ABC Corner

Meet our CARE TO SHARE CREW!

Posted by Amy Roper on 4/27/2012 What is our Care to Share Crew?  Who are they?
The Care to Share Crew at Argonaut is the student component of Project Cornerstone.  This group of thirty 4th and 5th grade students attended an Expect Respect workshop facilitated by Kelly Noftz from Project Cornerstone.  There, they brainstormed areas of concern around our campus and learned what it means to be a true UP-stander.  They recognize that these values and ideals are what Argonaut needs in order for everyone to feel safe, respected, and cared for as a part of our community.  These are an amazing group of students who have come up with many clever ideas on how to spread the word about being caring, bucket-filling, and UP-standing students and people.

On 3/9/12 they were introduced to the students and staff via our Friday assembly, and they also performed a skit to inform everyone of their new vision to encourage everyone to be UP-standers.  They will distribute UP-stander tickets when they catch students who say or do something when someone needs help, or is alone (or excluded).  They are upholding the UP-stander pledge. 

On 4/6/12 they explained themselves again and performed another skit taken from the book One by Kathryn Otoshi.  They are equipped with lanyard “badges” and are “watching” for UP-standing behavior on campus.  Be on the lookout for these caring students, as well.  They have your back! Information Flyer
Cheers!
Your Expect Respect Coordinators,
Sherrie Belville, Jackie Wilhelm, and Amy Roper 

The OK Book by Amy Krouse

Posted by Amy Roper on 4/26/2012 Throughout April, our students heard The OK Book by Amy Krouse.  It’s a great book that reminds kids that we can’t all be great at everything, but we can enjoy trying new things.  It’s OK to be OK!  Nobody’s perfect.

Our goals are to build resilience, self-regulation (they’re in control of their own reactions), and to have children try their personal best.  By attempting new experiences, children have opportunities to practice facing frustration, push through difficulties, and gain satisfaction over time.  Belief in the ability to change and grow is called a growth mindset.  By practicing this, you show youth that you believe in them, and in their ability to stretch and grow.

In addition to the activity in class and the homework where you indicate what each of you will “Dare to Try”, you can extend the lessons and ideas by:

• Turning I Can’t into an I Can attitude – say, “I’ll try it”: Tap into your creative thoughts. Look at interests.  Try something that you think would be easy first.  After that, take the next step – try something a little harder.  I can!
• Celebrating the risk, effort, and resilience it takes to try something new.
• I can do better if I try again – Practice skills that are needed to do something new.
• Look for solutions- Imagine doing the activity. Paint a picture in your mind. Bloom as you learn new skills!  Just Do It!

Thanks so much for your continued support!

Your Cornerstone Coordinator,
Amy Roper

The Empty Pot by Demi

Posted by Amy Roper on 3/30/2012 Throughout March, Argonaut students heard The Empty Pot by Demi.  It’s a great Chinese fable that examines the importance of honesty.  The motto is that Honesty Makes Trust Bloom, and the objective is that we need to value and work toward the personal attributes of Courage, Honesty, Integrity, Responsibility, and Perseverance (CHIRP).  These illustrate the importance of behavior in building character, and that it’s more important to try your best, trust in yourself, and listen to your own judgment to make a good decision.

 
Our goals are to empower children to utilize character traits and value being true to themselves even when it’s not easy.  These developmental assets (yes – they are on our list of 41) are defined as:

1. Courage – Acknowledging your accomplishments, even if they fall short of the goal.
2. Honesty – Telling the truth - even when it’s not easy.
3. Integrity – Having a personal moral code and sticking to it, no matter what.  Doing the right thing and feeling good about it.
4. Responsibility – Taking ownership for your own behavior.
5. Perseverance – Working hard at a task until the end.  Never give up.  

In addition to the activity in class and the homework (to complete as a family), you can extend the lessons and ideas by celebrating when:

• Someone says or does something as an UP-stander.
• Someone tells the truth – even when it is hard to do so.
• Someone makes a list of goals, and/or accomplishes one (even baby-steps).

