January School Counselor Corner 2011
Preschool through Grade 2: School Counselor, Dr. Jayne Garrett
[email protected]
Grade 3 through Grade 5: School Counselor, Mrs. Betsy Dolan
[email protected]
Page Hilltop School Counselor Department Website: www.phguidance.weebly.com
[email protected]
Grade 3 through Grade 5: School Counselor, Mrs. Betsy Dolan
[email protected]
Page Hilltop School Counselor Department Website: www.phguidance.weebly.com
Organization and Routine
Organizing is a routine that can be difficult for adults and children alike. For some people, organizing and time management come natural, for others of us, we need to focus on making it a habit. As a parent, you can be an “organization coach” at home to help create routines and reminders. As much as you want your children to be independent, they still need “organizational coaching” from their parents and guardians
Here are a few helpful hints on organizing your child:
- Try to use a calm voice when giving your child organizational requests
- Make a list of things that need to be done at a certain time of night. Give time warnings when asking a child to organize something: “In 15 minutes, please go put out your outfit, coat, hat, gloves out for tomorrow” develop a visual reminder
- On the exit door at home, post a checklist for the school children: ie: make bed, brush teeth, open shades. Children do very well with visual support
- Ask your child to put out their clothes for the next day ahead of time
- Have child use the same spot to do school work
- Use a three ring binder to keep loose papers from getting lost
- Ask your child to purge old papers (trash/recycling)
- Asking child to review what they learned that day in school – let them use creativity with reviewing…talking out loud, presenting to you, video camera, etc. Studying math facts, vocabulary, reading every day (not just the day before a test) helps for easy mental retrieval when a test or quiz comes up
- Review your child’s agenda/planner every day with them-even if you do not have to sign off on the planner, it is important to check their planner to be aware of homework, tests, quizzes, and assessments
- Communicate with the teacher(s) especially if you are having difficulty at home with homework or studying. Students and/or parents should speak with a school counselor for help if there is significant stress or anxiety surrounding school work.
LOCAL AREA LECTURES IN JANUARY 2011
Title: Getting Special Education Paperwork Organized:
Wednesday, January 19th, 7:00pm: Free workshop. A skill building workshop for Families of children with special needs. The Ayer-Shirley SEPAC invites you to join this workshop given by Family Ties of MA. Family TIES is a statewide information and support network for families of children with special needs and/or chronic illness. www.massfamilyties.org. Sponsored by the Ayer-Shirley SEPAC
Wednesday, January 19th, 7:00pm: Free workshop. A skill building workshop for Families of children with special needs. The Ayer-Shirley SEPAC invites you to join this workshop given by Family Ties of MA. Family TIES is a statewide information and support network for families of children with special needs and/or chronic illness. www.massfamilyties.org. Sponsored by the Ayer-Shirley SEPAC
Title: Film screening of “Race To Nowhere”
Thursday, January 20th, 6:00pm the award-winning documentary about the pressures faced by American schoolchildren and their teachers in a system and culture obsessed with the illusion of achievement, competition and the pressure to perform. The film will be shown at the Cronin Auditorium at Bromfield School in Harvard. Free and open to the public and surrounding towns. (Snow date January 27th) Followed by a Q&A: 7:30 to 8:00 p.m. Featuring Dr. Kamireddi and Dr. Rubinstein. Location: Cronin Auditorium, The Bromfield School, Harvard, MA Sponsored by Emerson Hospital and Harvard Schools Trust.
Title: Teaching to Abilities..A Multiple Intelligence Approach Through An Occupational Therapsit's Eyes
Thursday, January 20th, 7:00pm: Free lecture presented by Ms. Tere Bowen Irish, OTR/L. Location: Groton-Dunstable Middle School Performing Arts Center.If you are a parent or a teacher, please come explore ways to find out your child’s/students’ learning strengths and discover how to best reach and teach them. Sponsored by the Groton-Dunstable SEPAC.
Title: Raising Resilient Children and Adolescents:
Monday, January 24th, 7:00pm Free lecture presented by: Dr. Robert Brooks, Ph.D. Location: Groton Dunstable High School / Black Box Theater. In this presentation Dr. Brooks highlights three different kinds of disciplinary styles and identifies the style that contributes most to helping children to become increasingly self-disciplined, respectful, responsible, and resilient rather than angry and resentful. Dr. Brooks is a well sought after author and one of today’s leading speakers on the theme of resiliency, self-esteem, motivation and family relationships. Sponsored by the Groton-Dunstable Parent Connection.
Title: Parenting As A Team...That's Not How I Was Raised!
Tuesday, January 25th, 7:00pm (snow date 2/3) $5 lecture: Presented by Dr. Deborah Weinstock-Savoy parents of children of all ages. Location: Blanchard School Auditorium, Westford. Sponsored by the Westford Parent Connection.