tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55433446357058343192024-03-05T07:54:32.303-08:00Lowell Guidance BlogGrowing together in parenting, education, and all things good.Veronica Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245772926859276903noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-19587915317615256892017-11-15T10:40:00.000-08:002017-11-15T10:40:04.353-08:00Digitally Distracted ParentingI love technology! I really, really love technology. From the invention of the wheel, to the mass production of books with the printing press, to research on "beam of invisibility." However, without being an alarmist, it is also important to be informed on the unintended impact of technological advances. Over the past fifteen years as a school counselor, I have seen many positive and many concerning changes in our children. Below please find a link to a compelling blog post on this topic. Let's commit to not being "Digitally Distracted" parents and help one another set sound boundaries on our children's access to technology, so they can develop solid life skills.<div>
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Excerpt from "<a href="https://www.yourmodernfamily.com/scary-truth-whats-hurting-kids/" target="_blank">The scary truth about what’s hurting our kids</a>" by Becky (Your Modern Family)<br /><br /><i>CNN recently interviewed Dr. Jean Twenge, author of iGen and her interview worried me – because I saw the truth that I would be facing in just a few short years. Dr. Twenge started doing research 25 years ago on generational differences, but when 2011 -2012 hit, she saw something that would scare her to the core. This is the year when those having iPhones went over the 50% mark.<br /><br />The results of that should scare all of us.</i><ul>
<li><i>This was the year that more kids started to say that they felt “sad, hopeless, useless… that they couldn’t do anything right (depression).”</i></li>
<li><i>They felt left-out and lonely.</i></li>
<li><i>There is a 50% increase in a clinical level depression between 2011-2015.</i></li>
<li><i>A substantial increase in suicide rate.Before I give you any more, I want you to look at these graphs and look at how the information correlates to the iPhones being released. They aren’t hanging out with friends nearly as much.</i></li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-10033779919261481722017-11-02T06:34:00.001-07:002017-11-02T06:34:37.018-07:00Good Morning Around the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As many of you know, it is a tradition at the Lowell School that we welcome our students by name in the mornings. This year (kudos to Ms. Notaro), we are learning how to greet each other in different languages. So far, we have learned Arabic, Spanish, and Armenian. (Thank you to all our parents and students for helping us with the pronunciation!) This week, lucky for me, we are greeting each other in Cantonese, a dialect of Chinese used in southern China and Hong Kong, my hometown. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-56634205576196422862017-10-20T06:25:00.000-07:002017-11-02T06:28:06.111-07:00LowellRoom122a<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/sVkOoeu0H0wRoCaKj9a4Lpaz2du2hM-FnGHOIebZNOjOExkHXMnssFdXNz-ONxmoBXPjmA=s400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="387" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/sVkOoeu0H0wRoCaKj9a4Lpaz2du2hM-FnGHOIebZNOjOExkHXMnssFdXNz-ONxmoBXPjmA=s400" width="309" /></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-7886680a-7ce8-6376-c984-ed140dfda1b5"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For an inside look at some of the going-ons of the guidance office, please consider following our newly launched “Lowell Guidance” on Instagram at “<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lowellroom122a/?hl=en" target="_blank">lowellroom122a</a>”.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-22116163485223406022017-10-06T06:21:00.000-07:002017-11-02T06:22:12.274-07:00Feelings & ZonesⓇ<span id="docs-internal-guid-7886680a-7ce3-dc17-d992-84668e9965d0"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year, our guidance classroom lessons are centered on the Zones of RegulationⓇ. We talk about how feelings having different levels of energy, sometimes we have too much energy (Yellow Zone), sometimes too little (Blue Zone). When we have the just right level of energy for learning, we are in the Green Zone. It is important that students understand our feelings are not good or bad, because every feeling has a purpose. Some of them feel more comfortable, while some are uncomfortable. More about this to come...</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-88694524746956593402017-09-15T06:19:00.000-07:002017-11-02T06:20:01.704-07:00Welcome Ms. Cuff!