Welcome to Monday Email #18
Anyone who has been signed up to my weekly emails for some time may have spotted that I've changed my logo. I'd like this to be a sign that I'm open to constructive feedback because one of the recipients to these Monday emails wrote to me lately to inform me that my logo was "terrible" and I need to change it as a matter of urgency. So never be afraid to email or message me your thoughts!
One Strategy for Behaviour
I'm not a huge fan of relying on your phone to manage anxiety as I would be suspicious that phones are part of the problem. That being said, I have been experimenting with the SAMApp for the past week and I have been impressed.
The first thing I like is that the app aims to empower a child to manage their anxiety. It aims to help children learn what situations make them anxious. It provides multiple strategies for managing anxiety such as breathing, colouring, meditation as well as providing lessons about how to deal with anxious feelings and thoughts. If children like a particular strategy or lesson, they can add it to their "anxiety toolkit" section where they have fast access to it.
There is a tracking feature where children can record how they are feeling & what they are thinking or afraid of. This could help them identify patterns. There is also a section for making a personalised list of things that make them anxious.
The app is ideal for older children who would benefit from learning how to identify their own triggers that make them anxious and strategies that will help reduce their anxieties. It can empower children to discover what works for them and build their independence and resilience.
Android Version here.
Apple Version here.
One Strategy for Inclusion
I have been looking for books that can be included in school libraries that promote inclusion. This has been part of reflecting on my hidden curriculum. Improving the school library to ensure that there is diversity present is a small actionable step. In the process of this pursuit, I've been using this list of recommended books to guide me. Feel free to share!
- The Department of Ability (action comic) – Dan White
- Happy to be me by Emma Dodd
- Mixed by Amee Chung
- The Same but Different too by Karl Newson and Kate Hindley
- Perfectly Norman by Tom Percival
- Odd Dog Out by Rob Biddulph
- The New Neighbours by Sarah McIntyre
- Cyril and Pat by Emily Gravett
- This zoo is not for you by Ross Collins
- Can I Join Your Club? By John Kelly & Steph Laberis
- Amazing by Steve Anthony
- Rocket Rosie by Elise Hogan
- Errol’s Garden by Gillian Hibbs
- Just Because by Rebecca Elliot
- Sometimes by Rebecca Elliot
- The Abilities in Me Save Christmas by Gemma Keir
The source is available here.
One Thought
If any of you have broken a rule during the last few months of restrictions, it should help you be even more empathetic to the rule-breakers in school.
I found myself most likely to break the rules that I thought didn't make logical sense. I was more inclined to break rules that I didn't understand. I was less likely to comply if the reason wasn't communicated clearly to me.
I also was likely to bend the rule if it stopped me doing something I loved.
Children in school are constantly living within restrictions that are imposed on them as we have experienced over the past few months. Maybe the reasons that some children break the rules aren't so different from the reasons we break them?
If you have read to this point, you must have found something of note here. I'd appreciate you sharing this email or the contents of it by screenshots, forwarding, social media or any means necessary and send people to www.behaviour101.com to get their own. Thanks for the support.
Behave yourself,
Barry
P.S I have recently launched a course for teachers in New South Wales, Australia. The course is fully accredited and contributes 2 hours to their NESA registered professional development.
If you know any teachers in Sydney or anywhere in New South Wales, I would massively appreciate you sending them the link.
Link: https://tpd.edu.au/product/social-emotional-behavioural-difficulties-101-taking-a-problem-solving-approach-online/
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