If you are an elementary teacher looking to learn how to help your students be patient, then you found the right place! Patience helps prepare kids to wait respectfully and use self control. Students who are able to be patient are more flexible thinkers than students who cannot. In this post, we’ll go into detail about what patience is and why it’s important. In addition, we’ll share tips and ideas for how to teach patience in an elementary classroom setting. Read all about helping students be patient in and out of the classroom below!
What Does Patience Mean?
Patience is the ability to remain calm when dealing with a difficult or annoying situation, person, or task. This can look like waiting in line, taking turns or using self control when someone upsets you on purpose.
Why is it Important for Kids to Learn Patience?
It is important for kids to learn patience because it allows them to regulate themselves in different environments. Kids can practice being patient waiting in line for lunch or while waiting to choose what game to play. Kids can also practice being patient when somebody annoys them.
How Do I Know If I Need to Teach Patience in My Classroom?
The students in your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th grade classroom would benefit from patience lessons and activities if any of these statements are true:
- They have a hard time waiting in line.
- They have a hard time taking turns.
- Their tolerance for others has gone down.
- They struggle to be mindful.
- Students have a hard time maintaining a positive behavior for a sustained amount of time.
4 Reasons To Promote Mindfulness In Your Elementary Classroom
Below are 4 reasons to promote patience in your elementary classroom.
1. Being patient helps promote a healthy attitude
Students who are patient have a healthier attitude than students who are not. They are typically more understanding and know the importance of being respectful and responsible.
2. Being patient promotes mindfulness
Being patient promotes mindfulness because it causes students to stop, think and make good choices. Mindfulness techniques like breathing and refocusing can help students be patient. Students who are patient are more mindful of how the way they act while they are waiting is just as important as the act of waiting itself.
3. Patience helps students have a higher tolerance for each other
Patience helps students develop a tolerance for each other because students who are patient become more thoughtful. Students can give their peers grace and second chances while being patient with their behavior. Kids who are patient can also help guide others to be patient as well.
4. Patience helps students make better choices
Patience helps students make better choices because instead of jumping into a decision, students will pause and decide what the best choice to make is. Kids who are patient know the importance of being thoughtful with their actions, instead of impulsively jumping into a decision.
5 Tips and Ideas for Teaching Patience
Below are 5 tips and ideas for teaching patience to elementary students.
1. Read Aloud Picture Books about Patience
Picture books are a great way to introduce and teach an SEL topic. It gets students thinking about the topic and activating their background knowledge. Check out this list of picture books for teaching patience.
2. Watch Videos about Patience
There are tons of free online videos out there that promote social emotional learning. It’s a fun and engaging way to teach SEL skills that your students will enjoy. Check out these videos for teaching patience!
3. Explicitly Teach Vocabulary Related to Patience
Vocabulary words can help students develop understanding of patience and create connections through related words. Our patience SEL unit includes ten vocabulary cards with words related to the SEL topic. It is important for students to be able to see, hear, and use relevant vocabulary while learning. One idea for how to use them is to create an SEL word wall as students learn the words.
4. Provide Practice Opportunities
When learning any skill, students need time to practice. Social emotional learning skills are no different! Our patience SEL unit includes scenario cards, discussion cards, choice boards, games, and much more. These provide students with opportunities to practice the skills independently, with partners or small groups, or as a whole class.
5. Integrate Other Content Areas
Integrating other content areas with this topic is a great way to approach this SEL topic. Our patience SEL unit includes reading, writing, and art activities.
 |  |
In closing, we hope you found this information about teaching patience helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts.
