SOAR

S.O.A.R. Newsletter

February 29, 2008

by Debbie Fischgrabe

March 03, 2008

S.O.A.R. Program

Putnam Co. R-I School District

Newsletter – February 29, 2008 HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEK

The students of Putnam County enjoyed an evening that many will be talking about for weeks to come. Mr. Will Stuck, children’s departmental head at East Hills Library in St. Joseph, Missouri, shared his love of books through his stories that encouraged interaction with his audience.

A hotdog supper was enjoyed by the S.O.A.R. families prior to the program which included a special “Dirt” dessert that was made by the students. Mrs. Donna Altiser led the students in presenting the Pledge of Allegiance, the ABC’s, number counting from one to ten, and a rhyme in sign language. S.O.A.R. students have been working with Mrs. Altiser on a weekly basis for some time and were eager to share what they have learned with their parents. The afterschool students concluded their part of the evening’s presentation with Mr. Reed Dent, S.O.A.R. Team Leader, accompanying the students on guitar as they shared “The Big Rig Song.”

If you happen to talk with any of the students that had the opportunity to experience Will’s energetic, enthusiastic, interactive storytelling style, you just might get the opportunity to have them retell some of the highlights that touched their imaginations.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Miss Maureen Ferry will be visiting our classroom next Wednesday to begin a unit on photography. She will be working with third through eighth grade students on this unit. Mrs. Tanya Partridge will also be visiting on Wednesday for a fun art project with the Kindergarten through second grade students.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

On the Partnership for a Drug Free America website I found the following information that I found interesting and I wanted to pass it on to you:

44 Ways to Show Kids You Care

1. Say the word “love” a lot.
2. Be careful not to criticize; simply tell them a better way.
3. If you withdraw your attention, avoid withdrawing your love.
4. Teach the principles of “why,” not just “what” to do or not to do.
5. Discipline with love, especially if you are angry. If you “punish” or “take away,” follow up with love.
6. Remember that children often reflect what they have or have not been taught.
7. Teach them to trust the truth by experiencing you as a role model of the truth and a model of loving them for telling the truth.
8. Be patient, not just tolerant.
9. Ask them what they need from you – and do whatever you can to meet those needs.
10. When you are stressed and unavailable, help them know that your condition is about yourlife, not them, and reaffirm your love.
11. Remember that children often need love the most when they “deserve” it the least.
12. Listen to them, a lot. Avoid interrupting. Give them your undivided attention.
13. Help them learn the feeling of regret, not just to say they are sorry.
14. Apologize when you make a mistake or do something you regret.
15. Teach them about ethics and values and principles they can apply in choices and decision-making.
16. Never make fun of them, shame them or blame them. It’s not their “fault.” It’s an indication of what they need, or what they need to learn, or what they need to unlearn.
17. Tell them how much you like being with them, if you mean it. If you don’t, examine what about the relationship dynamics – at that moment or in general – affects your notfeeling that way. Then find a way to change that from within yourself.
18. Expect and support their best; don’t expect or require perfection. Praise their efforts; avoid judging them.
19. Avoid comparing them to anyone else; instead, help them develop their unique self and way of being.
20. Know that they will respect what you say if they respect who you are.
21. Encourage them to share, and teach them to share, but don’t make them share. If they feel enough love in their life they will be able to share; if they cannot share, it means they need to feel more love.
22. Hug and touch them often when they are young. When they are older, instead of saying, “Give me a hug,” say, “I would like a hug, would you?” Let hugging be their choice.
23. Help them learn the feeling of gratitude, not just to say thank you.
24. Give them space when they need it.
25. Praise more, criticize less.
26. Know that a child experiencing love will express love. A child who does not act loving needs to experience more love and feel more loved. Until then, behavior changes you attempt may not be sustainable.
27. Help them learn how and why to save money. Be an effective role model in this regard.
28. Avoid emphasizing how much something costs.
29. Help them discover what has meaning and purpose and feels good to them.
30. Keep the promises you make. If you do not keep your word, acknowledge that. Help them understand the circumstances or choices that precipitated the change in your plans. They will notice if keeping your word becomes a pattern
31. Answer their questions.
32. If you do not like their friends, teach them the qualities to look for in friends.
33. Go to their games and events; get to know their teachers and coaches.
34. Be consistent.
35. Let them tell you how they feel. Help them learn what their feelings are and how to express them.
36. Give them lots of compliments…and mean it. If you do not/cannot compliment them, examine why.
37. Suggest better behaviors when they act out. Teach first. Reward often. Be understanding. Punish last.
38. When they withdraw, offer love instead of demands or threats.
39. Nurture them with good food, prepare their favorite meals, and help them make wise nutritional choices.
40. Teach them to be responsible according to their own developmental age; avoid using them to do tasks that are your responsibility.
41. When you notice behavioral changes, be especially available so they can talk about what is going on.
42. Be understanding when they have a difficult day.
43. Teach them to be on time and to keep their word and their commitments – and model that for them.
44. Love them no matter what -- and especially affirm your love when you are feeling angry. If you are feeling love for them at the time you express anger, your anger is safe. Otherwise, they experience anger as having the power to displace love. Then they will learn to fear anger -- yours and their own -- and potentially develop the pattern of suppressing anger, which in sufficient accumulation, can turn into rage.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

I would like to schedule some helpful workshops for the family members of our S.O.A.R. students in the near future. Some possible topics might include smoking cessation, G.E.D. certification, family health/nutrition, basic computer skills, or assistance in creating a resume. Please telephone me at 660-947-3361, ext. 392 if you find any of these topics of interest to you. If several interest you please indicate your first, second, third choice and what evenings/times would work best for your schedule on the attached information sheet and return to Deborah Fischgrabe, S.O.A.R. Project Coordinator.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I want to thank all of you who participated in the Family Night Activity on Thursday evening. I hope it was enjoyable for your family. Your children are establishing good study habits, learning new things every day and I see enormous growth in many of them. Don’t they make you proud! Have a great weekend!

Ms. Debbie, Ms. LeAnn, Mr. Reed, Ms. Nellie and Ms. Elladean