There is a unique rhythm to the week before April Break. Following an intense stretch of ERB testing and the erratic “fits and starts” of a New England spring, we often see our students’ energy, behavior, and even their dress code run in parallel with the weather.
Last week, we swung from crisp sun to biting freezes; this week, we traded those sharp edges for a “restless and damp” atmosphere. With humidity hovering near 99% and a ceiling of constant cloud cover, the environment feels heavy and saturated. In the world of Social Emotional Learning (SEL), we see our students reflecting this exact climate.
The “Saturation” Point: Normalizing Regression
Just as the ground in Lyme is currently saturated and unable to hold more rain, our students often reach a cognitive saturation point this time of year. You might notice “topsy-turvy” behaviors:
- Skill Recessions: Skills mastered in January—like organization, emotional regulation, or following multi-step directions—seem to temporarily recede.
- The “Muddy” Middle: As children grow into a “wider wingspan,” they can become a bit clumsy with their emotions. This “zig-zag” growth is normal. Like the fruit trees on our landscape, they are finding the urge to sprout but may need a “gentle pruning” (consistent boundaries and reminders) to help them grow in the right direction.
Transitions and “Spring Fever”
For our fifth graders eyeing middle school and our eighth graders preparing for high school, this heavy atmosphere is punctuated by the weight of transition.
- Senioritis & Testing Boundaries: This isn’t just restlessness; it’s a subconscious way of processing a major life change. By pushing boundaries or acting “over it,” students are often trying to make the impending “goodbye” feel less daunting.
- The Power of Pause: In SEL, we talk about “Self-Awareness.” Helping your child recognize that they are feeling “restless” or “saturated” can take the power out of a tantrum or a bout of procrastination.
Looking Toward the Light
Despite the dampness, there is something “positively awesome” happening. Our children are three-quarters of the way to their next grade. They are emerging from their winter hibernation with new knowledge, deeper awareness, and a ready-to-bloom spirit.
As we navigate these final days before break, let’s hold space for the “awkward and the funny.” This saturated week is the necessary soak that allows for the deep rooting of the skills they’ve worked on all year.
