Wellness Reflection Worksheet

Name: _____________________________ Date: _______________

Instructions: Take a few moments to reflect on your recent experiences. Write your responses in the spaces provided.

1. Recent stressors you’ve encountered (personal or professional):

1. Coping strategies that have worked for you in the past:

1. One personal area for wellness growth you’d like to focus on:

1. One professional area for wellness growth you’d like to focus on:

Wellness Strategies Handout

This handout offers a selection of proactive, Tier 1 wellness strategies designed to benefit all students and staff in special education settings. Each strategy includes a brief description and suggestions for adaptations to meet diverse learner needs.

1. Pause & Breathe

Description: A quick, classroom-wide breathing exercise that helps reset attention and reduce stress.
• Invite everyone to sit or stand comfortably.
• Lead 3–5 slow, deep breaths: inhale for 4 counts, hold for 2, exhale for 6.

Special Education Adaptations:

• Use a visual timer or breathing animation on a board or tablet.
• Provide fidget objects (e.g., stress balls) for students who need tactile input.
• Pair verbal cues (“In…2…3…4”) with hand signals or colored cards.

2. Sensory Corners

Description: A designated area stocked with calming tools (e.g., fidgets, weighted lap pads, noise-cancelling headphones, soft lighting).

Special Education Adaptations:

• Offer a range of sensory options: tactile (sand timers), auditory (soft music), and visual (lava lamps).
• Use clear picture symbols to show students how and when to use the corner.
• Establish simple “check-out” procedures so students can access the space independently.

3. Gratitude Circle

Description: A brief ritual where students and staff share one positive moment or thing they appreciate.

Special Education Adaptations:

• Allow sharing via speech, drawing, signing, or technology-assisted communication devices.
• Use a talking object (e.g., a stuffed animal) to signal whose turn it is.
• Keep round-robin sharing to 30 seconds each to maintain attention.

4. Movement Breaks

Description: Short, guided physical activities (stretching, marching, yoga poses) to re-energize bodies and minds.

Special Education Adaptations:

• Incorporate gross-motor movements that match students’ mobility levels.
• Offer seated movement options or chair yoga for those with limited mobility.
• Use music with a steady beat or visual cues on a screen to scaffold participation.

5. Visual Schedules for Self-Regulation

Description: A posted sequence of daily or transition routines that provides predictability and reduces anxiety.

Special Education Adaptations:

• Use picture icons or photos instead of text for nonreaders.
• Include a “First–Then” board (e.g., First: Work, Then: Brain Break) to motivate task completion.
• Provide individual mini-schedules on clipboards for students who need personal structure.

6. Staff Huddles

Description: A 5-minute pre-school or mid-day check-in for staff to share updates, quick wins, or brief self-care tips.

Special Education Adaptations:

• Keep the agenda tight: 1 update, 1 resource share, 1 positive acknowledgment.
• Rotate facilitation among team members to build ownership.
• End with a collective deep breath or stretch to model wellness.

7. Peer Support Buddies

Description: Pair or group students to encourage social connection, model calm behaviors, and support each other during activities.

Special Education Adaptations:

• Match buddies based on communication styles or complementary strengths.
• Provide clear roles (e.g., “question-asker,” “helper,” “cheerleader”).
• Use visual scripts or cue cards to guide interactions.

Putting It All Together

1. Review this handout with your team or class.
2. Choose one strategy to pilot this week.
3. Note adaptations you try, and observe student and staff responses.
4. Reconvene in your next staff meeting or professional learning community to share successes and challenges.

For additional resources, refer back to the Wellness Warriors Session Slides and the Wellness Reflection Worksheet. Happy well-being work!

Wellness Warriors Workshop Script

Materials & Setup Reminder (Before Participants Arrive)

Facilitator (whisper to self): "Confirm audio is cued for the Mindful Moment Audio Clip, flip chart is ready, markers are out, and worksheets and handouts are on each table."

1. Warm-Up Icebreaker (5 minutes)

Slide: Title Slide or no slide needed

Facilitator: "Good morning, everyone! Welcome to our Wellness Warriors Workshop. My name is [Your Name], and I am thrilled to be here with you. Today, we’ll explore practical strategies to support wellness for both our students and ourselves in special education settings.

To get us started, let’s do a quick icebreaker. Please turn to someone seated near you—if you’re feeling adventurous, choose someone you haven’t met yet—and share one self-care practice you currently use. It could be something as simple as taking a five-minute walk, doing a quick stretch, or enjoying a cup of tea.

(Start a 2-minute timer.)

Facilitator (after 2 minutes): "Okay, everyone, let’s regroup. I’d love for each pair to introduce their partner and tell us the self-care practice they shared. Who would like to go first?"

(Allow 3–4 pairs to share. If the group is large, invite volunteers.)

Facilitator (as participants share): "Thank you, Jamie and Alex. Jamie’s morning gratitude ritual sounds energizing. Alex, I love that you build a 5-minute stretch into your day."

Facilitator: "I’m going to record these great practices on our flip chart so we can all see the variety of ways to take care of ourselves."

(Write down each practice quickly.)

Facilitator: "Fantastic! I hope hearing these ideas sparks new options for your own self-care. Let’s move on to our session objectives."