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/T8vMx3WKuOaTg2zBt9ikr0GV4Fx-O_-06zlXC-a4_Kb9JNxqvpOr0HE_uEejcnqSDgGyhQ=s400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/T8vMx3WKuOaTg2zBt9ikr0GV4Fx-O_-06zlXC-a4_Kb9JNxqvpOr0HE_uEejcnqSDgGyhQ=s400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-7886680a-7ce0-b7b1-5b5c-410a883ff765"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year, we have one guidance intern as part of our student support team. Ms. Alexa Cuff comes to us via the Harvard Graduate School of Education and is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Prevention Science, with a concentration in school counseling. She is looking forward to a great school year at the Lowell School, and our students love having her here already!</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-159908018274394862017-06-04T03:23:00.003-07:002017-06-04T03:23:44.353-07:00PreK/Kindergarten ScreeningWe are super excited about spending time with our class of 2030 and 2031 during our upcoming PreK/K Screening days! While preparing for our parent presentation, I was reminded of the importance of reading to our children. The warm and inviting atmosphere of spending time with caring adults wires our children's brains to connect reading to positive emotions. The consistency of hearing and seeing words also builds essential pre-reading skills. Let's take a trip to the local library and find ourselves some good books this summer in preparation for a successful Fall transition!<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SDrUWGMa368/WTPdpNEfFUI/AAAAAAAAA0c/ZhM07suguwsFM-JrQkOl8sT2YZqPbg6ngCEw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-06-01%2Bat%2B2.22.17%2BPM.png"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SDrUWGMa368/WTPdpNEfFUI/AAAAAAAAA0c/ZhM07suguwsFM-JrQkOl8sT2YZqPbg6ngCEw/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-06-01%2Bat%2B2.22.17%2BPM.png" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-22164290942380873052017-05-06T03:54:00.000-07:002017-06-04T03:57:17.043-07:00What to Do When You Worry Too MuchMs. Tareen has a new post up - do check it out: <a href="https://sit365.wixsite.com/noworries/single-post/2017/04/24/Who-doesnt-love-TED-Talks" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Who doesn't love a TED Talk?</span></a><br />
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<i><span style="color: blue;">"Dr. Huebner is a psychologist, mother and the author of the bestseller "What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety." In it, she emphasizes her belief in empowerment and provides practical advice for caregivers and children."</span></i><br />
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You can find the link to this TED talk via her post (link above).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-80352444390885987692017-04-24T10:43:00.002-07:002017-04-24T10:43:20.578-07:00Food for Stress<br />
A new post from Ms. Tareen: <a href="https://sit365.wixsite.com/noworries/single-post/2016/03/12/Food-Stress" target="_blank">Food for Stress</a><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XmeJQWkIQaQ/WP45GHnpa7I/AAAAAAAAAyw/LEGjd0IWjIMFkRkRNip7E-9xBIHVXgtrACLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-04-24%2Bat%2B1.41.42%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XmeJQWkIQaQ/WP45GHnpa7I/AAAAAAAAAyw/LEGjd0IWjIMFkRkRNip7E-9xBIHVXgtrACLcB/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-04-24%2Bat%2B1.41.42%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-26618570029012120372017-03-12T11:04:00.000-07:002017-04-24T10:40:50.395-07:00Hakuna Matata<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2XN0Sfw54yc/WNAXiahh39I/AAAAAAAAAxM/11nQQ0E4xoYCvWD1OPckyFEDEXyjUZeFwCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-20%2Bat%2B1.49.30%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2XN0Sfw54yc/WNAXiahh39I/AAAAAAAAAxM/11nQQ0E4xoYCvWD1OPckyFEDEXyjUZeFwCLcB/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-20%2Bat%2B1.49.30%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2XN0Sfw54yc/WNAXiahh39I/AAAAAAAAAxM/11nQQ0E4xoYCvWD1OPckyFEDEXyjUZeFwCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-20%2Bat%2B1.49.30%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2XN0Sfw54yc/WNAXiahh39I/AAAAAAAAAxM/11nQQ0E4xoYCvWD1OPckyFEDEXyjUZeFwCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-20%2Bat%2B1.49.30%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
As part of her internship program, Ms. Sidra Tareen, our HGSE guidance intern, started a blog to house her learning as well as strategies and tips for managing worries. Please check it out and subscribe to it for updates.<br />
