Dear CCP Families,
Oh, how I wish you could peek into the classrooms during the day! The children are engaged in so many forms of play (and learning so many things!) Be sure to click into the website and view the pictures from your class. I am continually grateful for our creative, energetic, and loving teachers who plan all these exciting activities for your little ones.
CARDS FOR A CAUSE - Tomorrow is the last day to order! Thanks for your support!
FIRE TRUCK - The Chapel Hill Fire Dept will bring their truck for a visit on Tuesday, Oct. 22! ( If you are in a MW class, please feel free to join us at 9:30 in Ascension Hall.) Usually the fire fighters show us how they look & sound when wearing all their gear. Then they take us, class by class, to look at the truck!
FAMILY PHOTOS - Please remember you have an opportunity for a family portrait this Saturday, Oct. 19. There is no sitting fee and the pictures will be taken outdoors. I sent you a link by email to view the individual pictures taken on Tues & Wed. You have the opportunity to purchase them if you’d like.
PAC, we have a meeting in Ascension Hall at 9:15am on Monday, Oct. 21. NOTE: This is a morning meeting. Your presence is important since we will be presenting the proposed budget for 2025-26.
Looking ahead….CHRIST CHURCH will have BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS under the bell tower at 4:00 on Sunday Oct. 20. Then TRUNK OR TREAT will take place at the church office parking lot on Sunday, Oct 27 beginning at 4:00. Bring your little ones by to enjoy a treat!
Please note that I usually include some information about CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE in my weekly Thursday evening blog post. We are working to build positive relationships and assertive voices in a confident, caring community of learners that we call the school family. Please take time to read the Conscious Discipline moment each week. It will give you insight to some of the things we are teaching here at CCP. And they are also skills/techniques you can use at home!
CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE MOMENT - Let's look at the difference between noticing and judging. "Noticing continually activates children's prefrontal lobes and strengthens their executive skills of sustained attention, empathy, and problem-solving. However, it requires adults to consciously change our habits and rewire our brains to notice instead of judge." (Conscious Discipline, p. 128)
Judging actions as “satisfactory” creates children who are always looking for approval from the outside. Noticing creates self-awareness and healthy attention, an important executive skill. Noticing is descriptive and directs and sustains the child's attention like shining a flashlight on something. Adults essentially "hold their flashlights" on the desired goals until children can hold and aim them on their own. The difference is subtle at first. However words are powerful and "noticing language" is more specific and gives the child more information to help to focus the child's attention on the positive. Especially today, when the media tends to focus its attention on violence, aggression, sex, and appearances, our noticing supports children's attention by helping them aim their flashlights on the desired positive goals.
Here are some examples....Instead of saying, "Miley, I like the way you raised your hand," try saying, "Miley you raised your hand like this (demonstrate) so I knew you needed help." Instead of saying, "Good job Emma!" try "Emma, you worked hard on question 2 until you figured it out. That took persistence!" Instead of "Tom, you are a good helper," try "Tom you got paper towels and cleaned the water off the floor so everyone would be safe from slipping." Instead of "Thank you for pushing in your chair," try "Frank, you pushed in your chair so our dining room is safe." And a final example, instead of "Good job with the napkin," try "You folded the napkin and set it next to your plate. Now you're ready for snack!" It takes a little more effort, but if you consistently notice, it will create self awareness, which is an important executive skill.
I wish you well as you try aiming your adult flashlight on the positive by using noticing language with your child!
I wish you well,
Debbie