Our Valentine's Day party was a lot of fun. We loved opening all of the nice cards and treats that were in our mailboxes! Thanks to so many parents who sent in nice treats for us - we'll be eating them all week I think!

We've continued to work on our United States symbols unit. A favorite this week was learning about the Statue of Liberty. We were amazed to find out how big she is, where she came from and how she got to the United States! It prompted a nice discussion about our ancestors and how some of them may have traveled here from other countries long ago.

Our Skills for Learning lessons were about naming a feeling we might be having. This is tricky - sometimes we think and act like we are angry, but we might really be feeling frustration, anxiety, jealousy or sadness. Mrs. Schnieders also works with each student on coping skills that they might use once they identify a feeling. All of the children have become better at naming coping skills and using them. Lately, I've even seen some children suggest a coping skill for an upset classmate to use! We talk a lot about how Level 4 on our Coping Skill Rubric requires a student to accept help and use a coping skill instead of demonstrating a behavioral outburst. Level 4 is a big deal for our students, so we're really focusing on this skill.

One of the books we read this week was called "Peace Week in Miss Fox's Class". We loved it so much that we've decided to make a book about our class with our students in it! We're having a lot of fun taking photos for it and deciding how our room can be peaceful too.

On Friday, we'll have been in school for 100 days! It is hard to believe that some of our students are the same ones who began here in the fall. All of our little guys are able to read and write, add and subtract, sit and listen at group, and complete many tasks independently! All of our big guys are able to participate in a lengthy social work lesson with peers and have been able to use coping skills in our classroom and in general ed. classrooms! Friendships have been formed and new skills have been gained. I have greatly appreciated the help and support of all of the parents in this program. This was a challenging 100 days - we are so focused on changing behavior in a program like this, that it can often feel like a lot of work for students, parents and staff. On Friday, our students will be excited to see the number 100, and we'll do many activities about that number. But I will also spend a moment feeling amazed - amazed at the changes your efforts, your trust and your teamwork have helped create in your children.

A New Classmate and Learning about Worries...

This week we talked about feeling worried. We reviewed different coping skills that would be good to use when a worry becomes really big. These coping skills would include: talk to a friend or teacher, use "self talk" to reassure yourself, do some deep breathing or resting, or bump out the worry/upset thought and bump in a happy thought. We also talked about how a worried person might look and why a big worry can cause problems for us. Sometimes worrying makes us feel sick or unable to learn, and sometimes worries that get too big cause us to hit or scream or throw things. We call this a "Red Alert!!!" and we need to be willing to try a coping skill or accept help when we feel that upset. We have noticed that our students know more coping skills now, are more able and willing to use them, and use them more frequently when frustrated rather than other more disruptive behaviors. Several children have moved up a level on our Coping Skills Rubric! Encourage your child to use coping skills at home too - they need many opportunities to practice using them.

We have also been working hard on saying "OK" to directions or when we hear "no" so that we can earn our gold stars. I see that many children are beginning to do this more often and more easily. I also have noticed many children showing empathy and compassion towards classmates! This makes me feel really proud of them!

We have been working on learning about the symbols of the United States of America and what they stand for. We have read about Abraham Lincoln and know that his face is on the penny. We'll learn about George Washington tomorrow, and talk about quarters. We've also practiced counting nickels and dimes. I will send a little money sheet home with pictures and poems about these coins. For extra practice at home, you can have your child count out your extra change. Counting by fives and tens is also helpful practice.

We were so happy to have a new student join our classroom this week! Our new first grade boy is a wonderful friend and has been welcomed by all of us!

This week several children earned their gold stars for the Say "YES" to "No" club! We have been practicing saying "OK" when a direction is given or when we hear "no" from a teacher. We understand that we need to not only say "OK", but show "OK" by following the direction. This is such an important skill for our students - when children are compliant they are able to learn new things and have improved social interactions with peers. Saying "OK" has greatly reduced power struggles in our classroom. You can help give your child practice with this at home to help encourage cooperative behavior.

In our Skills for Learning lessons this week we talked about and practiced compassionate behavior and ways to help friends who might be sad. We role played different ways to help someone when they are sad. I notice that many children are really beginning to think about how the other person is feeling, and show a much more appropriate response. The Home Link pages were WONDERFUL this week!

We've been outside for some very muddy, spring like recesses. We love this mild weather, but boots and spare pairs of dry socks are needed for all the puddles!

We talked a lot about the ground hog and whether spring will be early or late this year, and about friendship as we begin the month of February. We'll make valentine mailboxes next Tuesday. Your child may bring in his/her valentines any day after that. We are gaining a new student next week, so we will have 12 students. Your child does not need to write the other students' names on their cards, but should sign their own name on each valentine they will be passing out. It looks like we have plenty of snacks and things coming in for our party - thanks everyone! In all of my years of teaching, it always seem that opening up those valentine cards is one of the happiest events of the year!