Sielaff/Rodarte Character Education

Hello!

Mrs. Rodarte and Mrs. Sielaff, here! We hope winter break was AWESOME you are refreshed and ready for the second semester the 25/26 school year! We are honored to be teaching middle school Character Education. That's right - we are job sharing. That means, some days you will see Mrs. Rodarte and some days you will see Mrs. Sielaff for your Character Education class! In Character Education class, we will learn about life skills and character building, all while growing our social emotional skills. We will work together to build confidence, set goals, build community, identify our values, practice decision making skills and conflict resolution, learn stress management techniques and more! Please take a moment to review "Character Ed Policies and Procedures" document below to learn a little more about us and what you can expect from Character Education this year.

Building relationships is a big part of our teaching style, and we can't wait to get to know you all better very soon! The easiest way to get a hold of us is via email. Please reach out with any questions or concerns you may have, or even just to say 'hello'!

Mrs. Rodarte: [email protected]

Mrs. Sielaff: [email protected]

MINDFULNESS JOURNAL ENTRY

Please complete ONE full-page handwritten OR a half-page typed journal entry for each missed class period. This is how you will earn the daily participation points (10 points per day) for the class you missed. You can email it to both of us OR do a handwritten journal and turn it in. You have two days to complete the journal entry assignment after each absence.

What is mindfulness? Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment — your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings — without judging them. How can journaling help? Writing in a journal helps you:

•  Understand yourself better – note your thoughts and emotions
•  Slow down – take a break from racing thoughts or screens
•  Manage stress – let out feelings in a healthy way
•  Find gratitude – focus on what’s going right
•  Be kind to yourself – reflect without judging

HOW TO START:  Find a quiet spot and take a few deep breaths. Spend 5–10 minutes writing — no rules, no pressure. Be honest, your journal is just for you. Try these prompts if you need help getting started: 

• What am I feeling right now?
• What went well today?
• What’s something I’m grateful for?
• What’s one thing I want to let go of?
• What’s one thing I learned about myself today?

Remember: You can’t do journaling “wrong.” The goal isn’t perfect writing — it’s noticing and being present.