Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Condemning Racism and Violence

Letter to Sanford Community From Superintendent Matt Nelson June 6, 2020

As Superintendent for the Sanford School Department, I feel compelled to express my regret and sadness regarding the killing of George Floyd and other Black Americans in our country due to police violence. I care deeply about our students, staff and the Sanford community. I have a responsibility to condemn the violence we have seen and to provide justice, education, and opportunity for every student no matter their race, religion, sexuality, or gender. I have tremendous respect for the Sanford Police Department and other officers around the country who bravely serve to protect us. I believe in a future of peace and prosperity for all of our students. Equity, inclusion, respect and the acceptance of diversity are important to a positive climate and culture in education. To end racism, we need to continue to learn, and to listen with an open heart. This work is challenging, but necessary, and we need to continue to work together to reach this goal. Please join me in pledging to end racism and hate, wherever it exists, with peace, kindness, and love and to find peaceful and supportive ways to promote positive change in our schools and community.
Matt Nelson

Equity, inclusion, respect and the acceptance of diversity are important to a positive climate and culture in the world. As a member of the American School Counselor Association I am including their message as well. 
ASCA Condemns Violence and Institutional Racism 

The American School Counselor Association condemns violence and the systemic and institutional racism that marginalizes African Americans. ASCA calls on all Americans to end the cycle of racism and on leaders to enact and enforce laws protecting members of the Black community and give them the same opportunities to lead successful and productive lives that other Americans enjoy. 

The recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd did not occur in schools or involve students; however, these and other violent acts can indirectly cause long-term harm to students. Witnessing brutality or experiencing the death of a family member or friend constitutes an adverse childhood experience, which can affect students well into adulthood. More broadly, systemic racism perpetuates discrimination, bigotry and prejudice that has relegated African Americans to generations of poverty, underemployment, substandard housing, poor health care and second-class citizenship. 

Black students face disproportionate rates of suspension and expulsion and arrest compared with their white classmates. African Americans are 20% more likely to suffer from serious mental health issues than non-Hispanic white Americans. Suicide attempts by black adolescents rose by 73% from 1991 to 2017The disproportionate incidence of COVID-19 among the African American community is a startling reminder of the consequences of institutional racism. 

Educators have long believed education is the path toward breaking the cycle of racism. Schools can provide every student with opportunities for success after high school graduation and advocate for social justice by ensuring equity and access to high-quality and rigorous courses, by providing safe and supportive learning environments and by recognizing the intrinsic value of every student, regardless of race, culture, sexual identity, disability or economic status. Schools can and should do better to combat racism and systemic oppression. 

School counselors help students cultivate self-confidence in their ability to succeed, understand the importance of life-long learning and develop a balance of mental, social/emotional and physical health. They help students develop learning strategies, self-management skills and social skills such as empathy, social responsibility and ethical decision-making. By helping every individual student develop these qualities, educators help build a society based on equity, tolerance and social justice for all. 

ASCA maintains many resources to help school counselors and other educators work with students to help them cope with the current crises and bring about systemic change and has gathered resources from other organizations as well. These resources are available at www.schoolcounselor.org/race-conversations and are open to all. 

“We must work together to ensure African Americans are treated with respect and dignity. We must recognize that all of us have equal rights as humans and have a responsibility to challenge injustice, to stand up, to speak up,” said Katherine Pastor, chair of the ASCA Board of Directors. “The ASCA board of directors and staff are committed to being a part of the solution through systemic change and will announce additional initiatives in the coming weeks.




I hope you were able to watch the CNN town hall on racism. It is difficult to find a clip of the whole show. This clip does cut short. Please be advised you may wish to shelter your children from or have a dialogue about the public comments on the youtube page for this clip.