Please show our children how to find the truth, stand up for what they believe, be responsible, persevere in life, and have the courage to make positive changes and move forward.  They’re watching us all the time, so let’s be positive role models and Caring Adults.
 
Your Cornerstone Coordinator,
Amy Roper

Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jordan

Posted by Amy Roper on 2/29/2012 Throughout February, Argonaut students heard Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jordan.  Each lesson began with a quote from Michael Jordan about how he had failed over and over and over again – and that’s what made him succeed (profound and powerful, right?).  The ongoing theme is to follow your dreams, and to receive support from family (or other) members.   This takes planning, and the understanding that others can’t do their work for them (where is the value in that?) in order for them to conceive of the value of taking pride in their own hard work.

Our goals are to help children recognize the power of perseverance and to never give up, even when it’s not easy.  Here are some activities you can do at home to help reinforce these goals:

• Ask this: What is your biggest dream?  Who can help you achieve that?
• Create long term and short terms goals, both individually, and as a family.
• Let your children see your own plans, and explain how they can set some of their own.
• How can you support each other (in your family)?

I hope that you take the time to read about the lessons learned each and every month, and also utilize the terminology and tools that are quickly catching on around campus.
 
Thank you so much for your support and caring thoughts on these sensitive and meaningful issues!   
 
Your Cornerstone Coordinator,
Amy Roper

The Blue Day Book for Kids

Posted by Amy Roper on 1/4/2012 This month, your children will hear The Blue Day Book for Kids.  The theme is that everyone can have a bad day sometimes, but that we can choose to turn it around and make it a good day. We coin this, "Turning a Blue Day into a New Day".  It is addressed in a very cute way with adorable animal photos.  Please ask your children about the activity they completed with this book, and have a discussion about what kinds of things they can do to turn a sad or disappointing day/event into a better day.  Cheers!

We had a very nice turnout at our first Taking It Personally parent workshop last Wednesday with Linda Silvius from Project Cornerstone.  I wanted to let you know that it’s NOT too late if you would still like to participate with us.  While there are 6 sessions, each building on the previous one/s (we follow the workbook by chapter), you can still join us next week and pick up.  After that, however, it is best to limit it to those who have attended, since too much information and discussion would be missed.
 
So what is it, you ask?  It’s much more than simply “parenting”.  In a nutshell, it helps you (as an adult) discover ways that you can build assets (building blocks essential for successful growth and development) for children and youth via a personal commitment to make a difference in their lives.  It’s about going back to the philosophy that “it takes a village” – and acknowledging that we are that village.  It goes beyond simply concerning ourselves with our own children, since these other children and peers are the ones also shaping our children's influences and experiences.  Our children are “grading us” on a regular basis, and their report card of us is indicated by how many assets they are actually exhibiting (by way of the district survey taken last year).  This is something we should all be aware of and continue to work on.  These assets are every bit as important as their academic success, and in fact, they directly contribute to it.  I hope you’ll join us this coming Wednesday at 7:00 in the library.  If nothing else, the workbook is a great resource.   

Your Cornerstone Coordinator,
Amy Roper 

Don’t Laugh at Me by Steven Seskin

Posted by Amy Roper on 12/1/2011 Throughout November and this month, the students will hear (or may have heard) the book and song, Don’t Laugh at Me by Steven Seskin (and also Peter, Paul, & Mary).  You’ve probably heard about this via letter or email from your ABC parent/s.  The incredible message is that we need to all have acceptance, tolerance, and empathy for others, regardless of their differences (after all, we’re all different, right?).  We need to make Argonaut a place where everyone feels safe, accepted, and valued.  It is our joint responsibility to be UP-standers. Our goals are to help children recognize the power of hurtful words or actions, and how they can be part of the solution (and Movement, as it were) to prevent this in our community.  They are challenged to complete a task of an Intentional Act of Caring for their peers, at home, and in the community.  Many classes now have Empathy or Caring Gardens on display that you may want to check out.