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Here is the link to: <a href="https://sit365.wixsite.com/noworries">Hakuna Matata Blog</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-51119755763939343392017-02-28T03:28:00.000-08:002017-06-04T03:58:04.694-07:00Sphere of ControlWe have all heard it: There is an increase of anxiety in our children. I have certainly noticed this phenomenon over the last fifteen years of counseling in schools. Although there are many contributing factors to this shift, there are some basic strategies that can help us practice talking down "Peeves" as my young friends and I call that creature of worry in our minds and hearts. <br />
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One strategy is understanding our sphere of control. There are some things we can (and should) control, such as our habits of being polite. There are others things that we cannot (and should not try to) control, such as the weather, especially living in New England where all four seasons can pass through in twenty-four hours.<br />
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This concept is helpful in dealing with peer relationships. We cannot control what others think, say, or do. If behaviors "crosses the line", of course we have policies and protocols for addressing issues of bullying. However, we cannot control "typical" negative behaviors of other people. Sometimes, peers are going to be unkind, or gossip, or be moody. While our caring teachers attend to such social-emotional dynamics by helping our peers to gain insight into their behaviors and cultivating the desire to change, it is often resilient-building for us to understand what we can do to minimize the negative impact. <br />
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We can control whose opinions we listen to and value. In our discussions, the students and I often talk about if someone is not a reliable and good friend, why do we care so much about what they think of us. We can choose to listen to those who are kind to us all or most of the time. We can take an inventory of who our trusted friends are and invest our energies in those relationships.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jTAeYUHq4no/WTPkkOiVfGI/AAAAAAAAA0k/RBAWc45ElbQYL8YOazJuwUaDTlqDgy2agCLcB/s1600/Sphere%2Bof%2BControl.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jTAeYUHq4no/WTPkkOiVfGI/AAAAAAAAA0k/RBAWc45ElbQYL8YOazJuwUaDTlqDgy2agCLcB/s320/Sphere%2Bof%2BControl.png" width="320" /></a><br />
This short piece on HuffPost by Renee Jain: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/teach-your-child-this-crucial-life-lesson-challenge_us_5898a6fde4b0985224db578e" target="_blank">Teach your Child this Crucial Life Lesson (Challenge #2: Sphere of Control)</a> is a short and helpful read.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-48492798668610640842017-01-14T08:04:00.000-08:002017-01-14T08:04:09.280-08:00Breath...Let's Calm our BrainsMy favorite part of this video is the end, the strategies for repairing impact of stress on our brains. Truth be told, I got more and more stressed watching the video until the end. Let's breath together and take care of our brains!<br />
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<iframe width="400" height="307" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WuyPuH9ojCE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-40118876813247483872017-01-03T10:24:00.002-08:002017-01-03T10:24:37.043-08:002017 PreK/Kindergarten Information Night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f_BUD8yjq3M/WGvp-wMdecI/AAAAAAAAAsk/AhBvxv1NglUqB4xlSP0Oo989OlSnJ09owCEw/s1600/Kindergarten%2BInfo%2BNight.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f_BUD8yjq3M/WGvp-wMdecI/AAAAAAAAAsk/AhBvxv1NglUqB4xlSP0Oo989OlSnJ09owCEw/s320/Kindergarten%2BInfo%2BNight.png" width="252" /></a></div>
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<b>Kindergarten/Prekindergarten Information Night </b></div>
Wednesday, January 18, 2017 <br />(snow date, Thursday, January 19th) <br /><br />Cunniff School: 6:30-7:30pm <br />Hosmer School: 6:30-7:30pm <br />Lowell School: 6:30-7:30pm <br /><br />Parents/Guardians of children entering Kindergarten and/or Pre-Kindergarten in the fall of 2017 are invited to attend this information meeting. You will….. <br />
<ul>
<li>learn about early education in Watertown </li>
<li>find out when to register your child </li>
<li>learn how to register your child for school </li>
<li>ask questions about early education and registration </li>
<li>pick up registration packets* </li>
</ul>
<br />Parents should attend the session held at their neighborhood school. If you do not know your neighborhood school, please call the Registrar’s office at 617-972-4216. <br /><br />Kindergarten Requirements: <br /><ul>
<li>Your child must turn 5 years of age before September 1, 2017** </li>
