JTMS Counseling Newsletter
November 30, 2020
"Merci, au revoir" means "Thank you, see you again" in French!
National Special Education Day
On December 2nd, National Special Education Day commemorates the day when the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was signed into law in 1972.
IDEA made education available to all American children and this day honors the progress that has been made in special education. Before IDEA, many individuals with disabilities received little to no education. Schools were not required to make accommodations for children with disabilities. While some states offered special schools, the education and resources were not necessarily equal. Additionally, many parents couldn’t afford to send their children away to a special school.
What we celebrate this day is that our country stands for equality and justice for all, just like we say in the pledge every day. People learn in many different ways, and special education allows all students to learn in a way that makes sense for them.
Empathy: Putting Yourself in Someone Else's Shoes
Maybe you had something that was bothering you that was on your mind and you told a friend or a family member about it, hoping that they would say or do something that would make you feel better. But then, instead, what they said or did made you feel worse! What you wanted at that time was for that person to have empathy.
When people are feeling bad, often what they want from the people around them is EMPATHY. Empathy is being able to UNDERSTAND and SHARE the feelings of another person. One way to think of it is putting yourself in someone else's shoes.
Your sister's goldfish dies. How do you think she feels? Probably sad. Do you understand it? Do you feel a little sad, too? If you care about your sister, when she feels sad, you get it, and you feel a bit sad, too, because you don't want her to feel unhappy. It affects you.
Your best friend missed a free throw in the last minute of your team's basketball game, and your team loses by one point. You probably feel upset about the loss, but, can you put yourself in your friend's shoes? She probably feels even worse, like she made the whole team lose. What if it had been you who missed the shot, instead of her? What would you want someone to say to you?
Nothing.
"Good game!"
"Nice try..." or
"Hey, you must feel bad about missing that shot. How are you doing? Are you okay? I'm sorry."
Figuring this out, how to understand and feel what people around you are feeling, and using it in your everyday life, will help you have more empathy. It will help in all of your relationships, with friends, family and teachers. And, it will help you be the sort of person who doesn't make your upset friend even more upset, but you will help them feel better.
Mindful Walkabout- Grade 6
Essentials with Miss Ellingsen
Gentle Yoga
Useful Links
JTMS Counseling Department
Miss Ellingsen, Mrs. LaCatena, Mrs. Carroll and Ms. Martino
Email: jmartino@jefftwp.org
Website: www.jefftwp.org
Location: 1000 Weldon Road, Oak Ridge, NJ, USA
Phone: (973) 697-1980
Twitter: @JTMScounseling