Sesame Street did a great job explaining racism and protests:


Please join Mr. Nelson, American School Counselors, Sesame Street and myself  in pledging to end racism and hate, wherever it exists, with peace, kindness, and love through our own education and the education of others.~Mrs. Scremin

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Last Social Emotional Learning Lesson of the year:summer fun and safety

There are so many cool ways for your family to have fun this summer - here's a few thoughts as you consider summer safety during this pandemic:





Questions to use when watching movies & tv shows to boost your predicting skills and social skills:
                                                                                                                   

Here is a great website that has family friendly and reviewed tv shows and movies:
CommonSenseMedia.org

and there are tons of websites for fun things to do. Here are some:
https://parade.com/1009774/stephanieosmanski/things-to-do-with-kids-during-coronavirus-quarantine/
and
https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/summertime-solutions-the-benefits-of-unstructured-play
and
https://www.todaysparent.com/family/activities/fun-things-to-do-at-home/
and
https://familyeguide.com/boredom-busters-110-fun-at-home-activities-for-families-kids-2/
and
http://www.marvelousmomsclub.com/100-family-fun-night-ideas/

Have a safe and fun SUMMER!๐Ÿ’— Mrs. Scremin

Thursday, May 21, 2020

week 9 Dealing with Disappointment

HI Everyone! Please click below for my lesson for children on dealing with disappointment and then there is a resource that follows for the grownups on how to help your children with disappointment.



AND NOW: Homework for the TRUSTED ADULT in your life - yes, go get them, it is their turn!

Adults: Here is a great short video with psychologist Angela Duckworth to help you respond to your child's disappointment  - especially missing events and opportunities during the coronavirus pandemic. But her strategy here can work whenever your child is UPSET - it is how I try to respond to your children at school. Angela (and I) are NOT trying to turn you into counselors but trying to give you another tool for your parenting toolbox: SUPPORTIVE LISTENING.


Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Week 8 LAMB time: Someday Soon : HOPE


Hi Everyone! This week our focus is on HOPE. Let's start with a great read aloud and then we will chat about the activity


and now our activity:

Monday, May 4, 2020

Week 7 I Care Activity / LAMBtime lesson: Gratitude

Hi Everyone! This week we are part of the Feel Good Friday I Care Activity and our topic is GRATITUDE. Please first listen to this read aloud and then we will do our activity lesson:
and now our activity lesson:

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Week 6 LAMB time : Feelings Scavenger Hunt

Hi Everyone! This week we are all doing a Feelings Scavenger Hunt!

These are Mrs. Scremin's scavenger hunt items:

WHAT WILL YOU FIND? HAVE FUN!

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Week 5 of Social-Emotional Learning Lessons by grade level

Hello all! I am so impressed to see all the work that you and your families are accomplishing with distance learning! You rock! This week for LAMB time (Learning At My Best) we will continue with some of the newer curriculum Second Step lessons. Again, I've tried to keep my messages short, tying the lesson in to what we have worked on in class and offered something fun at the end. These are a little different for each grade level: Second Step put direct links into their websites so the correct lesson should just pop up when you click on the link.

Kindergarten:  Start with Mrs. Scremin, then Ms. Casey's lesson on calming down strong feelings and end with a one minute video where Esme and Roy teach us a belly breathing song to calm down!



Ms. Casey's lesson - click below
http://bit.ly/SSKinderLesson14



FIrst Grade: Start with Mrs. Scremin, then Brent's Belly Breathing video and end with the Second Step Lesson on Self Talk for Calming Down. I have included at the end a skipped lesson because we have already done that one in class but you are welcome to review it.







Second Step lesson click below:
https://bit.ly/SSGrade1Lesson15

extra second step lesson if you want to review handling anger:
https://bit.ly/SSGrade1Lesson14

Second Grade: Start with Mrs. Scremin, then Forrest's lesson on handling mistakes and end with a cool art read aloud : Beautiful OOPS



Second Step lesson on Handling Mistakes Click below:
https://bit.ly/SSGrade2Lesson13



Third Grade: Start with Mrs. Scremin, then Mr. Noah's lesson on handling accusations and end with an ADORABLE read aloud by the author of WHO WET MY PANTS?




