Small Moments, a blog about school counseling at Armstrong Elementary School
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3rd Grade Brainology Continued

11/27/2016

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Dear Third Grade Parents/Guardians,

This week, we are continuing our work with Brainology.  As you might recall, Brainology is a website that uses engaging cartoon characters to teach academic skills.  For the second part of the Brainology curriculum, the program focuses on strategies you can use when you are feeling stressed about school.  Stress is a natural part of life.  The problem is that there are times when we get so nervous that we are unable to focus.  At these points, certain strategies can help us to calm our bodies down. 

​The program describes a few different strategies.  These include:


  • Calm your body.  In previous grades, we spent time reviewing strategies to calm your body when you are upset.  These include:
  1. Take 3 deep breaths
  2. Count slowly to 10
  3. Think of something that makes you happy

These skills can work to help calm your body during a stressful academic situation as well. 
 
  • Turn a negative thought into a positive one.  For example, if you are thinking “I’m going to fail this test,” focus on changing your thoughts to “I studied, I prepared, and this is my time to show what I know.”  This can work for any nerve-wracking academic situation.
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If you have a moment, please review these strategies with your child/ren.  And if you are finding that they are nervous about homework or an upcoming test or presentation, you can help them use these strategies to hopefully make things a little less stressful.


Thank you for your help reinforcing this important lesson.

Sincerely,

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

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Kindergarten Whole Body Listening

11/14/2016

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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

11/14/2016

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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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    Author

    David Starr is the School Counselor at Armstrong Elementary School in Westborough, MA.

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