“I am the decisive element in my classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood t

1. “Emotional Intelligence is the master aptitude, a capacity that profoundly affects all other abilities, either facilitating them or interfering with them” Daniel Goleman “Emotional Intelligence is the ability to sense, understand and effectively apply the power and acumen of emotions as a source of human energy, information and influence” Cooper & Sawaf

2. “I am the decisive element in my classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher I possess tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humble or humour, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be exacerbated or de- escalated – a child de-humanised or humanised.” Ginotti 1972

3. Emotional Intelligence… It may be common sense, but it isn’t always common practice…

4. Young Minds… • Accept them – Lead them from where they are, not where we want them to be • Empower Them – allow them to explore without ‘targets’, within a safe and respectful environment

5. Why use Puzzles? • STS- puzzles create the ‘Safe Thinking Space’ • Versatile resource within the classroom or with individuals • Easy to set up and maintain • Can be used with all abilities and ages • Empowers student choice

6. What has playing games got to do with E.I ? Provides a constructive ‘cool off’ period/thinking space Encourages team building skills Helps with social skills/turn-taking Forges open positive relationships and can increase self-esteem

7. ‘We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing’ Firebox.com TM

8. For further information • Kathryn Palmer: St John’s RC School – 01388 603246 • palmer925@btinternet.com