Happy Random Acts of Kindness Week and Valentine's Day.
How are you celebrating?
I'm still on a natural high from Counseling Week;
here's a sample of the heartfelt notes I got from my superheroes.
I love that he feels like the special one,
I'm happy that he finds my puppets joyful,
and I'm touched that he aspires to be like me when he grows up!
I also got this cool Kindness Box!
The adorable little hand-drawn pick-me-ups tucked neatly inside the box, just waiting to warm up whoever picks one, are evidence that it only takes one, one little person, one little act of kindness, one little ripple ...
... to make a world of difference.
And if all of that kindness weren't enough, our friends from Kelso's Choice have offered to partner with me to give away this AmAzInG conflict-resolution kit to one of my dedicated readers.
Isn't that so incredibly generous and kind?
We love Kelso's Choice because it not only teaches our students to discern between small problems and big problems, but it also empowers them with skills to solve their small, pesky annoyances while giving them permission to seek help with larger, more threatening issues.
If you're in the US or Canada and would like a chance to win this kit, comment between now and this Saturday, February 18th, at noon {CST} with an effective problem-solving strategy that you use at home, at school or in the workplace.
A random number generator will choose one lucky winner; we'll post that name this weekend with directions on how to claim your prize.
Good luck and thanks again for coming by the Corner.
This giveaway is now closed; congrats to Katie (comment #11) for winning the kit.
Listen!! 😊 Also...breaking a problem into smaller parts.
ReplyDeleteHello! I teach students to use I-messages to work out problems with friends! Would love to have this amazing resource!❤
ReplyDeletePerspective taking. Looking at the situation through the lense of another person.
ReplyDeleteCompromise!
ReplyDeleteI use big vs little deal language to help students learn what really matters.
ReplyDeleteIdentify the problem, consider options to resolve, and validate feelings.
ReplyDeleteI love helping students compare the size of the problem with the size of their reaction!
ReplyDeleteI love to remind children that they choose how their respond. I have a fun activity where they try on different colored sunglasses to demonstrate different attitudes to various situations. The kids love it and it shows how much our attitude can impact our response to a problem!
ReplyDeleteI also teach using active listening and I messages.
ReplyDeleteFirst year counselor! I am working with my kiddos to check in with themselves and stop, think (about their options, if they're making a good choice) and then make the choice.
ReplyDeleteI practice breathing techniques with kids! I saw one student at a restaurant in town and she started showing me what she remembered! :)
ReplyDeleteI statements!
ReplyDeleteThe first component to conflict resolution is to LISTEN! How can we work out our problems if we aren't listening to what others are saying so that we can understand their point of view?
ReplyDeleteI work with my students in helping them to understand that can choose how they respond and to take responsibilities for their actions
ReplyDeleteMy k-2 students have a few minutes during each lesson to check in with me about how they used Kelso's Choice at home with sibs or friends or on the playground or in the lunch room. We practice not using "names" while sharing stories.
ReplyDelete\
I am a school counselor and have classroom guidance for upper elementary learners. One strategy that we talk about is making a compromise with others. Often learners forget that they can solve these small problems on their own and compromising can help the friendship and make everyone happy.
ReplyDeletei use the problem solving remote. i take a remote control put when trying to mediate a problem between students. i basically use the tool to help teach students when to just stop talking (i mute them) and just listen to hear others perspectives. plus, it helps lighten the mood when i keep muting different students and they start to interrupt the student speaking and I tap on it to make sure the batteries are still working etc. because clearly they wouldnt be talking while muted!
ReplyDeleteI am all about giving kids choices ! I have used kelsos wheel before ( from Pinterest) but I do not have the program ! I teach them to take deep breaths , count to five, and think about the choices they can make in the situation.
ReplyDeleteI work at an elementary school serving pre-k to 5th grade. Would love to have a resource like Kelso's Choice! Good luck, everyone!
ReplyDeleteEmpathy- understanding how someone else feels and/or I messages.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the chance!! We use mediation and listen to all sides of the problem, practice active listening, repeating what we hear from each other.... We discuss self control, honesty and honoring what each other is saying. We then work to accomplish a compromise and agree on a plan to move forward. Thank you as this resource is so necessary in our schools and I would love to be able to use this!! xo
ReplyDeleteAn effective problem solving idea for K-2 is the Talk-Listen-Respond strategy. This has kids each take a turn sharing their concern, listening to the other persons concern, and responding to clarify. I act as moderator & like that it teaches them how to communicate...
