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Kindergarten "Who Are You?" Lesson

12/11/2017

Dear Kindergarten Parents and Guardians,

This week, Kindergarten students are asking the question, "Who Are You?" Using the Todd Parr book, "Be Who You Are," they are thinking about the qualities that make them unique. As part of the lesson, students wrote about some of the parts of them they feel are special. As family members and educators, let's work together to value these important qualities of our students and children.

Sincerely,

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

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First Grade Celebrating Differences Part 2

12/11/2017

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Dear First Grade Parents and Guardians,

This week, we are celebrating differences in first grade. There are so many qualities that make each of us unique, and every one of them is worth celebrating. Together, they make our community a strong, vibrant place for all students.

As part of this lesson, we read the book "It's Okay to Be Different," by Todd Parr. Students then worked to add their own page to the book, celebrating a difference that is important to them. They turned their pages into Seesaw projects, which they will be uploading this week.

Sincerely,

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

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3rd Grade Brainology Continued

12/4/2017

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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:

Take 3 deep breaths
Count slowly to 10
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.

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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2nd Grade Hunter's Remote Continued

12/4/2017

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Dear Second Grade Parents and Guardians,

This week, we are continuing to talk 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 "Who Are You?" Lesson

First Grade Celebrating Differences Part 2

3rd Grade Brainology Continued

2nd Grade Hunter's Remote Continued

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