</ul>
<br />Full Day Pre-Kindergarten Requirements: <br /><ul>
<li>Your child must turn 4 years of age before September 1, 2017** </li>
</ul>
<br />Registration Dates:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Pre-Kindergarten</b> (only) registration begins. </li>
<ul>
<li>January 19, 2017</li>
<li>Return completed registration packet to the Early Steps Preschool (at the Hosmer School) </li>
</ul>
<li><b>Kindergarten</b> Registration Week. </li>
<ul>
<li>Monday, January 23rd through Friday, January 27th, 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM</li>
<li>Tuesday, January 24th, 6:00 – 8:00 PM</li>
<li>Wednesday, January 25th, 4:00 – 6:00 PM</li>
<li>Return completed registration packet to the registrar’s office located at 30 Common Street</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<br />* Kindergarten registration packets are available on the Watertown Public Schools website, <a href="http://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/">http://www.watertown.k12.ma.us</a> <br /><br />** Please note the age requirement date change per School Committee meeting of 12/7/15<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-68574867608345722852016-12-31T09:00:00.000-08:002017-01-03T10:30:54.159-08:00Kicking 2017 off with Kindness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ekdM9pSSQS8/WGvtcQHmQ3I/AAAAAAAAAss/vWUP_opsTUMMoeDqjxBAE9fIchHdRmkNQCLcB/s1600/Kindness-Calendar-January-2017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ekdM9pSSQS8/WGvtcQHmQ3I/AAAAAAAAAss/vWUP_opsTUMMoeDqjxBAE9fIchHdRmkNQCLcB/s400/Kindness-Calendar-January-2017.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Courtesy of Helen from UK:<br />
http://maketodayhappy.co.uk/kindness-calendar-january-2017/<br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em;">
To download your free copy, please click on this link: <a class="download-link" href="http://maketodayhappy.co.uk/download/3472/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ff6600; text-decoration: none;" title="">Kindness-Calendar-January-2017.pdf (8350 downloads)</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-56983825923904143612016-12-17T09:00:00.000-08:002017-01-03T11:24:03.654-08:00Let Them Play, Let Them Struggle, Let Them Learn"The adults observing the children look over at me with worried looks. I instruct them to observe but stay close and hidden among the trees. Secretly, I’m wondering if we should intervene now, but something tells me to wait."<div>
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An excerpt from <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/12/11/why-adults-have-to-stop-trying-so-darn-hard-to-control-how-children-play/?postshare=1601481846295138&tid=ss_tw-bottom&utm_term=.2e54b80113ac" target="_blank">Why adults have to stop trying so darn hard to control how children play</a> by Valerie Strauss, The Washington Post, December 11th, 2015. An oldie but a goodie about why we should supervise our children's play but understand that there is a balance between supporting and hovering.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-11587405438223760642016-11-30T13:00:00.003-08:002016-11-30T13:00:57.562-08:00Holiday Family Skate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-27069584988808016522016-11-21T16:27:00.000-08:002016-11-21T16:27:28.293-08:00A Minion Reasons to be Thankful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v3t6gKKiDgU/WDOPfI9qwXI/AAAAAAAAApk/RwsfX4Vm3Yg/s640/blogger-image--1761220776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v3t6gKKiDgU/WDOPfI9qwXI/AAAAAAAAApk/RwsfX4Vm3Yg/s400/blogger-image--1761220776.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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"Hate" has 4 letters, but so does "Love"</div>
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"Enemies" has 7 letters, but so does "Friends"</div>
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"Lying" has 5 letters, but so does "Truth"</div>
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"Hurt" has 4 letters, but so does "Heal"</div>
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Transform every negative energy into an aura of "Possibility". </div>
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It is our perception that makes the difference in the way we feel.</div>
