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2nd Grade - Hunter and His Amazing Remote Control

10/29/2015

Dear Second Grade Parents and Guardians,

Over the next two lessons, we are talking about growing as a second grade learner by using a book called Hunter and His Amazing Remote Control. In the story, Hunter creates a remote control to help him become a better student and friend. Each button on the remote is a strategy Hunter can use. They include:

Channel Changer: Use it to focus on the topic you are expected to be thinking about. For example, if you are learning about math and your mind is thinking about recess, use this button to change your mind back to the “math” channel

Pause: Stop what you are doing, calm down, and make a plan

Fast Forward: Predict what might happen next and use this thinking to make the expected choice right now

Rewind: We all make unexpected choices. Use this button as a way of going back and try again to make the expected choice

Slow Motion: Use this as a reminder to slow down, be mindful, and enjoy the moment

Coach: Use as a way to keep a positive attitude and as a reminder that being a better learner and friend is a life-long goal for everybody

Zapper: Use as a way to “zap,” or remove the negative thoughts we sometimes think when things are hard and we are feeling discouraged

Way to Go: Use as a reminder that while we are working to improve, it’s important to celebrate successes along the way

As part of the lesson, students had a chance to think about the different times they might use each button. They then chose one button to practice using over the next couple weeks.

Students are bringing home worksheets where they wrote about their chosen button. If you have a moment, please ask your child to share with you the button they chose. Perhaps even take a moment to think about a button you could use in your life. If you think of one, consider adding it to the comments section of this blog post. We will continue to work to build understanding of the strategies found on Hunter’s remote next time we meet.

Sincerely,

David Starr
School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School
PH: 508-836-7760 Email: [email protected]

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3rd Grade - Brainology

10/29/2015

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Dear 3rd Grade Parents and Guardians,

This week, I am introducing third grade students to a website called Brainology. Brainology takes research on strategies to help students be more successful academically and presents them in a visually interesting, child friendly way. As part of the lesson, we brainstormed about the role of the brain in our lives, learned about the many jobs of the brain, and talked about strategies to help the brain work at its best.

Three strategies introduced in the program are:

Eat a filling breakfast
Get more sleep
Do my homework without distractions (in a quiet space, no television or other people talking)

Students were asked to choose one of these strategies to focus on in their own lives over the next two weeks.

If you have a chance, please ask your child to share with you the goal they chose. You can even help them to work toward their goal. I will be checking in on how students did during our next lesson.

Thank you for your help,

David Starr
School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School
PH: (508) 836-7760 Email: [email protected]

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Bus Safety

10/22/2015

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Dear Armstrong Parents/Guardians,

This week, I am meeting with all classes to talk about bus safety. Since many of our students ride the bus to and from school each day and every student will at some point use buses for field trips, teaching bus safety is important, as well as the law. As part of the lesson, students learned about walking around and crossing in front of the bus, expected behavior on the bus, and the location of emergency exits as well as the first aid kit and fire extinguisher. Students also practiced evacuating the bus using the rear exit. Here at Armstrong, we follow the Golden Rule – Treat others the way you want to be treated. We talked about the importance of this rule, even on the bus. If you have a chance, ask your child/ren:

How should you safely walk alongside the bus? (Make sure you are always at least three big steps away from the side of the bus. If you have dropped something alongside the bus, let the bus driver know before getting it. Never cross behind the bus).
How should you cross in front of the bus? (Take three big steps toward the front of the bus, enough to be in front of the crossing arm, and make eye contact with the bus driver. When the bus driver gives you a wave, look both ways and cross the street).
How do you safely board and exit the bus? (One person boards the bus at a time. While holding the hand rail, walk up the steps. Make sure you watch the person in front of you in case they trip. Also, make sure your shoelaces are tied before boarding and exiting the bus).
How are you expected to behave on the bus? (Sit with your back and bottom on the seat, facing forward. Make sure the aisle is always clear. Use indoor voices).
How do you exit the bus in an emergency using the rear door? (Lift the back door handle. Push open the door. Students at the back of the bus exit first. Walk to the exit and leave the bus using the “sit and scoot” method. Move away from the bus).
Where are the emergency exits and emergency equipment on the bus? (Emergency exits are located on the side windows, on the ceiling, and at the rear of the bus. The fire extinguisher and first aid kit are located next to the bus driver at the front of the bus. None of these should be used unless there is an actual emergency).
What is the Golden Rule and how can we follow it on the bus? The Golden Rule is “Treat others the way you would like to be treated.” We can follow this rule by listening to the bus driver, using indoor voices, and staying seated. We can use kind words, keep our hands to ourselves, and let others sit with us when they ask.

Thank you for your help reinforcing this important lesson!

David Starr
School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School
PH: 508-836-7760, Email: [email protected]

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Safety Alerts

10/15/2015

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Dear Armstrong Parents and Guardians,

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been going into all Armstrong classrooms to teach students about Safety Alerts. Safety Alerts are a tool we are using to inform students and staff of any immediate safety concern. Teachers and staff are being trained in strategies to respond to a range of possible situations, most notably what would happen if someone unsafe attempted to enter the building.

As part of our lesson, students are taught about their job during a Safety Alert, which is:

1. Stop and look at the teacher
2. Listen and follow directions
3. Be quiet

Students learned that if they are any place other than their classroom, their job is to find the nearest safe adult. All staff members at Armstrong School wear name badges students can use to identify them as safe adults.

If you have a chance, please review with your children their job during a Safety Alert. You can also ask them what they might do if they were outside of the classroom, including in the bathroom, hallway, cafeteria, recess, or specials.

Last, please encourage your children to approach their teacher or myself with any questions they might have on the Safety Alert procedure. Our goal is to have students feel comfortable, and communication is essential to making this happen.

Thank you for your help supporting this important lesson.

Sincerely,

David Starr
School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School
PH: 508-836-7760 Email: [email protected]

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Playground Expectations

10/5/2015

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Dear Armstrong Parents and Guardians,

Last week, Ms. Rheaume, our Physical Education teacher, and I spent time with all classes reviewing expectations for making our playground a safe and fun place to be. This was a nice way to follow up on our first school meeting, which focused on playground and cafeteria expectations. During our lesson, we reviewed a number of parts of our playground, including:

Slides (one at a time, sit on your bottom, only go down the slide)
Swings (sit on your bottom, swing forward and back, stop pumping and drag feet when possible to slow down)
Tag (be in control when running, soft tag on back)
Climbing wall (one person on wall at a time, climb all the way down when finished)
Wood chips and sticks (Avoid throwing, running with, and swinging them)
Equipment (Use balls and jump ropes for their expected purposes, share them, return them to the cart when finished)
Include others (include other students who might be looking for someone to play with, let others play when they ask)

If you have a moment, consider asking your child how we can make our playground safe and fun for everyone. And when you are at the playground with your child, encourage them to follow the same expectations we use at Armstrong.

Thank you for helping to make our playground a fun, safe place to be.

Sincerely,

David Starr
School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School
PH: 508-836-7760 Email: [email protected]

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2nd Grade - Hunter and His Amazing Remote Control

3rd Grade - Brainology﻿

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Safety Alerts

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