly Sophee – It will help me to see how they are on a daily basis without bugging them. THANKS HEAPS!! Warina
Anytime Rina! xx
What a fabulous idea. This would work wonderfully with kids on the autism spectrum as well.
Thanks Kristy. We use it because our son has PDD-NOS. Been great this week and the language it’s helping to develop and also the facial expressions has been wonderful. Though he does over emphasise the facial expressions, getting there one day at a time!
I love this idea! I am going to steal it (hope thats ok) and use it at my rural family day care. I have been wondering how I could help some of my quieter kids communicate and I think this could be the key. Thanks so much
Your more than welcome to steal Pip. Hope you find it helpful! Goodluck with the Family Daycare!