Happy Monday Families,

I have been refelecting recently on how to virtually teach mindfulness to students and families.  The container in which we sit in during our mindfulness lessons is such a huge part of the connection both inter and intra personally that at this point the virtual world does not seem like a comfortable space for me to put mindfulness lessons out there to students.  I teach mindfulness not for the minutes that we are inside our mindfulness sessions, but for the times when students are in uncomfortable spaces both inside and outside of the school day.  I believe that when we return to school our mindfulness lessons will be as important as ever and I look forward to sharing that space again with staff and students. 

Now with all of that being said I do believe that our homes right now are a great space for mindfully navigating the wide range of emotions, uncertainities and anxieties that may be arising.  The two most important things that I have learned while completing my mindfulness certification are:

#1 Your breath is your best friend!  Science and research shows how breathing can effect both your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.  Taking a deep breath in can help control your fight-flight response and exhaling assists your body in its ability to relax and calm down.  Pause and take a deep breath when things are tough and encourage your child to do the same.  That pause and breath can give you the space to respond more thoughtfully in a calmer way than in a reactive state.

#2 Be Present!  So much easier said than done, but the more you practice it the better you will become.  Right now we all want to know what is next.  We worry about the future expecially in a time of so many unknowns.  When I get stuck in the narratives in my head about the future, worry, anxiety and fear begin to bubble up.  At this point I have to accept that I have very little control over the unknowns of the future and being in those emotions does not serve me, my children or my home right now.  Being present provides my children with a parent that is here for them.  I do not know what the Fall will bring for any of us, but I know that I am here now.  I am available for walks, talking, crafts, cooking and setting an example of perservance.  When you find yourself drifting into the future in an unserving way stop and tune into your senses.  What do you see, hear, smell, feel and taste?  This is a great, simple grounding activity your child can do too. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me for support.  I am not a therapist, but I am a wife, parent, teacher and friend that has found mindfulness to be incredibly useful in every aspect of my own life.  I am happy to share strategies and tools that I am also always working on♥

I LOVE all of the student artwork I have received through email or from Puente teachers.  Please keep it coming and I will continue to put in our virtual art gallery.  The art gallery is not limited to the art activities I suggest on my staff page, but can be anything your child is creating during this time outside of our classroom. Parents send me your work too!  Students love looking at art and if you are creating some right now lets share it with our Puente community.  This extra time at home can be an excellent time to embrace the arts and I know your child would love if you sat and drew with them.  Ask them to guide you in the drawing of a bicycle (Kinder), a Georgia O'Keefe flower (1st), Frida Kahlo portrait (2nd), Op Art (4th), 1 point perspective (5th) or a Kokopelli (3rd).  These are just a few of the guided drawings we have had this year and what a great opportunity for your child to teach you something new.  Be Well & Be Kind♥

Hi amazing Puente families!  I love to see the artwork that students are creating!  Please continue to share it with me.  Here is the link to the google classroom the Art Room.  If your child wants artwork uploaded to the Art Gallery please feel free to email me their work at kfield@fusd1.org and I will submit it for them.  Get some fresh air this week and create a nature mandala.  The lesson is on my stuff page.  Also, don't forget to check out the fantastic collection of art lessons on the FUSD learning hub!  Lots of Love♥

Happy Friday Families.  I have created an Art Room google classroom.  I will be posting art related questions, fun facts and an art gallery of staff and student work.  The code to access the Art Room is irwseqs.  Once you enter the classroom, go to the classwork tab at the top and inside that space you will see a link to google slides for posting artwork.  There is also a link for art questions and fun facts.  Please reach out to me if you are having trouble accessing the Art Room.  I look forward to seeing you all there!  Much Love, Mrs. Field

Please continually check my art lesson post for art activities and lessons to keep your mind creative and inspired.  Also, be sure to check the FUSD learning hub for additional art lessons.  Keep creating and send me photos of your work!  Missing and thinking of you♥

I am working on creating some fun art activities and will be posting them on my staff page.  My challenge is not creating fun, relevant and engaging activities, but figuring out how to get them posted.  I am learning a lot from this experience and one of them is that I really need to work on my computer skills.  Guess I'm going to get thrown right into that learning opportunity now:)  I will have art activities posted no later than Monday, but in the meantime create.....think of it as a free choice art time.  Make something, draw something, dig in the recycling, tape something, cut something.........just create!

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me for any reason at any time! I miss you all!

♥Be Kind & Be Well

Dear Students & Families,

I know that things are different & sometimes difficult for us all.  Please try to remember that this will pass and we will all be together again.  In the meantime please get fresh air, take an occasional mindful minute, create and look at art when you can and treat eachother with patience and kindness.  I will be posting various art and mindfulness activities on my page.  I miss you all!  I would love to see your art and how you are practicing mindfulness.   Please email me photos when you can!

2nd- 5th Graders don't forget about your cameras.  What a unique time to share our story through photographs!  I will collect cameras in the Fall and hope to proceed with our project as planned.  5th graders I will develop your photographs for you and get your pictures back to you.

Sending love & kindness to you all!

Mrs. Field