Tools for Life

Tools for Life

The Tools for Life program has been running in our classroom for the past 7 weeks. This is an 8 week program that the Child and Youth Worker, Mr. Lane, has been doing in our classroom. Our class was chosen for the program due to the need of the students. The purpose of the program is to teach students how to communicate and develop healthy relationships with peers and adults. Students have been discussing how to speak to one another in respectful ways, how to deal with their feelings, how to identify facial features in themselves and their peers to determine how they might be feeling, and how to read body language. These tools can be used to resolve issues and to work cooperatively with others.

Once Mr. Lane has finished the in-class lessons, I will continue to support the program in various ways. In class we have weekly discussions to express how individuals are feeling. I ask students to be respectful of others and not to use names as this can cause hurt feelings. I will also have students create a journal to express their feelings and to focus on 4 positive things. This will be supported with our "Fill My Bucket" program that we started in September (see previous posts). I will also have students take home various handouts and activities to be discussed and used at home on a regular basis. Research has shown that the more consistent the message give to children at home and at school is, the more successful and confident they will be.

Below are some posters that coincide with lessons being taught in the Tools for Life program.