Bauer Bits
January 27, 2023
From the Principal's Desk
"Bauer Parents:
One of the benefits of the electronic age is that we have access to information from a wide-variety of sources in mere seconds. One of the downfalls of the electronic age is that we have access to information from a wide-variety of sources in mere seconds. I'm fortunate to have come across many high-quality newsletters which come to my inbox at various times throughout the week and/or month. Love and Logic is an organization which I find shares information that is practical and actionable. Their expertise is hard to match and many parents have shared feedback that their strategies are effective.
Please enjoy this article from Jim and Charles Fay and have a great weekend!
The Subtle Power of Questions: How to Get Kids to Think
The human brain is an amazing organ when it works properly. Developing brains in children are even more amazing! Learning how to stimulate proper brain development in kids is a goal shared in Love and Logic’s collaboration with Dr. Daniel Amen and Amen Clinics.
How can we help our kids learn to think about their decisions? How can we keep ourselves from getting pulled into working harder on their lives than they are? How can we help them become prepared for a world full of decisions and consequences?
As Dr. Amen has pointed out, parents talk too much and need to listen more. We agree and often say, “If you don’t want a mess, say less!” Going a step further, we also believe that you stimulate thinking in young brains by asking questions. Instead of lecturing and commanding, parents should:
Replace statements with questions.
Some of the most powerful moments come when we empower kids by asking them what they plan to do about various situations instead of telling them what they need to do. The implied message we send is, “You are smart. You can come up with the answer.”
On top of that, the human brain has a hard time ignoring the questions it hears. It automatically wants to search for the answers—it just can’t help itself. What a gift we give kids when we get them to think instead of telling them what to do.
A child who is redirected with the question, “Are you sure this is the right place for that behavior?” responds much better than if commanded, “Stop that!” One method invites thinking, the other invites resistance and a battle for control. In either case, we are enticing young brains to do lots of thinking by simply asking questions rather than stating “how it is.”
In this increasingly complex world laden with temptations, it becomes more and more important to teach our kids how to build their mental muscles. Listed below are some quick tips:
- When your kids ask you for help with something, encourage them to try a bit longer before you jump in to help. The only way to truly learn good thinking skills is by figuring things out on your own.
- You can encourage your kids to think by asking them as many questions as possible. Example questions include:
What else might you try?
What have you seen other people do to solve this problem?
What would happen if you tried_________?
Is that something you could learn about in a book, by asking someone, or by looking on the internet?
- Allow them to mess up. Too frequently we step in and tell kids exactly what to do when we worry that they might be making a mistake. The best way to learn is by making mistakes—allow them to blow it and learn.
Love and Logic that messages must be delivered with empathy. This applies to asking questions as well. So, do your kids’ brains a favor and feed them a steady diet of questions—delivered empathically. In our audio, Shaping Self-Concept: Encouraging Kids to Take Risks and Learn, we teach that kids who are given this gift are far more likely to succeed in school and in life.
Thanks for reading!
Jim and Dr. Charles Fay
Mark Your Calendar
Friday, February 3rd - Early Release (12:15)
Friday, February 10th - Valentine's Day Parties and Wear Red or Pink Day
Monday, February 13th - Tuesday, February 14th - Winter Break
Friday, February 17th - Career Day and Popcorn Friday
After School Parent Pick Up
We have several ancillary staff whose work day ends before the end of our school day. As you prepare for school pick-up please try not to arrive prior to 3:25 - 3:30 p.m. If for some reason you do arrive early please do not block-in vehicles along the building. Just hang back and then, once they leave you may pull all the way forward for student loading at the end of the day. By avoiding this we can allow our staff to transition home quickly after work.
Thank you for your help with this matter!
PreK/Kindergarten Registration & Informational Meeting
The PreK/Kindergarten showcase is on Tuesday, January 31 at 6:30pm. Mr. Meersma will go over the differences between our PreK and Kindergarten programs, registration details, what to expect regarding our lunch program and transportation details.
Please complete the pre-registration form below to get the enrollment process started!
2023-2024 Online Pre-Registration Link
Check out the HPS website for more information.
Mid-Year Parent Survey
Music Notes
Our Best Selves
Girls On The Run
Girls On The Run aims to inspire girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. Over the course of the 10-week program, girls in grades 3-5 at Bauer Elementary will develop essential skills to help them recognize their power, to be intentional in decision-making, embrace differences, and realize their personal potential. The program culminates with girls participating in a celebratory 5K with other West Michigan GOTR Programs.
Register online at www.gotrwm.org. The early registration period ends on February 1st.
Girl placement day will be February 2nd, followed by late registration for teams that still have space.
Program fee is $125. Financial Assistance is available to all who apply.
Our Spring season will begin in March.
Teams will meet twice weekly on Tuesday and Thursday after school at Bauer until 5:30pm.
The Ottawa County 5K will take place at 10:00 a.m. on June 3rd at Coopersville HS.
Contact Jen Adams (adamsjen39@gmail.com), Site Liaison for Bauer Elementary or the website for more information: https://www.gotrwm.org/
They are also in need of an additional assistant coach. If you would like to volunteer or have additional questions about what that entails, please contact Jen.
Bauer Elementary
Email: ehuizen@hpseagles.net
Website: https://www.hudsonvillepublicschools.org
Location: 8136 48th Avenue, Hudsonville, MI, USA
Phone: 616-669-6824
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BauerElementary
Twitter: @BauerElementary