Garfield Newsletter
March 2023
A note from Mrs. Schaefer...
Boys Town Skills for March
Social skills instruction and achieving skill mastery are essential to the success of young people and adults in our world today. USD290 utilizes the Boys Town Skills at all elementary schools and knows the importance of raising individuals who will be productive community members.
Children are human beings, not products on an assembly line. Everything we do is rooted in the human experience - the success, the failures, the progress, and the obstacles. Therefore, how we work with our children should be nurturing while teaching and practicing skills.
Our Garfield Braves are not merely told how to behave; they learn positive behaviors and how to choose to use them in many different situations. This "empowerment" approach combines the active participation of the child with the active teaching of the teachers and staff.
Below are the skills the students will be working on this month. Many of our kids have become proficient in the steps to work through each skill.
We challenge you to ask them:
- What are the step for this week's skill?
- What are the reasons we learn these skills?
- Where do you need these skills?
It is very likely they will be able to share much of what they have learned and model the skills for you.
3/6-3/9: Working with Others
3/12 - 3/16: SPRING BREAK
3/20 - 3/23: Cooperating with Others
2/27 - 3/31: Listening
Working with Others
1. Identify the task to be completed.
2. Assign tasks to each person.
3. Discuss ideas in a calm, quiet voice and let everyone share his or her ideas.
4. Work on tasks until completed.
Reasons for these skills:
- You will get work done during the time you have to complete it in class.
- Others might want to work with you on other assignments.
- You might help others learn something new.
Below is a video about working together. Julia Cook is an author that writes books for each of the skills. These books are full of real-life experiences by the main character.
Cooperating with Others
1. Discuss your goal or task with others
2. Find out what you need to do to accomplish this goal.
3. Given and accept feedback appropriately with peers.
4. Follow the rules.
5. Praise everyone's efforts and cooperation.
This skill is very much like the skill from the previous week; however, it combines some of the skills we have already learned this year.
Accepting Feedback
Following Directions
Giving Compliments
Listening to Others
Steps:
Reasons for these Skills:
- Listening to others is an important skill at home, school, and the job. Being an active listener helps you learn new things, understand what others are asking or telling you to do, and shows respect to the speaker.
- In everyday life, good listening skills allow you to develop friendships, accept feedback, and increase the likelihood of you acquiring the knowledge you need to be successful at school and on the job.
- Keeps you informed - you appear competent because you know what is going on.
- Shows respect
- Demonstrates openness to hearing new ideas and opinions.
- When it is your turn to speak, others will be more willing to listen to you
Staff Spotlight
3rd Grade Team
Cold, Flu, Yuck Season - School Protocols
*For illnesses moving through the community, we follow the guidelines set by the health department or a doctor's recommendation.
If you have any questions please contact the school nurse, Nurse Kayley will be happy to assist you with any questions.
Spring Break Fun for Kids and Families
Helping Your Child Cope w/ Anger, Anxiety, and BIG Emotions
Our children cannot learn to just calm down, just by being told to do so . They need to practice, role play, and work through real emotions. Learning to cope may take many events, before a child will learn to use those skills on a regular basis. Patience and consistancy are key, remember they learn from us. I am always asking myself, what do our emotional reactions teach our children?