Learning to Love Your Brain or The Care and Feeding of the Brain

The third semester the third and fourth grades are learning about the brain. The brain is nearly 3 pounds of gooey, slimey, gelatinous stuff that smells like blue cheese. It is grey and light pink, and about the size of two fists side by side. It is the control room that directs almost all your activities: thinking, moving, feeling, talking, and just keeping alive. It works 24 hours a day. So how do we take care of it and help it to work well? If you have a third or fourth grader in the third semester Guidance class ask them. Here are a few ideas; the brain needs blood, oxygen, good food, sleep, exercise, to be kept safe from head injuries(helmets, seat belts), water and happiness. Yes, happiness helps our brains work better. Two ways we can boost our happiness is with gratitude and with optimistic thinking. Thinking on the "bright side" of life also is a happiness booster, so keep your sunny side up and see the glass as half full not half empty.

Similarities and Differences

As we begin a new guidance unit, we will be looking at commonalities among people as well as differences. How children feel about themselves will ultimately determine how they live their lives and how they interact with one another. Here are some ways that caregivers can help children believe in themselves, resist negative influences and be tolerant of differences.

• Teach your children about your family, culture, and community. Help your children take pride in their heritage.
• Promote diversity. Stress that differences between people make life more interesting.
• Encourage your children by recognizing their interests and accomplishments.
• Listen to your children's opinions and help them to see other points of view.
• Point out to your children when a particular group is being stereotyped. Tell your children stereotyping is not fair. Explain why stereotypes are inaccurate and encourage discussion.
• Remember that you are a role model.
• Your children need to know that you find discriminatory behavior unacceptable. Children will look to adults on how to confront prejudice and discrimination. Encourage children to create positive change.

Cyber Bullying Continued

Our third cyber bullying prevention lesson focuses on the idea that when we are doing things online, we have to be very careful to think ahead, predict consequences, and make sure that nothing we do can be used in an uncomfortable, mean, or hurtful way. Students will learn that they lose control of messages once their messages are sent. The messages are gone in an instant. The messages can be sent to other recipients without the knowledge of the original sender. This makes it very important to think about what we say and do before we send, text, or post any information.

Welcome

I hope you all had an enjoyable summer and your children are ready to return to a terrific school year.
I am the school counselor for Mallets Bay School. This year  I will be teaching classes, running groups and  lunch bunches, and seeing children as needed. I may be reached at 264-5898 and my e-mail address is routsongl@csdvt.org. Please feel free to contact me.
The first semester I will be working with the following classes; Carney, Chioffi, Hunt, Miller, Cheney, Longchamp, O'Neill, Chittenden, Sato, Rayner-Cyr and Ellingson. The fourth and fifth grades will be discussing cyber bullying. Cyber bullying has all the characteristics of regular bullying, but here is how cyber bullying is different:

• Its done using technology
• The person doing the bullying and the target can be far away from each other in space and time.
• The person doing the bullying can be anonymous and hidden.
• The bullying can be witnessed by many bystanders.
• It is difficult to get away from the bully because children have access to different technology devices.
• It can happen very quickly and is difficult to stop.

Children report cyber bullying less often. They fear adults will not be able to help, and that the adult's solution will be to limit their access to technology.
We will talk about the three Rs: recognize, refuse and report bullying. We will also talk about an additional R: record. The record speaks to the need to document cyber bullying.This can be done in a variety of ways, including:

• Saving messages and images
• Taking sreeen shots
• Coping URL's

An additional R is directed to adults-it is receive. This R message reminds us to stay calm, listen and look patiently, and support the child being targeted.

How to Keep Your Children Safe

• Children need lots of loving words and affection. Help your child feel secure.
• Remind your child that most people are kind, nice people. However, there are some with bad behaviors. Encourage your child not to keep any secrets about someone like this.
• Help your child understand he or she can say no to an adult who tells them to do something wrong. Get away from that adult.
• Spend time listening to your child.
• Be aware of who spends time with your child. Get to know them.
• Pay attention to what your child says and does around people, especially if they talk about feeling uncomfortable. Take notice.
• It is okay to tell a secret that is not safe.

Personal Safety

In the third and fourth grade guidance classes students will be learning about personal safety. School guidance programs help children to learn to stay safe from abuse. Sadly, sexual abuse of children takes place more often than we would like to believe. The skills needed to help prevent abuse are taught in a safe and simple manner. Through theses lessons children will learn:

• What the difference is between good touch, bad touch, and secret/confusing touch.
• Who to tell if they are abused.
• Child sexual abuse is not the child's fault.
• Children have a right to privacy and the right to say no to secret touches.
• What are some lures used by child sex offenders.

Please feel free to call me with any questions, 264-5898.

ENJOY

Happy Holidays and have a safe and fun vacation.