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Wisdom from Stuart, who will be joining the board tomorrow~</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-36483454872802247802016-11-12T07:26:00.001-08:002016-11-12T11:51:08.530-08:00Grieving a Beloved PetIn her article, <a href="http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/everything-kids/take-it-from-a-family-who-just-lost-a-pet-this-research-about/?utm_source=pmm-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=parents_parentsdaily_bigkid_111016&did=94624" target="_blank">"Take It From a Family Who JUST Lost a Pet: This Research About Kids' Grief Will Help"</a>, Melissa Willets shares her family's loss of a beloved pet while drawing useful snippets from the October publication of "<a href="http://new%20research%20explores%20what%20it%20means%20when%20a%20child%20loses%20a%20pet/" target="_blank">New research explores what it means when a child loses a pet</a>". Below the <a href="http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/everything-kids/take-it-from-a-family-who-just-lost-a-pet-this-research-about/?utm_source=pmm-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=parents_parentsdaily_bigkid_111016&did=94624" target="_blank">article</a>, in the comment section, Candi Wingate shares some practical advise on how to communicate the death to and how to support our children through the experience. <br />
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A worthwhile "cup of coffee" read.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-25993128584066330752016-11-09T20:59:00.001-08:002016-11-09T20:59:42.217-08:00World Kindness Day - Early Start<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NNhW0ptK3Zs/WCP-gxhhyAI/AAAAAAAAAns/-w-KR6GzssEe_bztlBljMiiddzUREx1xQCLcB/s1600/RAK_kindness_is_free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NNhW0ptK3Zs/WCP-gxhhyAI/AAAAAAAAAns/-w-KR6GzssEe_bztlBljMiiddzUREx1xQCLcB/s400/RAK_kindness_is_free.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-77651838897139535782016-10-22T19:40:00.000-07:002016-11-12T11:55:31.397-08:00Gratitude as the Antidote“<i>Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude</i>.” - A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh<br />
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For many years, we have been reading research on the connections between the practice of gratitude and happiness, health, improvements in personal or professional relationships. Though the definition of gratitude varies, most studies confirm that there is much to be gained by recognizing, reflecting on, and articulating experiences or things that are valuable and meaningful to us. <a href="http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/in-praise-of-gratitude" target="_blank">In Praise of Gratitude</a>, published several years ago around the Thanksgiving season in America, lists some easy "Ways for Cultivating Gratitude"from thanking someone mentally to keeping a gratitude journal. <br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bAbigHUk9po/WCc-los1jrI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/_pfWQu3Hmfw/s640/blogger-image--883874280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bAbigHUk9po/WCc-los1jrI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/_pfWQu3Hmfw/s200/blogger-image--883874280.jpg" width="200" /></a>In her "<a href="http://creativityintherapy.com/" target="_blank">Creativity in Therapy</a>" blog, Carolyn Mehlomakulu shared the idea of using a "<a href="http://creativityintherapy.com/2012/11/gratitude-jar-an-activity-to-focus-on-thankfulness/" target="_blank">Gratitude Jar</a>" as a tool to "increasing awareness of positive things in one's life". <br />
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I believe I will start with being grateful for the jar of Strawberry Rhubarb jam which will put me on my journey of gratitude this school year!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-44779904928627575442016-10-08T07:00:00.000-07:002016-11-12T08:11:42.062-08:00How to Disagree - Wisdom from Kid President<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ghk-nDJB3Tk" width="500"></iframe><br />
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Quoting Mandela, Gandhi, and Meowth!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-37905810454502699062016-09-30T11:44:00.000-07:002016-11-12T11:47:35.875-08:00Rude, Mean, or BullyingIn <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/passive-aggressive-diaries/201211/is-it-rude-is-it-mean-or-is-it-bullying" target="_blank">"Is it Rude, Is it Mean, or Is it Bullying"</a>, Signe Whitson, L.S.W., author of Passive Aggressive Diaries, through some real life examples, helps us differentiate between types of negative social behaviors. Teaching politeness or kindness is very different from restoring an imbalance of power. Having a keen understand of the difference between rudeness, meanness, and bullying will help us better support our children in their social experiences. Children need us to respond appropriately as caring adults at school and at home. Under- or over-reacting both have negative consequences. It is important that we validate their experiences while helping them developing strategies such as speaking up, being considerate, reading social situations correctly, or getting help when they need it.