Week of 1/26/18
Dear Parents:
This week we were busy gearing up for our field trip to the Michigan Historical Museum and The Capitol Building. Students were engaged in government lessons and lessons about the history of Michigan and the United States. We spent time singing songs about what a “bill” is and the 13 original colonies.
When talking about history it brought about great conversation about problem solving. One focus of our problem solving was about the brain in the palm of your hand, an idea from Parenting from the Inside Out, by Daniel Seigel and Mary Hartzell. We talked about how a closed fist can represent your brain when you are calm and thinking normally; and an open fist can represent your brain when you are in your reptilian part of your brain, flight or fight mode.
Students were quick to realize that trying to solve a problem when you are upset, or in the reptilian part of your brain, often leads to more problems because you are not thinking clearly. We talked about the importance of taking time to yourself to calm down before you problem solve.
Having conversations with children, like the one above, is an important part of the children’s development. Helping students learn a positive way to problem solve will aid in the success of their future.
Important Dates to come:
Friday, February 2nd: First Friday
Friday, February 9th: Community Lunch
Friday, February 16th: Bagel Breakfast
Monday, February 19 – Tuesday February 20th – SCHOOL IS CLOSED in observance of President’s Day and Staff Professional Development day on Tuesday. Classes will resume Wednesday, February 21st.
Peace,
Ms. Sara, Ms. Danielle, Mr. Ben
Week of 1/19/18
Dear Parents,
This week in Lower Elementary, we have been focusing on our class meeting. Our class meeting is where the students come together to help each other solve problems. Our meetings main objective is to solve problems through discussion and brainstorming. The agenda is created by students putting their problems in “the keeper of the problems jar”. During the meeting, the children discuss the problems openly and brainstorm solutions for the problem. It is through this process that the students learn from the inside out. The Latin root of the word education is educate, which means “to draw forth”. When adults “teach” by “drawing forth” students feel capable, belonging and significance, and are more motivated to follow the solutions they help create. The Class Meeting is a safe place to solve problems because the focus of the meeting is on taking responsibility and solving problems: children are never in trouble, never receive consequences and we always focus on solutions.
We have our class meeting three days a week for about 25-30 minutes. The skills developed from this process include:
Listening skills
Brainstorming skill
Problem solving skills
Mutual respect
The value of cooling off before solving a problem, cooperation, accountability in a safe environment, how to choose solutions that are respectful to everyone concerned, social interest, and….that mistakes are wonderful opportunities to learn
Peace,
Ms. Sara, Ms. Danielle and Mr. Ben