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Over the past several weeks, second grade students have been using the Explain Everything app on the ipad to create "How To" projects that teach others different yoga poses and breathing strategies. Below you can see the projects created by the students in Ms. Peterson's second grade class. You can learn the poses yourself. Just press play on the video and have fun!
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Dear Second and Third Grade Parents and Guardians,
This week, students are continuing their work on problem solving. The last time we met, we learned about and reviewed “I feel” and “you feel” statements. They look like this: I feel __________ when you ________. I would like you to __________. You feel _________ when I _________. You would like me to _________. For more information on our I feel statement introduction lesson, please scroll down to my post from March 5th. For this lesson, students continued to work with this problem solving strategy. They brainstormed different I feel and you feel statements they might use to resolve different conflict situations. We will take this practice and apply it during our next and final lesson on problem solving, when students will work in teams to plan and present conflict situations and utilize I feel statements to resolve them. Please continue to encourage your children to try this strategy at home. Practice is important for many things, including (and perhaps especially) problem solving. Sincerely, David Starr School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School PH: (508) 836-7760 Email: [email protected] Over the past several weeks, second grade students have been using the Explain Everything app on the ipad to create "How To" projects that teach others different yoga poses and breathing strategies. Below you can see the projects created by the students in Ms. Casciano's second grade class. You can learn the poses yourself. Just press play on the video and have fun! I'll be sharing more videos like these over the coming weeks.
 Dear Armstrong Parents and Guardians,
A few weeks ago, I heard an interview on the radio with Beth Kobliner, a former member of the President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans. She was discussing a book she had just written called "Make Your Kid a Money Genius (even if you're not)." Intrigued, I decided to order a copy of the book. In it, I found that she shared some incredibly helpful perspectives on how to teach kids financial responsibility. The book reminded me of the lessons I had learned about money from my parents, and it made me wonder about conversations we as an Armstrong community are having with our children and students to teach them these skills. In the interview, Beth shares that by the age of 7, children have learned a good deal of their habits related to money. That makes these early elementary years incredibly important for building a financial skill set. Having just finished Beth's book, I wanted to reach out to you as Armstrong parents and guardians, to hear your thoughts and experience talking to your children about money. I'm wondering:
I'm hoping to start a dialogue around this topic using the comments section of this post. Please consider sharing your thoughts on the above questions. Also, if you are interested in listening to the interview with Beth Kobliner, you can hear it by pressing play on the audio bar below (it's about ten minutes long). Sincerely, David Starr School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School PH: (508) 836-7760 Email: [email protected] Over the past several weeks, second grade students have been using the Explain Everything app on the ipad to create "How To" projects that teach others different yoga poses and breathing strategies. Below you can see the projects created by the students in Mrs. Rosenfield's second grade class. You can learn the poses yourself. Just press play on the video and have fun! I'll be sharing more videos like these over the coming weeks.
Dear Kindergarten and First Grade Parents and Guardians,
This week, we are finishing our unit on problem solving in K and 1 classes. The last time we met, students learned and practiced saying I feel statements to resolve conflicts with peers. As a reminder, I feel statements look like this: I feel _______ when you _______. While talking is a great strategy, it is not fair to expect all problems to be resolved by students themselves. For this lesson, we spent time discussing different unexpected things that might happen at school and decided if they are dangerous (someone could get hurt), destructive (something could get broken or ruined), or safe. For problems that are upsetting, but safe, we decided that students can try to solve these problems themselves, perhaps with an I feel statement. In the case of a dangerous or destructive situation, we considered the different adults who might help to solve the problem. You can support this lesson at home. When your child comes to you for help and the problem is not dangerous or destructive, encourage them to try to solve it on their own first. You can even help them brainstorm ways to solve the problem. Also, consider reviewing dangerous or destructive events that might happen at home, and reinforce that in these situations, it is important for them to find a safe adult to help. Sincerely, David Starr School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School PH: (508) 836-7760 Email: [email protected] Over the past several weeks, second grade students have been using the Explain Everything app on the ipad to create "How To" projects that teach others different yoga poses and breathing strategies. Below you can see the projects created by the students in Mrs. Conley's second grade class. You can learn the poses yourself. Just press play on the video and have fun! I'll be sharing more videos like these over the coming weeks.  Dear 2nd and 3rd Grade Parents and Guardians,
This week, I am working with 2nd and 3rd grade students on using words to solve conflicts. Here at Armstrong, we use a technique called an “I feel” statement. It is a strategy for verbalizing our feelings in a non-confrontational way. An “I feel” statement looks like this: I feel __________ when you ____________. I would like you to ____________.
3rd grade students also talked about the role of the listener. When someone is angry or upset with us and uses an “I feel” statement, the most important thing we can do is show that we listened. This is even the case when we disagree with what they are saying. To show we heard them, 3rd grade students are being taught “You feel” statements. They look like this: You feel _________ when I __________. You would like me to _____________. As part of the lesson, students were asked to create “I feel” and “You feel” statements they could use in response to sample conflict situations. You can try this strategy at home. When your child is feeling angry, sad, or frustrated at a sibling or peer, encourage them to use “I feel” and “You feel” statements. And if they find it useful, encourage them to post a comment in response to this blog post sharing their experience. Learning from each other is one of the best ways to grow as a community. We will also continue to practice this strategy over the next few lessons. Two important reminders:
Thank you for your help supporting this important lesson. Sincerely, David Starr School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School PH: (508) 836-7760 Email: [email protected] |
AuthorDavid Starr is the School Counselor at Armstrong Elementary School in Westborough, MA. |
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