Blog Archives

3rd Grade Brainology

10/29/2017

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: starrd@westboroughk12.org

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2nd Grade - Hunter and His Amazing Remote Control

10/29/2017

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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. 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: starrd@westboroughk12.org

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Kindergarten Whole Body Listening

10/23/2017

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Dear Kindergarten Parents and Guardians,

This week, we are talking about whole body listening in kindergarten classes. Being the best listener you can be takes more than using your ears to hear. It takes your whole body to truly listen. As part of our lesson, we read the story “Whole Body Listening Larry at School,” by Elizabeth Sautter and Kristen Wilson. We used it to review the many parts of our body that are important to being a successful listener. These include:

Eyes on speaker
Mouth closed and quiet
Body still and calm
Ears listening
Hands in lap and free of materials
Brain thinking
Heart feeling

If you have a moment, please ask your child to share the different parts of their body they use to be a successful listener at school.

Thank you for your help reviewing this important lesson.

Sincerely,

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

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First Grade Brain In

10/21/2017

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Dear First Grade Parents and Guardians,

This week, students are thinking about ways they can be a better learner. Here at Armstrong, everyone is taught the components of Whole Body Listening. This includes using your eyes, ears, mouth, hands, and body to ensure that all of your senses are focused on the person speaking.

Active listening involves more than utilizing these senses; it requires an individual to think about the information they see and hear. For this lesson, students are learning the concept “Brain In.” When your brain is in, you show that you are thinking about what is being said. Some “Brain In” behaviors include:

Thinking about what you hear and see
Asking questions
Sharing ideas
Following directions
Repeating what is said in your head

As part of this lesson, students cut out and colored brains, then wrote one way they can show their brain is in. They should be bringing their brains home and sharing them with you throughout this week.

As your children grow and develop, try and help them continue to think about ways they can support their brain to do its best thinking. This will hopefully help to make them a stronger student and member of our community.

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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Bus Safety

10/13/2017

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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, behind the yellow line in front of the school. 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. Give personal space. 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: starrd@westboroughk12.org

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3rd Grade Brainology

2nd Grade - Hunter and His Amazing Remote Control

Kindergarten Whole Body Listening

First Grade Brain In

Bus Safety

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