Smile Inside
372 Followers
Akron, Ohio, United States
About the store
My name is Vanessa Lee Abraham and I am an educator who has devoted my learning and teaching to wellbeing and personal development. Although I started out as a primary school teacher, my interests led me on a fulfilling journey. I worked as a student welfare coordinator where I assessed the needs of students in 7th – 12th grades and developed prevention programs as courses, workshops, camps, and events to address issues. I have also worked at a residential program and as an education support worker for at-risk youth. As a private service provider, I develop and facilitate activities and programs for individuals, small groups, and classrooms of all ages.
www.linkedin.com/in/smileinside/
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Programs & methods
Group Dynamics - Interpersonal Communication and Teamwork
This module of 15 activities is about giving participants a better understanding of how certain behaviors affect the progress of a group and what skills will increase their effectiveness when working as a part of a team. With over 6 hours of instruction time, this module includes: Silent Birthdays Switch If...*FAQ Knot Web of Communication Silent JigsawAwkward Picnic Leader AT SEA Crazy Questions League of Superpowers This is a Shoe! Electric Orange Race Lap Sit Spiral Silent Birthdays and Swit
5th - 8th
Classroom Community, Social Emotional Learning
Developing Focus & Listening Skills with Engaging Activities in 5th – 8th grades
Could your students do with a little more self-control? Invest in expanding your students’ capacity for focus and listening with this engaging unit featuring personal and group challenges that will improve participants’ ability to concentrate and be a better listener. These fun activities that teach focus and listening work well with upper elementary and middle school, not only enhance learning capabilities, but also contribute to strong, harmonious relationships and a positive classroom co
5th - 8th
Classroom Community, Social Emotional Learning
Self-Talk
This series of activities has middle school students exploring how self-talk affects their daily lives and empowers them to transform their negative thinking into positive. These seven activities, best conducted over five or six sessions, have been designed for a classroom setting but can be modified for use with small groups or individuals. With over 4 hours of instruction time, this module includes: · I Am... · A Nice Network · Half Empty or Half Full? · Personality Poem · Eyes vs. Whys
6th - 8th
Character Education, School Counseling, Social Emotional Learning
Decision Making for Adolescents
These activities will create conversations and raise awareness about responsible decision-making. Through discussion and written response, the students will practice justifying and modifying opinions, predicting consequences, and analyzing moral dilemmas to further develop their personal code of conduct. Over three hours of activities are included: · Where Do You Stand? · Think, Predict, Act · Deserted Island · What to Do? (over two sessions) Where Do You Stand? has students justify why
9th - 12th
Character Education, Health, School Counseling
Group Dynamics
Team-Building Games and Activities that Build Interpersonal Skills for Middle and High School Students (7th to 10th grades) Are you looking for some team-building games and activities for your middle or high school students? This module is full of engaging group activities that have young people exploring teamwork, group dynamics, and effective communication. This team-building module starts off with a popular and fun icebreaker, moves on to activities that explore interpersonal skills, an
7th - 10th
Classroom Community, Social Emotional Learning
Focus and Listening Skills for Middle & High School
This unorthodox approach to teaching focus and listening will inspire your students to learn more about themselves and put them on the path toward mental mastery. Guide your students through this eye-opening module designed to enhance focus, listening skills, as well as empathy, through engaging and interactive activities. Over two hours of lessons with the following activities included: Walk and Talk Where's Your Head At? Mesmerize Me Wanna Buy a Bunny? Active Listening Partners practi
7th - 10th
Character Education, Social Emotional Learning
Empathy and Respect - Anti-bullying program
💛 Anti-Bullying Activities: Empathy, Assertiveness & Teamwork Create a more compassionate classroom with this anti-bullying program, designed specifically for **5th and 6th grade students**. Developed for a real multi-grade classroom with challenging group dynamics, this resource focuses on building a culture of empathy, respect, and accountability through engaging, hands-on activities. Students learn essential skills for reducing bullying and strengthening classroom community. --- 🌱 What