ReplyDeleteThanks for this opportunity. I use a bug and a wish as one strategy with younger kids
ReplyDeleteI encourage students to state what makes them unhappy using iMessage. Then offer a suggestion for resolution. Students are asked to make three attempts to resolve issues, unless someone is getting hurt. I will love to have this resource to better our skills.
ReplyDeleteJust used his wheel of choice to make conflict resolution frogs with some second graders! Would love to have the whole kit! Thanks so much Barbara and good luck everyone!!
ReplyDeleteWould love this resource. I use listen and compromise.
ReplyDeleteI teach I statements using a peace poster for students to work through small problems on their own
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to add Kelso to our curriculum for a while. Being the only counselor in a school of 900 I think it's so important to teach problem solving skills.
ReplyDeleteI Messages are my go-to. Especially when students have tried asking someone to stop and they've seems little success. We talk about how I Messages share feelings and specifics that may change the reaction of the listener. Winning this would be A-MAZ-ING.
ReplyDeleteWhen teaching problem solving, we discuss how it takes both listening and talking. I love using I-messages and especially being empathy into the picture. This would be a great resource to integrate into my program! Thank you for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteChoices and consequences.
ReplyDeleteTalk it out! I stress the importance of the right time and place, use of I-messages, and willingness to listen and make eye contact! ~lilredcounselor
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this! I have heard wonderful things. I teach I statements and perpspective taking.
ReplyDeleteI teach them how to use I statements and we talk about taking a break and thinking about what we want to say before we say it.
ReplyDeleteI-Messages and small vs. big problems! Thanks for giving school counselors the opportunity to win awesome stuff! I've been using Kelso for years!
ReplyDeleteI teach kids to go through a peace path that includes using iMessages and lots of listening to one another.
ReplyDeleteTalking it out working on understanding each other's perspective & working together to find the best for both.
ReplyDeleteEmpowering for all ages and a great tool school-wide.
ReplyDeleteTeaching perspective taking at a very early age is one conflict resolution lesson I do.
ReplyDeleteI always remind them to stop & breath. Then think about their choices, will their choice make the situation better or worse. Then remind them to make the choice that will make things better.
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this! Pick me. I would love to use this resource with my students! A problem solving strategie I use with my students is "I" messages.
ReplyDeleteLove Kelso's choices and would love this resource! We have a Kelso wheel painted on the playground for kids to use at recess!
ReplyDeleteI teach kids to take a breath and then ask questions to be sure they understand what the other person is saying (and that the other person is aware of how they are coming across).
ReplyDeleteTeaching de-bugging to problem solve. We do this by stating an I message. I feel... when you ... and assertively stating you don't like what is happening.
ReplyDeleteI teach my kids to identify the problem and determine if it's a big deal or little deal!
ReplyDeleteEmpathy and I messages! Empathy to feel how the other person must be feeling and I messages that avoid blame- "I feel sad when you..." not "YOU make me so mad..." :) thanks for this opportunity!!!
ReplyDeleteKeep an open mind, loving heart.
ReplyDeleteWe talk about a rock or dough problem. We discuss the problem & can you manipulate or change it. By helping them understand that we can only control how we feel about the problem and that is always the one part of the problem we can manipulate.
ReplyDeleteI like to teach students to talk it out and make a deal tonsolve their problems.
ReplyDeleteI messages and apologies. Teaching kiddos how to express their feelings and how to apologize by acknowledging the person's feelings and stating how they will make things better.
ReplyDeleteI teach students to use their "big voice" to teach others how to treat them.
ReplyDeleteI use a peace path.
ReplyDeleteI encourage kids to think of someone they respect who usually makes good choices and treats people with kindness (their choice - often they choose a grandmother) and think about how that person would respond in a given situation.
ReplyDeleteI use I messages and help students try to understand each others perspectives.
ReplyDeleteI created a peer mediation program - I train students to understand emotions, reactions, and problem solving techniques (such as listening, I statements, brainstorming solutions). Then when an issue arises between two students, the peer mediators work with them under my guidance in my office.
ReplyDeleteI love teaching empathy and perspective taking to my K-8 students. They are much kinder to each other, even when in conflict, because of it. Thank you for this opportunity!! As a first year counselor, I could really use this.
ReplyDeleteFirst year counselor here. I have been working with students to stop and think about the situation. Ask questions if needed. Use I messages about how you feel.