2. Introduction & Objectives (5 minutes)

Slide: Session Objectives (Session Slides – Slide 2)

Facilitator: "Please look at slide two of our Session Slides—the slide titled ‘Session Objectives.’"

Facilitator (pointing to slide): "Today’s goals are to:

• Understand the importance of Tier 1 wellness in special education environments
• Experience a brief mindful moment together
• Reflect on our own personal and professional wellness needs
• Collaboratively design classroom- or team-based wellness activities
• Commit to at least one strategy to implement this week

By the end of our 60 minutes, you’ll leave with tangible ideas and an action plan. Any questions before we continue?"

(Pause. If no questions, proceed.)

Facilitator: "Great—let’s dive in."

3. Guided Mindful Moment (5 minutes)

Slide: Guided Mindful Moment (Session Slides – Slide 5)

Facilitator: "I invite you to sit comfortably, place both feet on the floor, and gently close your eyes or soften your gaze. We’re going to try a brief grounding exercise.

I’ll play our Mindful Moment Audio Clip. As you listen, focus on the rhythm of your breath."

(Start audio clip.)

Facilitator (softly, after clip ends): "Gently bring your attention back to the room. Take one more deep breath with me: inhale… and exhale. Open your eyes when you’re ready. Thank you for being present with me in that moment."

4. Wellness Reflection (10 minutes)

Slide: Wellness Reflection (Session Slides – Slide 6)

Facilitator: "Now, I’m handing out the Wellness Reflection Worksheet. Please take a moment to write down:

1. Recent stressors you’ve encountered (personal or professional)
2. Coping strategies that have worked for you in the past
3. One personal area for wellness growth you’d like to focus on
4. One professional area for wellness growth you’d like to focus on

You have about eight minutes. I’ll give you a two-minute warning. Let’s begin."

(Distribute worksheets. Circulate quietly. After six minutes, say:)

Facilitator: "Two minutes left—wrap up your thoughts."

(After time is up.)

Facilitator: "Thank you for reflecting. If you feel comfortable, turn to a neighbor and share one insight you discovered, either personal or professional. You have one minute each."

(Start a two-minute partner share. Then bring group back.)

Facilitator: "Wonderful—hearing others’ reflections is powerful. Let’s explore those coping strategies in depth."

5. Strategy Brainstorm & Design (15 minutes)

Slide: Strategy Brainstorm & Design (Session Slides – Slide 8)

Facilitator: "Now, let’s move into small groups of three or four. In your groups, you’ll find the Wellness Strategies Handout. Please review the strategies and choose one or two that resonate most with you.

Then, collaborate to design a mini wellness activity that you could implement in your classroom or team. Remember to note any special education adaptations that would make the activity accessible for your learners or supportive for your staff."

(Pause for group formation – 1 minute.)

Facilitator: "I’ll set a 15-minute timer. Begin now!"

(Circulate, prompt groups with questions such as: “How might you adjust this to fit a student with sensory sensitivities?” or “What materials would you need?” Provide support. At 5 and 10 minutes, offer time checks.)

Facilitator (at 5-minute mark): "Ten minutes to go. You’re doing great!"

Facilitator (at 10-minute mark): "Five minutes left—start thinking about who will role-play your activity."

(When timer ends.)

Facilitator: "Time’s up! Let’s move to our demos."

6. Role Play & Share (10 minutes)

Slide: Role Play & Share (Session Slides – Slide 9)

Facilitator: "Each group will have two to three minutes to role-play the wellness activity you designed. After each demonstration, we’ll use two quick feedback questions:

1. What worked well?
2. How could you adapt this in your own setting?

Group 1, you’re up first—please come to the front or demonstrate in place."

(Group 1 demo, then feedback. Repeat with Group 2 and Group 3 as time allows.)

Facilitator: "Thank you all! The creativity here is inspiring. These real-life examples will help each of us visualize implementing wellness in our own contexts."

7. Cool-Down & Action Planning (10 minutes)

Slide: Action Planning & Cool-Down (Session Slides – Slide 10)

Facilitator: "As we close, let’s reflect as a full group:

• What is one key takeaway you will remember?
• What barriers might you face when implementing these strategies?

(Invite 2–3 volunteers to share.)

Facilitator: "Thank you. Now, please take a sticky note. Write down one wellness practice or activity you commit to trying this week—whether in your classroom or with your colleagues. Be specific (for example, ‘I will lead a 2-minute Pause & Breathe at morning meeting each day’)."

(Give 2 minutes for writing and posting on flip chart.)

Facilitator: "I’m so inspired by your commitments. This public accountability is powerful. Finally, let’s seal our workshop with one mindful breath together. Inhale… and exhale."

Closing & Next Steps (2 minutes)

Slide: Thank You & Next Steps (Session Slides – Slide 11)

Facilitator: "Thank you for your energy, ideas, and openness today. Remember, all materials, including the Session Slides, Wellness Reflection Worksheet, and Wellness Strategies Handout are available for download. Please join our online community to share your successes and tips. I look forward to hearing how these wellness strategies support you and your students. Have a wonderful rest of your day!"

(End of Workshop)