Happy New Year!

This week I started my classroom visits, and soon I will have visited every class from KG to 5th.  I look forward to interacting with all of the students again this year.  By August 30th, I'll have met all of our 1st-5th new-to-TAISM students.  During this first rotation in the classroom, my focus is on getting reacquainted with all of the kids, as well as reviewing one of our tried and true frameworks for dealing with peers...TALK-WALK-SQUAWK.  This is a simple set of steps for dealing with a peer that is bothering you.  Ask them about it!

Is your family getting enough sleep?

I put up a bulletin board this week, an effort I make once or twice per year.  It tends to get pushed down the priority list...much like keeping up with my blog posts.  This bulletin board is all about sleep, please have a look on the wall outside my office.  Here is a link to an article for further reading from The Slate:  In Defense of Absurdly Early Bedtimes



Since I've written last, my lessons have covered several topics:  Stress, Diversity, Moving, Career Awareness, and more.  During my moving lessons in the upper grades, we discussed the importance of "building a RAFT" to help you in your transition.  This is drawn directly from Pollack & Van Reken's work in "Third Culture Kids:  The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds."

R...for Reconciliation (resolve conflicts with friends prior to leaving)
A...for Affirmation (communicate how much your friends have meant to you)
F...for Farewells (explicitly saying good-bye)
T...for Think Destination (take time to do some research about your new home country & get excited)

We talk about how good-bye parties can be a healthy way to take care of both the "A" and the "F."  And, in all the grades, we discuss all of the emotions that moving can stir up:  sad, mad, excited, happy, nervous, anxious, lonely, surprised, confused, and more.  Hopefully, your kids will remember to talk to you about their feelings during your own time of transition, when that day comes.  

"Truly wonderful the mind of a child is." -Yoda
Teacher Appreciation Week here at TAISM!
Thanks, Parents!  Love it!

Notes from Mr. Everett...

Hello Parents!
Months have flown by since my last post, and I have been busy in the classrooms with the kids.  We recently finished a unit on Cooperation & Teamwork.  We used cooperative games to examine the following positive team member behaviors:

• Listen
• Share Ideas
• Encourage Others
• Do Your Part
• Lead & Follow (being flexible enough to do both)

The next rotation will focus on "personal safety" lessons. Students will be learning how to keep their bodies safe, and they will learn to differentiate between safe and unsafe touches. They will begin to identify the adults in their lives that they can talk to if they have a problem. On the day that I teach your child, I will send home a handout to parents with specifics.  Talking about this lesson with your child will help to reinforce the points I cover.  I have emailed you to inform you of the exact date that I will be discussing this topic with your child.  The picture below is part of our lesson to help the children identify trusted adults.  When you see this at home, ask them about their five adults they trust.  Also, flip this paper over and read my letter on the opposite side.  If you have any questions, please email me or stop by my office.

It's Terry Fox Time!

Hello Parents,

So far this year, the ES students and I have discussed the following topics during my classroom lesson times:  friendship, coping with teasing, learning to compromise, cyberbullying (2nd-5th), and I am now beginning to discuss perseverance. I use the context of the Terry Fox Run to talk to the kids about never giving up and trying even when things seem difficult.  On Nov 22, the Elementary School assembled in the Bosch Center to learn about Terry Fox and how they can help to raise money to continue funding research being conducted at the SQU Hospital here in Oman.  The fifth grade Ambassador group had fun helping me create the video you see linked below.  The theme this year is "DREAM BIG!"  See you on December 10th at the Terry Fox Run!

Into the Classrooms!

This week I started my classroom visits, and by early next week I will have visited every class from KG to 5th.  I look forward to interacting with all of the students again this year.  As you can see in the photo, my class schedule is posted outside my office as well as the schedule for all of my New Student Groups.  By September 6th, I'll have met all of our 1st-5th new-to-TAISM students.  During this first rotation in the classroom, my focus is on getting reacquainted with all of the kids, as well as reviewing one of our tried and true frameworks for dealing with peers...TALK-WALK-SQUAWK.  This is a simple set of steps for dealing with a peer that is bothering you.  Ask them about it!

"Happy New Year!"

Those of us that work in education often feel as if late August should be the time to greet each other with "Happy New Year!" instead of on January 1st.  It's an exciting time as we welcome back our returning students, and have the opportunity to meet new families joining our TAISM community.

I look forward to seeing you all during Registration which takes place on August 19-20 for new and returning students.

The presentation linked below describes my position at the school.
Elementary Counseling at TAISM