From the Desk of Mrs. Brush
November 4, 2019
PARENT COMMUNICATION
Topics of Interest
Thank you for your responses to our survey! The team will be working on providing information on the topics requested. If you would like to add another topic, please feel free to revisit the survey.
Executive Functioning
This month we'll focus on Response Inhibition and Working Memory.
Response Inhibition is the capacity to think before you act and allowing time to evaluate a situation and how behavior might impact it. Response inhibition enables us to choose how we behave in response to a situation as well as to resist external stimuli and do what we know we should do - like resisting that leftover Halloween chocolate that's calling our name from across the room and reaching for an apple instead!
Response inhibition in elementary-aged children might look like:
- Sharing preferred objects and taking turns
- Waiting for a short period of time when directed by an adult
- Following simple rules with or without an adult present
- Walking away from a confrontation with or provocation by a peer
- Refrain from using mean comments, bad language, or engaging in tantrum behavior when something doesn't go his/her way
Strategies to help children build this skill include:
- Reinforce turn-taking and setting a timer for the amount of time each person may have the preferred object
- Setting a timer and slowly increasing the amount of time that the child is expected to wait
- Reinforce positive behavior
- Prepare the child ahead of time for situations that may require impulse control (going to a store, play dates, etc.)
Working Memory is the ability to hold information in memory while performing complex tasks incorporating the ability to draw on past learning experiences to apply to the situation at hand or to project into the future. Working memory is necessary for making sense of written or spoken language whether it is a sentence, a paragraph, or longer. Doing any math in your head requires working memory, as does mentally reordering items (such as reorganizing a to-do list).
Working memory in school-aged children might look like:
- Remembering 2-3 step directions with one prompt per step (K-2); or one prompt per routine (3-5)
- Remembering directions given a few minutes earlier
- Bringing assignments and materials to and from school or equipment to sports practice
- Keeps track of changing daily schedule (after school activities, etc.)
Strategies to help children build these skills include:
- Making eye contact with your child before giving directions and having them repeat the steps back to you
- Use visual schedules for activities and visual checklists for everyday routines
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4084861/
Greenwich Public Schools PPS Department - "Executive Functioning Skills for School and Home"
SENSORY FRIENDLY EVENTS
Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk Sensory Friendly Evening - THIS THURSDAY
The Maritime Aquarium presents a twist on its occasional “Sensory-Friendly Mornings” by instead offering a “Sensory-Friendly Evening” for guests with sensory-processing differences.
Just like the “Sensory-Friendly Mornings,” this “Sensory-Friendly Evening” acknowledges that, for some people, the Aquarium is a place with too much stimuli. So accommodations will be made on November 7 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. to give guests with sensory-processing differences a fun, comfortable and accepting experience.
During the "Sensory-Friendly Evening," lights will be lower, and music and other sounds will be turned down or off. The Aquarium also will show the IMAX® film "Born to be Wild" at 6 p.m. with lower volume and the theater lights less dim.
Reduced admission for “Sensory-Friendly Evening” is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (65+), and $10 for children (3-12).
Click below for more information and tickets.
Mrs. Brenda Brush
Assistant Principal
Julian Curtiss Magnet School of World LanguagesEmail: brenda_brush@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Website: www.greenwichschools.org/jcs
Location: 180 East Elm Street, Greenwich, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 869-1896
Twitter: @JCSEaglesAP