4th - 7th
Classroom Community, School Counseling, Social Emotional Learning
Lateral Thinking Riddles and Games
Enhance your students’ creative thinking skills and capacity to solve problems with these brain-stretching riddles and games. Fostering lateral thinking cultivates adaptability and innovation, empowering students to conquer any challenge that comes their way. Furthermore, embracing new ways of thinking paves the way for growth, change, an expanded imagination, and self-awareness about ones’ assumptions and reliance on previous methods of thinking. This product offers eight captivating
5th - 12th
For All Subjects
Crazy Quiz Competition - Creating Community for a Positive School Climate
This school-wide teamwork competition is a great way to increase school spirit. The flexible format engages students and staff with a series of “Crazy Quizzes", which creates conversations and strengthens relationships. In the process, team members are challenged with brain-stretching questions and tasks. The competition can be conducted with or without prizes, but the big win for everyone is all the connections that are established and strengthened through this team-building exercise. The
9th - 12th
Classroom Community
The New Me – Setting Goals for Personal Growth
*Personal GOAL-SETTING Activities for Middle School and High School* Give your students the opportunity to explore their self-talk, habits, and behavior and create a plan for personal improvement. These activities lead students through journaling exercises that create space for self-discovery and ask them to commit to short and long-term goals. Also provided is a relaxation and visualization audio track that strengthens one’s resolve to make a positive change. These activities are best sui
7th - 10th
Social Emotional Learning, Writing
CCSS
W.7.10
, W.8.10
, W.9-10.10
Character Education: Self-Awareness Activities
This activity is best suited for 9th grade students, but they can also be used with those in 8th and 10th grades. The handouts are from "Smile Inside: Experiential Activities for Self-Awareness Ages 14-15". The activity handbook explores the following topics: ➢ Focus and Listening ➢ Empathy and Respect ➢ Self-Talk ➢ Self-Exploration ➢ Emotions and Coping ➢ Problem Solving and Decision Making ➢ Goal Setting ➢ Group Dynamics ➢ Esprit de Corps Through Service Learning A teacher affects eternity;
8th - 10th
Character Education, Health, School Counseling
Build Positive Behaviors & Supports with Students using CODE Book - SEL activity
Empower your students to take charge of their progress and success by setting, tracking, and reaching their goals with CODE Book! Inspire students to take ownership of their words, actions, and attitudes so that they are consciously contributing to creating a positive classroom community. ✅ CODE Book was designed to be more than just a Check In, Check Out tool. In fact, it was created to benefit not just those who have difficulties, but also those who wish to excel! Watch students strugg
K - 6th
Classroom Community, School Counseling, Social Emotional Learning
Icebreakers
Eight fantastic “ get to know you” games great for the first week of school or transition days. The Name Game I Like... Take as Much as You Need The M & M Game Switch If... Clump Back Talk Identity Crisis
4th - 9th
Classroom Community, For All Subjects, Social Emotional Learning
Positive Behavior Support - Sixth Grade
CODE Book is a fun and engaging way for children to develop strengths, which shape character. It provides a practical way to set and track goals that enhance social and emotional intelligence. This resource is a tool for teachers and student support professionals in schools to assist children who would benefit from extra support. It can also be used by counselors or parents to help any child in K-6 build positive behaviors. How does CODE Book help children? • Increases self-awareness • Encoura
6th
Character Education, School Counseling
Character Education: Emotions and Coping Activity
This sampler is from the Emotions and Coping module in my book “Smile Inside: Experiential Activities for Self-Awareness Ages 14-15”.
The activity has students discussing stressors and how they affect well-being. There are forty coping strategy cards for the students to categorize which generates some debate. The exercise is about introducing new ways of dealing with emotions and stress.
8th - 10th
Family Consumer Sciences, Health, School Counseling
Emotions and Coping
During the dice and card game, “Feel” in the Blanks, participants will answer random questions relating to their emotions and thoughts in small groups.
