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MYP 1Jitters: How a Simple Balloon Activity Transformed First-Day Anxiety- Gunjan Nijhawan

Objective of the Learning Engagement:

To know and understand the emotional state of mind of students on the first day of school.

FIRST DAY IN MYP YEAR 1 - Quick Check in's with the students enable student well - being and foster a positive classroom environment as through informal interactions students share their thoughts and feelings and that enables the Homeroom teacher to understand the needs of the learners.

Details of the Learning Engagement:

Students were asked to blow out a balloon and write feeling words on it. They shared the positive and negative feelings that they were going through on the first day of MYP Grade 6 , which is a very crucial Transition year from PYP. Both the feelings were acknowledged and understood. The students were made to realize that it is okay to feel the way they were feeling. Also , they stayed with the positive feelings as they busted the balloon with the negative feeling.

Impact of the engagement on students and your reflection as a teacher:

The students freely shared their state of mind and the feelings associated with it. This helped them to know and understand the `what` and `why` of the feelings which helped them to become more self - aware by recognizing their own sentiments. It also enabled them to hear out different perspectives of other students and know the various states of mind. Surprisingly , those students who had difficulty in blowing out a balloon and tying it , were helped by other peers. This added to the beauty of the activity as it fostered supportive atmosphere in the class.


 


 Gunjan Nijhawan




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