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2nd Grade I Feel Sentences Continued

4/30/2018

Dear Second 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” statements. They look like this:

I feel __________ when you ________. I would like you to __________.

For more information on our I feel statement introduction lesson, please scroll down to my post from April 2nd.

For this lesson, students continued to work with this problem solving strategy. They brainstormed different I feel statements they might use to resolve different conflict situations.

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: starrd@westboroughk12.org

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Third Grade MCAS Assessments

4/24/2018

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Dear Third Grade Parents and Guardians,

Next week, third grade students here at Armstrong will be taking English Language Arts assessments for MCAS, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System. These tests give us as educators a chance to see how we are doing in comparison to other schools throughout Massachusetts.

This week, I am going into third grade classes to discuss MCAS and answer student questions. We are taking time to talk about ways to relax your body during the test, as well as the importance of getting a good night’s sleep and eating a healthy breakfast. We are also reading the book, “The Biggest Test in the Universe,” by Nancy Poydar. It talks about the fictional experience of a student going through his first state assessment.

You can help your child be as prepared as possible for MCAS:

Ask your child about strategies they can use to relax their body during the test. These strategies include:
- Counting slowly
- Taking deep breaths
- Thinking of something that makes you happy

Make sure your child goes to bed at an appropriate time the night before the test. If they are having trouble sleeping, encourage them to use some of the relaxation strategies we talked about in class.

Make sure your child eats a healthy and filling breakfast the morning of the test. This food will provide the energy they need to do their best.

Please make sure your child arrives to school on time. The test will begin promptly at nine, and it is essential that all students are in their classrooms for the test to start. Students arriving after nine will not be allowed to take the test with their class.

If you have any questions about MCAS, do not hesitate to contact myself or your child's classroom teacher.

Sincerely,

David Starr
School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School
PH: 508-836-7760, Email: starrd@westboroughk12.org

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Kindergarten and First Grade I Feel Sentences

4/10/2018

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Dear Kindergarten and First Grade Parents and Guardians,

This week, we are working on problem solving in K and 1 classes. The last time we met, students reviewed the importance of strategies like taking three deep breaths and counting to 10 to help calm their body when they are angry or upset. We also spent time working on yoga and mindfulness. For this lesson, students are starting to learn the words they can say to solve a problem. We are using a modified form of the I feel statement taught in second and third grade. It looks like this:

· I feel _________ when you ________.

Students watched videos of former Armstrong students acting out different problem situations and worked to brainstorm I feel sentences that might help solve the problems. They then wrote their own I feel sentences. By learning to verbalize their feelings and what is causing them to feel that way, our hope is to develop a problem solving foundation with our students that will continue to grow throughout the rest of their time at Armstrong and beyond.

You can use this language to help build your children’s problem solving skills at home as well. When your child has a problem, encourage them to try an I feel statement to help solve it. If you find they have a problem solving success, please consider sharing it in the comments section of this blog post. My hope is to give you as parents a forum to share your stories from home.

Thank you for your help with this important lesson.

Sincerely,

David Starr
School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School
PH: (508) 836-7760 Email: starrd@westboroughk12.org

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2nd, 3rd Grade Problem Solving

4/2/2018

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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 ____________.

In the first blank, put the feeling you are experiencing.
In the second blank, put the action of the other person that has caused you to feel this way.
In the third blank, put what the other person can do differently to solve the problem.

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:

An “I feel” statement is one tool a child can use to solve conflicts with peers. It will not solve 100% of their problems. If a child has worked hard to verbalize their feelings and is not experiencing success, this is often a great time for an adult to step in and help.
The more neutral their tone of voice, the better chance the strategy will work. We have already talked about using relaxation strategies (taking three deep breathes, counting to ten, thinking of something that makes you especially happy) when you are upset. Using these, or even just walking away and waiting to solve the problem, can be helpful for calming your body down before talking to a friend or sibling.

Thank you for your help supporting this important lesson.

Sincerely,

David Starr
School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School
PH: (508) 836-7760 Email: starrd@westboroughk12.org

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2nd Grade I Feel Sentences Continued

Third Grade MCAS Assessments

Kindergarten and First Grade I Feel Sentences

2nd, 3rd Grade Problem Solving

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