Helping your Child Cope with Stress and Anxiety

Click below to download :)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/edu5ywwmglqyln9/Stress%20and%20Anxiety%20HO-REVISED.doc

"Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew"

Click on the link below :)

http://www.autismvoice.com/2006/08/07/ten-things-your-student-with-autism-wishes-you-knew/

Parent Meet and Greet at Windsor

Thank you to all of the parents who attended our first "Parent Meet and Greet" hosted by Barb Donahue, Maggie Wade, and myself.  The meet and greet was for parents whose children are in the Communications, Foundations, or Transitional Kindergarten classes at Windsor school.  This was an informal meeting to connect parents, share resources, and assess parents' needs.  We hope that the parents who attended found it beneficial and we look forward to future groups throughout the school year.

Building Self-Esteem in your Child

Here is a link to some helpful tips on how to build your child's confidence and self-esteem.

Click here to download

SOLVE IT! Because Character DOES Count!

Positive reinforcement and conflict-resolution is an important part of a school environment.  My goal is  to maintain a positive, safe, and fun environment for our students throughout the school day.

For the 2012-2013 school year, I am planning to continue SOLVE IT at Greenbrier, the conflict-resolution program, designed by Rebecca Ague, Ivy Hill Social Worker, that we began five years ago.  The purpose of this program is to develop a common language among staff and students that promotes positive choices and conflict-resolution skills.  In order to help students develop an assertive voice, this program teaches them how to positively use their words in conflict situations.  This program will continue to be used throughout the school setting including the classroom, lunch, recess, and any other places where conflict occurs.

   

Within the next month, the students at Greenbrier will have received a refresher training of the 8 steps of the SOLVE IT program and those who have not heard it will be taught for the first time.  The program emphasizes appropriate eye contact, active listening, compromising, visualizing a plan, exchanging ideas, problem-solving, good communication skills, and sticking to a plan.  Each step of SOLVE IT also incorporates the pillars of Character Counts including Responsibility, Citizenship, Respect, Caring, Fairness, and Trustworthiness. 

In conjunction with SOLVE IT, we are also continuing Peer Mediators at Greenbrier.  The Peer Mediators program is an opportunity to encourage the fifth graders to become expert conflict solvers.  By becoming “experts” at SOLVE IT, the fifth graders can use the skills they have learned and help develop these same skills and concepts in the younger students, grades 1-3.  The fifth graders will be presented with the idea of what a peer mediator is and then asked to apply to be a peer mediator if it is of interest to them.  

I will be selecting a certain number of students from the 5th grade to become peer mediators this year.  Then, I will be splitting them into small groups to cover each of the lunch and recess times one day a week for the remainder of the school year.  Their position as peer mediators will be to help facilitate the SOLVE IT conflict resolution program as needed, while also building positive relationships with the younger students.  Conflicts may include disagreements over games, friendship problems, etc.  Please note that any conflicts that involve physical violence (which is rare), bullying, or a problem that the peer mediators feel they cannot handle will be handled by the playground supervisors as it has been done in the past. 

In order to become “expert” conflict solvers, the 5th grade students will be participating in several trainings during their lunch recess time.  The trainings will include topics such as: how to be a successful mediator, compromising, using “I” messages, the SOLVE IT program, and advanced active listening skills.  

I am looking forward to a great year.  Let's SOLVE IT!

Homework Tips

Here is a link to some helpful homework tips for your child to start the new school year :)

Click here to download

Welcome back parents and students to the 2012-2013 school year!  I am very excited to be part of all of the exciting and new experiences this year.  I will be continuing my role as the K-5 social worker at Greenbrier and the Communications class social worker at Windsor.  This year, I will also be working with the Transitional Kindergarten class at Windsor school.  I look forward to working with students individually or in groups on topics such as anxiety, social skills, anti-bullying, listening skills, etc.  Check back throughout the year for updates and resources.  Have a great first day!!