My Super-Power

Brain & Body!

Learning how to feel safe, happy, and ready to learn in our classroom whānau

Meet Your Brain Team: The Owl and the Guard Dog!

The Wise Owl (The Cortex)

Where is it? It sits at the top of your brain!

What does it do? It's your thinking superstar! It helps you read stories, solve math puzzles, listen carefully, and make awesome choices. When the Wise Owl is in charge, learning feels like fun!

The Guard Dog (The Amygdala)

Where is it? It sits in the middle of your brain!

What does it do? It keeps you safe! If it sniffs danger or big worries, it barks: 'WOOF!' This makes the Wise Owl fly away so your body can run fast, hide, or protect itself. Sometimes it barks even when we are safe!

How Revved up is Your Body-Engine in Today?

Safe & Connected

How it looks: Smiling, curious, chatting, ready to learn and play!

Super-Charged

How it looks: Wiggly, heart buzzing, tense, mad, or ready to run!

Slow & Floppy

How it looks: Super tired, blank, spacey, hiding under a hood or desk.

Silent Pleasing

How it looks: Eager to please, saying yes to everything but worried inside.

I’m Safe & Connected : Happy, Connected, and Ready to Learn!

You are Safe & Connected when:

* Your heart feels steady and calm.

* Your face is ready to smile.

* You feel safe with the people around you.

* You are excited to try new things!

How Kaiako (Teachers) and Friends Help Us Safe & Connected:

• Door Greetings

Starting the day with a friendly wave, a high-five, or a warm smile!

• Visual Timetables

Looking at pictures of what we are doing today so there are no surprises.

• Buddy Systems

Having a helper friend to make sure everyone feels included.

• Wellbeing Pulse

Checking in to show how we are feeling and share gratitude.

I’m Super-Charged: Somatic Magic Tools to Let the Buzz Out!

When your Guard Dog is barking, you might feel:

* Your heart beating like a drum.

* Your muscles tight like a superhero.

* Like you need to jump, kick, or run away.

* Your breathing is fast and shallow.

Five Awesome Body Tools to Bring Your Wise Owl Back:

• Wall Pushes:

Find a wall and push it hard for 10 seconds! Work those muscles.

• Heavy Work:

Carry a heavy basket of books or squeeze your favorite playdough.

• Ice-Cold Water:

Take a cool drink to shock your body back to calm.

• Stretchy Bands:

Bounce your feet silently on your chair's stretchy band.

• The Superhero Breath:

Sniff-sniff in quickly, then let out a super long, slow sigh out.

I’m Slow & Floppy: Somatic Magic Tools to Wake Up Gently

When your engine runs out of fuel, you might feel:

* Floppy and heavy, like a sleepy log.

* Spacey, like your head is in the clouds.

* Wanting to slide under your desk or tuck away.

* Like you have zero words to say.

Four Gentle Ways to Wake Your Body-Engine Up:

• Safe Presence:

Sit quietly near a safe teacher, a buddy, or a school animal.

• Cozy Textures:

Stroke a super-soft blanket, a plush rug, or put on nice hand cream.

• Rhythmic Drumming:

Listen to some soft, repetitive music or tap a gentle beat with your hands.

• Slow Star Stretches:

Reach your hands up to the sky very slowly to wake your muscles up.

I’m a Silent Pleaser: Speaking Up Safely When We Feel Worried

Silent Pleasing is when your body tries to keep peace:

* Saying 'yes' to everything even if it feels too hard.

* Hiding how you feel so nobody gets upset with you.

* Worrying a lot about making mistakes.

* Finding it super hard to say 'No thank you'.

Three Super-Tools to Find Your Own Voice:

• Power of Choices:

Ask your teacher: 'Can I do this work lying on the floor with a clipboard, or at my desk?' Choices give you power!

• No-Speech Signals:

Use a colored magnet, a check-in card, or a safe face scale on your desk to show how you are feeling without needing to speak.

• The Polite Pass:

Practice saying: 'No thank you, I need a short break.' Your teachers always want to hear your real thoughts!

Making SPACE for Fun and Safe Learning Every Day!

S

Staged

Step by Step!

We take little steps in our learning. Every little victory is a big celebration!

P

Predictable

Routines We Know!

No mystery! Pictures of our day tell us exactly what is coming next.

A

Adaptive

Many Ways to Shine!

We have lots of ways to do a great job. Your way is special!

C

Connected

Warm Relational Base!

You are never alone. We look out for each other and keep each other safe.

E

Enabled

You Have the Power!

We celebrate your unique sparks, strengths, and amazing dreams.

Our Sensory Treasure Chest: Helping Our Bodies Feel Safe

Noise-Muffling Headphones

When the room gets too buzzy or loud, put these on to give your ears a nice, quiet hug.

Wobble Stools & Cushions

Need to move while you work? Sit on a wobble stool, an exercise ball, or a soft beanbag!

Manila Folder Screens

Cover the extra questions on your page with paper so you can focus on one question at a time.

Background Music

Listen to steady, rhythmic tunes or drumming to help your brain focus on its learning mission.

The B.R.A.I.N. Checklist and Our Classroom Promise

My Daily B.R.A.I.N. Superpowers:

B — Belonging: I am a super important part of this class whānau.

R — Re-organising: I move my muscles and joints to stay focused.

A — Anchor: I find my steady, safe feeling in the room.

I — Interoception: I listen to my heartbeat, tummy, and breath.

N — New Beginnings: Every single day is a fresh, beautiful start!

Our Classroom Promise:

"One hard moment cannot undo our relationship.

We can repair.

We can reconnect.

We can begin again."