Mr. Noah's Second Step lesson: handling accusations click below:
https://bit.ly/SSGrade3Lesson13



Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Week 4 Social-Emotional Learning Lessons by grade level

Hello all! This week for LAMB time (Learning At My Best) we will continue with some of the newer curriculum Second Step lessons. Second Step is the Evidence-based Social-Emotional Learning Program that our district uses to help K-junior high students identify emotions, manage emotions and problem solve in a positive, empathic way.
The lessons are a little long (9-12 minutes) and they each start with a quick brain building game that they use in the newer curriculum. So I've kept my messages short, tying the lesson in to what we have worked on in class and offered something fun at the end. These are a little different for each grade level:

Kindergarten: Start with Mrs. Scremin, then click on the Second Step lessons website and choose Lesson 13. Then End with ELMO!


https://www.secondstep.org/covid19support/kindergarten-lessons



1st grade: HI first graders! Today, start with Mrs. Scremin, then click on the Second Step lessons website and choose Lesson 13.There is a song at the end of the Second Step video.

https://www.secondstep.org/covid19support/grade-1-lessons

2nd Grade: HI second graders! Today start by clicking on the Second Step Lessons website and choose Lesson 12. Then click on Mrs. Scremin and after there is a fun read-aloud.

https://www.secondstep.org/covid19support/grade-2-lessons



3rd Grade: Hello third graders! Today, start with Mrs. Scremin's goofy face - these thumbnail pics are a hoot!, then click on the Second Step lessons website and choose Lesson 13. There is a song and dance video at the end of the Second Step video.

https://www.secondstep.org/covid19support/grade-3-lessons

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Week 3 Social-Emotional Learning Lessons by grade

Hello all! This week for LAMB time (Learning At My Best) I found that Committee for Children has put online some of the newer curriculum Second Step lessons. Second Step is the Evidence-based Social-Emotional Learning Program that our district uses to help K-junior high students identify emotions, manage emotions and problem solve in a positive, empathic way.
The lessons are a little long (9-12 minutes) and they each start with a quick brain building game that they use in the newer curriculum. So I've kept my messages short, tying the lesson in to what we have worked on in class and offered something fun at the end. These are a little different for each grade level:
Kindergarten: first click on me, then the purple link and choose lesson 12, then listen to Ruby finds a Worry :
1st grade: Hi First graders! Today you are going to see Ms. T. do a second step lesson.First, click on the purple link and choose lesson 12, then I'm going to say hi and then you can try out your feelings detectives skills in a game called Name That Emotion with Murray!
https://www.secondstep.org/covid19support/grade-1-lessons

2nd grade: Hi second graders! Today you are going to see Forrest do a second step lesson. First, click on the purple link and choose lesson 11, then I'm going to say hi and then you can check out a   cool book on EPIC
https://www.secondstep.org/covid19support/grade-2-lessons



3rd grade: Hi third graders! Today you are going to see Mr. Noah do a second step lesson. First, click on the purple link and choose lesson 11,  then I'm going to say hi and then you can check out a read aloud of the Girl Who Never Made Mistakes
https://www.secondstep.org/covid19support/grade-3-lessons




Thursday, April 2, 2020

Week 1 Calm Corner

Week 1: For those in 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade who missed my first LAMB time lesson on calm corner:

After please check out the book A Kids Guide to Feelings: Feeling Mad on your EPIC. I am still trying to figure out how to add a link to that.
I am very new to this technology and having to learn lots of new things myself during this SCHOOL FROM HOME distance learning time!

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Week 2: Safety Rules for the Virus

Hi ALL! First of all, Mrs. Scremin MISSES YOU SO MUCH ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿงก
Welcome to another LAMB time - Learning At My Best. This is our second virtual LAMB time lesson if you are a 1st, 2nd or 3rd grader and your first virtual LAMB time if you are a Kindergartener. I will try to send out a lesson each week.
Please watch this awesome read aloud written by Kim St. Lawrence and read by Ryan St. Lawrence about why we are all home  - I know, I know, some of you have seen it but WATCH IT AGAIN --it is so cute and I'm going to talk about it. (Thank you Mrs. G for sharing it)


Wasn't that cute? Ok now watch me (not as cute - fair warning):