ReplyDeleteI-statements and understanding the situation from the other perspective.
ReplyDeleteWe use the zones of regulation to stay calm when solving a problem.
ReplyDeleteWe use lots of i messages and 4'part apologies when necessary.
ReplyDeleteI also encourage I statements and using a respectful assertive voice. Thank you for offering this. I work in Dk-2 and have 3 small children at home.
ReplyDeleteI use stop think choose stop light. I teach the students that they need to stop and think about the consequences first and if their behavior will get them in trouble they need to choose not to do it. Vise versa if their behavior will help them, choose to do it. It's a great tool to use for k-5
ReplyDeleteI teach active listening strategies and assertiveness.
ReplyDeleteI try to tell my students (and practice this at home) to take a break to calm down before trying to solve a problem. Nothing ever gets solved when people are upset.
ReplyDeleteStop light method: Red=Stop and Listen, Yellow=Choose 2 ways to handle the problem, Green=use of those ways to fix it with an I message
ReplyDeleteWe use "I" messages with our students at school. I feel___, when you___, I need____. It's a hard concept for some, but we need our kiddos to work on using their words and problem solving independently whenever possible!
ReplyDeleteWe use: first, gaining composure by using the STAR breathing strategy (Smile, Take a Deep Breath, And Relax) from Conscious Discipline, then using I messages, and positive self talk.
ReplyDeleteBreak it down into smaller problems and solve one problem at a time!
ReplyDeleteI am a first year counselor and at my school we have something called peer mediation, where a specific group of students are trained on how to help other students solve a small problem. Also love kelso's choice, this was used at a school I interned at.
ReplyDeleteI teach my students and own children to wait and cool off. It is so important to be ready to talk about problems before jumping into a conversation about the problem. We discuss how to calm ourselves down while we wait and cool off, and play calm down bingo.
ReplyDeleteCool down with calm breathing prior to using I statements to talk it over.
ReplyDeleteTaking a break to breath, count, and reflect.
ReplyDeleteOh this is AWESOME! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to enter this amazing contest! Yay! I hope I win (or rather my students win)!
ReplyDeleteCompromise! I always bring up using strategies like flipping a coin/rock, paper, scissors when it's a small problem to solve.
ReplyDeleteI always try to teach compromise, solving problems with a win-win mentality:)
ReplyDeleteI have been working with students on perspective taking and stopping the blame game.
ReplyDeleteI also like working with students to show how our thoughts and feelings impact our choices/behaviors. We have a lot of control over both of those factors (like calming down our anger, working to use positive self talk, etc. before trying to solve the problem) and it helps to show how changing our thoughts or feelings can impact our outcome by role playing the different scenarios!
Mapping out the steps to solve a problem. Include the possible outcomes for each step and role playing once we decided the best choice.
ReplyDeleteTeaching students about filters. They can filter their thoughts and filter their choices.
ReplyDeleteI am an elementary school counselor and my favorite effective problem solving strategy is I-messages, particularly the one found in the Girls On The Run curriculum followed by roll playing!
ReplyDeleteHi Barbara! Thanks for sharing how your little friends show their care for you...modeling is the best teacher and we know where they've learned it! We use Kelso's Choices here in Billings but unfortunately because it is so cost prohibitive we use it more piece-meal, having ordered this and that from the program and thankfully there are many resources online. It would be awesome to have an actual kit to use! Thanks again, friend for all you do!
ReplyDeleteWe talk about (after cooling off if needed) to try and see the problem from the other person's perspective. Then we progress from there.
ReplyDeleteTwelve years ago I began my elementary counseling career in TX. My counseling partner was so excited and thrilled with Kelso's choices. Unfortunately, I didn't follow in her wonderful footsteps and use the program as expertly as she did. I know now how this program offers our students great problem solving skills that can benefit them through out their life time. Thank you for your willingness to share the wonderful curriculum with one lucky counselor!
ReplyDeleteWe use the STEP method from second step: S-say the problem, T-think of solutions, E-explore consequences, P-pick the best solution!
ReplyDeleteI talk to my students on their level and in language they use. With title 1 kiddos this is magic. I also intervene research based atrategies.
ReplyDeleteListen and think first and always remember if you can't say somthing nice, don't say nuffin at all (Thumper from Bambi)
ReplyDeleteI-messages and mirroring. I encourage students not just to listen to respond md but to listen to understand. "What I'm hearing you say is..." etc.
ReplyDelete