The second activity, On Your Feet Again, gets participants to share and discuss coping strategies that have worked best for them during difficult times. Next, they will present why they think that particular strategy is most effective for them. Finally, they will choose a new strategy to try the next time they feel down.
These activities are fr
4th - 8th
School Counseling, Speaking & Listening
Character Education: Self-Exploration Activities
This sampler is from the Self-Exploration module in my book “Smile Inside: Experiential Activities for Self-Awareness Ages 14-15”.
In order to gain self-awareness it is helpful for an individual to first observe and explore their lifestyle, their habits, and the way they treat their body. They also have to understand how their needs are being satisfied, or not. The first activity called “Timeline” includes four handouts that help students analyze the way they use time and also, their diets.
8th - 10th
Character Education, Health
Power Plan - Setting Goals for Reaching Potential
Do your students need some motivation for a research project? Or could they use some support realizing their potential? Inspire your upper elementary and middle school students to use research and goal-setting exercises to enhance a talent or learn a new skill. Power Plan is the perfect solution to invigorate your students' interests and ignite their personal drive! This immersive experience transforms what might be a mundane research task into a thrilling journey of self-discovery with
5th - 8th
School Counseling, Writing
CCSS
RI.8.3
, W.5.7
, W.5.8
+15
Positive Behavior Support - Fifth Grade
CODE Book is a fun and engaging way for children to develop strengths, which shape character. It provides a practical way to set and track goals that enhance social and emotional intelligence. This resource is a tool for teachers and student support professionals in schools to assist children who would benefit from extra support. It can also be used by counselors or parents to help any child in K-6 build positive behaviors. How does CODE Book help children? • Increases self-awareness • Encoura
5th
Character Education, School Counseling
Make a Change Challenge
This module asks students to decide on a social issue they are passionate about and then influence that area in a positive way. The activities are facilitated using inquiry-based methods and the participants are responsible for: ~Exploring options. ~Determining directions. ~Planning projects. ~Asking the right questions. ~Discovering information and resources. ~Organizing findings. ~Making conclusions. ~Testing ideas. ~Managing time. ~Reporting contributions. ~Presenting projects. The inquiry-
7th - 10th
Social Emotional Learning
Showing 1-20 of 28 results
About the store
Experience
My name is Vanessa Lee Abraham and I am an educator who has devoted my learning and teaching to wellbeing and personal development. Although I started out as a primary school teacher, my interests led me on a fulfilling journey. I worked as a student welfare coordinator where I assessed the needs of students in 7th – 12th grades and developed prevention programs as courses, workshops, camps, and events to address issues. I have also worked at a residential program and as an education support worker for at-risk youth. As a private service provider, I develop and facilitate activities and programs for individuals, small groups, and classrooms of all ages.
www.linkedin.com/in/smileinside/
Teaching style
Inquiry, experiential, cooperative, and service learning are a few of my favorite styles.
I have begun to post my favorite ideas on my boards at www.pinterest.com/thesmileinside/. Please join me!
Awards & shining teacher moments
I felt honored to be recruited to work for the Kansas City, Missouri School District where I helped develop the 2nd grade curriculum at a new Applied Learning Magnet School. Also, to be asked to run a workshop they decided to call ‘The Band Whisperer” at the Victorian Band Directors conference in Australia in order to share my methods on getting a diverse multi-age group to work together harmoniously.
My own education history
At Ohio University, while pursuing my bachelor’s of science in education, I was part of an innovative teaching program called CARE (Creating Active and Reflective Educators). We explored nontraditional methods of teaching through our coursework and extensive field experience in the classrooms of teachers who believe in active, student-centered learning.
I did my yoga training with the Vivekananda Research and Therapy Institute in 2000-2001.
Additional biographical information
My experiences have helped me design a sequence of programs that enhance emotional intelligence and build resilience and self-respect in youth. I have created two activity handbooks to support all professionals who work with youth ages 12-15. In addition, I have developed an activity program focused on building positive behaviors in children ages 5-12 called CODE Book.
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