Here are some activities you can do at home to help reinforce these goals:

• Discuss an Intentional Act of Caring in which the entire family can participate
• Role-play what to do and say if anyone witnesses someone being teased
• Ask if they have ever been teased, how they felt, and what tools they can now use
• Discuss how to be a good friend and citizen

Check out these websites to see the video & sing along with your family:

• Book version:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTNVXlirF4Y
• Peter Paul and Mary version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziLiIPViM2
• Operation Respect website - Peter Yarrow ‘adopted’ the song as an anthem and created a Movement – it's a wonderful resource: http://operationrespect.org/curricula/index.php

I hope that you take the time to read about the lessons learned in class, and also utilize the terminology and tools that are quickly catching on around campus.  We’ll be playing the video at the assembly on December 16th.  Feel free to attend!  Let’s all join the Movement to create a caring school climate and positive environment for our children and our community, during this holiday season, and all year through.   Happy Reading, Singing, and Bucket-filling!

Your Cornerstone Coordinator,
Amy Roper 

One by Kathryn Otoshi

Posted by Amy Roper on 11/1/2011 During October, the students heard (or may still hear) the book One by Kathryn Otoshi.  Please watch for a letter or email from your classroom parent volunteer(s) for more information about this lesson.  According to the author, "One voice can count and affect change.  Many times we think, ‘I'm so small. What can I do?’ But we do have an effect! It's about changing thinking.  When one person stands up for something, it might be just enough to tip the next person over and inspire him or her to also stand up."

Our goals for the students are to help them recognize that they have the power to effectively react and respond to negative/bullying behaviors.  The key messages are "Everyone counts" and "It just takes ONE to make a difference."

Here are some activities you can do at home to help achieve/reinforce these goals:

• Talk about ways in which each family member counts!
• Role-play ways to de-escalate conversations using a calm tone of voice, positive words, and  comforting body language.  The children will be good at this if they completed this lesson in class or as   homework – ask them about it.
• Practice ways to stand tall using positive body language.
• Discuss how to be a good friend (a poster should be in each classroom)
• Ask/Discuss/Remind your child of the caring adults in their lives.
• Remind kids to always tell an adult if the problem involves someone possibly getting hurt.

I hope that you all take the time and interest in the wonderful program and essentially, the Movement, to create a caring school climate and positive environment for our children and our community here at Argonaut.  Happy Reading and Bucket-filling!

Your Cornerstone Coordinator,
Amy Roper

Notice It! Name It! Celebrate It!

Posted by Amy Roper on 10/1/2011 During September, we kicked off Project Cornerstone for the 2011-2012 school year... and what a great start we have had!  Your child/ren heard a book titled Stand Tall, Molly Lou Mellon in class as part of the ABC program (Asset Building Champions).

Please watch for a letter or email from your classroom parent volunteer(s) for more details about this lesson. The goals for our students are to identify caring adults in their lives, to develop their personal power and belief that they have control over their lives, and to increase self-esteem (and positive self-talk).

Here are some activities that you can do at home to help achieve these goals:

1. Boost Each Other Up - Celebrate each family member's special talents and abilities. Go around the dinner table and have each family member say one thing they like about each of the other members.
2. Wall of Fame - create a special place in your home to display items noting personal achievement.  Assign a space for each family member.  Post items in this space that they are proud of (special drawings, an assignment they worked hard on, photos, etc.).  Make sure there is a space for Mom and Dad, too!
3. Have your student "expert" explain the concept of "mud thoughts and clear thoughts" to the family. Have the family practice changing "mud thoughts into clear thoughts."
4. Encourage adults at home to have frequent conversations about the caring adults in the lives of youth. Identify who they are at school, in the neighborhood, in the family.  Who are the caring adults for the adults?  We often forget just how important it is to have additional caring adults in the lives of our children (think back to when you were 12) . . . it takes a village!