ECLC Peek at the Week

Hello ECLC Families!

I am excited for Open House tonight! Doors will open at 5:30pm.

This Peek at the Week will focus on our October social and emotional learning theme, BE POSITIVE! Tonight will be a great opportunity for students to positively share many aspects of our school. We have a scavenger hunt that you can use as a guide for the evening.

The video below shows the confidence and positive attitude we are hoping to create in all our children. Please take the time to read what our school counselor has to share. There is so much great information and resources in her message below.

Respectfully,

Laura

Hello ECLC Community,

We are wrapping up our September social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons and your students have been working hard learning about self-control. Each week we have discussed a new word to help us be in control of our emotions/sensations (what we feel on the inside) and behaviors (how we act). We have discussed what being calm looks like and sounds like - our hands to ourselves, our voices are quiet, our body is slow and careful, and we practiced taking deep breaths to help us feel peaceful. Another word we have discussed is waiting and how most things we have to wait for are worth it. We also practiced waiting our turn to speak which is an important skill for school and for making (and keeping) friends. Then students discovered the ways school and home are different and why at school we need more self-control… because learning is the goal! Next week we will explore the word resist (impulse control), which is when we tell our bodies to stop even though we really, really want to do something. We will watch a short clip of Cookie Monster trying to resist eating cookies and will see that resisting can be hard, but we can do hard things! The central message each week has been that we have to have extra self-control (be calm) at school to make friends and to be able to learn. Below are some of the videos we have utilized this month in case you want to watch them at home:

• Sesame Street: Ian McKellen Teaches Cookie Monster to Resist
• Sesame Street: Ed Sheeran- Two Different Worlds
• Sesame Street: Seth Meyers Greets the Count
• Sesame Street: Me Want It (But Me Wait)

In October the weekly SEL lessons will focus on having a growth-mindset. We will discuss how our brains grow when we learn from our mistakes, how we can do hard things when we believe in ourselves, hot to use the power of YET, and how to use the strategy of positive self-talk. Below is a TedTalk by Carol Dwek, who is a growth mindset master, if you would like to learn more about how a growth mindset can positively affect kids at school and at home:

• Developing a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck

As always please reach out anytime by calling the ECLC or emailing me at bthomas@sau74.org.

In Partnership,

Brie

Parents can promote positive thinking and a growth mindset in young children at home by using the following strategies:

Model a Growth Mindset: Show your child how you approach challenges with a positive attitude. Verbalize your thoughts, like saying, "This is hard, but I can learn how to do it if I keep trying."

Praise Effort, Not Outcome: Focus on the effort children put into tasks, rather than the result. For example, say, “I’m proud of how hard you worked on that puzzle,” instead of “You’re so smart for finishing it.”

Normalize Mistakes: Teach children that making mistakes is part of learning. When they make an error, reassure them by saying, "Mistakes help our brains grow," and encourage them to try again.

Encourage Problem-Solving: When your child faces a challenge, help them brainstorm different ways to solve the problem instead of providing an immediate solution. This fosters resilience and creativity.

Use "Yet" Statements: When your child says they can’t do something, add the word "yet." For example, if they say, "I can’t tie my shoes," respond with, "You can’t tie your shoes yet, but with practice, you will."

Read Books about Overcoming Challenges: Choose stories that feature characters overcoming difficulties or developing new skills through perseverance. Discuss the lessons learned and how the characters used a growth mindset.

Encourage Self-Talk: Help children use positive self-talk by teaching phrases like, "I can do hard things," or "I can keep trying until I get it."

Celebrate Small Wins: Recognize and celebrate small accomplishments, no matter how minor. This reinforces the idea that progress is more important than perfection.

Create a Learning Environment: Offer opportunities for open-ended play, exploration, and hands-on learning where your child can try new things, make mistakes, and discover solutions independently.

Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage your child to reflect on their efforts and learning by asking questions like, "What did you learn from that?" or "How did you figure that out?"

By incorporating these strategies, you can help children develop a growth mindset and positive thinking habits that will support their long-term learning and resilience.

In an effort to encourage outdoor play, we invite all families to stay after school on Oct 22nd from 3:15-4:15pm and enjoy outdoor time as a family and as a school community.

Oct 1: Open House 5:30pm-6:30

Oct 7: Fire Safety Day

Oct 12: No School: Columbus Day

Oct 13: K Field Trip to Butternut Farm

Oct 16: K Field Trip to Winnie the Pooh Trail

Oct 18: Jumpstart to Literacy Storywalk

Oct 22: Open Woods in OWLS Nest

Oct 29: Black and Orange Day with Big Pumpkin Production

Nov 3: No School: Parent Conferences

Nov 6: Veteran's Day Lunch and Field of Flags

Nov 10: Picture Retake Day

Nov 11: No School: Veterans Day

Nov 21: Dancing with the Barrington Stars

Nov 25-27: Thanksgiving Break

Recent School Newsletters: 6/17/26, Meet the Staff, 7/31/26, 8/6/26, 8/13/26, 8/20/26, 8/27/26, 9/3/26, 9/10/26, 9/17/26, 9/24/26

Email: tgower@sau74.org
Website: https://eclc.sau74.org/
Location: 77 Ramsdell Lane, Barrington, NH, USA
Phone: 603-664-5586
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Barrington-NH-Early-Childhood-Learning-Center-132291483587971/