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-48887975030261897952016-09-17T07:54:00.000-07:002016-11-12T11:54:46.139-08:00Reading Stories with our Children Helps them Develop Empathy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gsz1JBTwwiM/WCdze7dmVxI/AAAAAAAAAos/qBJ9iRTlvRUjlohbPQc046_XT1_F5TZegCLcB/s1600/Reading%2BTogether.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gsz1JBTwwiM/WCdze7dmVxI/AAAAAAAAAos/qBJ9iRTlvRUjlohbPQc046_XT1_F5TZegCLcB/s200/Reading%2BTogether.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Now that the sand toys are dried and back in storage, and we are a couple of weeks into our back-to-school routines, many families are settling back into the wonderful habit of reading to and reading with our children. There are few things more precious than this stage of parenting. The dishes can wait. The emails can wait. The opportunity to spend this kind of quality and bonding time with our children will come and go very quickly. So leave the phones, the iPads, and the computers beyond our reach and beyond our earshot. Let's pick up a book or two and snuggle on the couch to read for a while. <br />
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Do make this a low stress and enjoyable time. Read to the children, or buddy read every other page, or listen to them read. Take a minute and talk about the characters. Imagine what it is like to be that character and how (s)he is feeling in that situation. Such activities help our children develop the capacity to think about other people, their experiences, and help them grow empathy, a key component of emotional intelligence.<br />
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Also, the positive emotional experience of reading together is also good for us.<br />
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<a href="http://www.signature-reads.com/2016/09/this-is-how-literary-fiction-teaches-us-to-be-human/?ref=B312EEBB6F69" target="_blank">This is How Literary Fiction Teaches Us to Be Human</a><br />
By TOM BLUNT
September 15, 2016Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-16250534723453152332016-09-01T07:54:00.000-07:002016-09-25T07:54:48.845-07:00Say it DufferentlyTransitioning back to a full schedule with school, music, sports, and a myriad of activities and demand on our energies can be stressful. Let's be mindful about our words. They are powerful~<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9lfC9kmohBI" width="500"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-79442486859016299452016-07-01T09:00:00.000-07:002016-09-25T07:49:41.112-07:00A Perfect Balance"You only work 180+ days? You are so lucky!"<br />
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Yes, and yes...but<br />
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Those 180+ days are 24/7 about these little people whom we love: the students, their families, and their lives are constantly on our minds and in our hearts. There is nothing like teaching (or school counseling in my case). It is so deeply meaningful and we love it very much!<br />
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It can also be all consuming. So....fellow educators, please take the summer and take good care of yourselves. Here is a wonderful article with some inspiring thoughts~ See you all in two months!<br />
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<a href="http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/16/06/summer-plan" target="_blank">A Summer PlanHOW TO STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN UNWINDING AND ACHIEVING</a><br />BY <a href="http://www.gse.harvard.edu/taxonomy/term/38921">BARI WALSH</a>, ON JUNE 20, 2016 4:53 PM<div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5543344635705834319.post-52419061678295679362016-06-25T16:08:00.000-07:002016-06-25T16:08:02.202-07:00This Stage of Life is Hard...This Stage of Life? It’s Hard.<br />by <a href="http://austin.citymomsblog.com/author/hayleyhengst/">Hayley Hengst</a> on April 20, 2016<br /><br />[excerpt]<br /><i>This stage of life. It’s hard, you guys.<br /><br />I’m talking right now to you moms who are in your early to mid 30’s. You have kids. Likely two, three, maybe four of them. They probably range in age from newborns to 7 or 8 year-olds. (Give or take a few, on all of the above mentioned stats).<br /><br />In this stage of life, you are dealing with exhaustion. Mental, physical, and emotional.</i><div>
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Such a well written blog post - read on <a href="http://austin.citymomsblog.com/2016/04/20/stage-life-hard/" target="_blank">here</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0