Internationally recognized author & educator for professionals, parents, and kids
Archive for April, 2019
How Technology Paves the Way for Passive Aggressive Behavior
06 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
Smartphones, email, and social media connect us in countless ways but can also be blamed for muddling human 
connection like never before. Indeed, the same technology that makes real-time contact and around-the-clock communication possible has, in many cases, drastically lessened the amount of time that human beings spend actually interacting. For the passive-aggressive person, who prefers to mask their anger and avoid direct confrontation, this technology paves the perfect path for their hidden hostility.
This article, previously posted on Psychology Today, explains four reasons why passive-aggressive behavior thrives online.
Kidding vs. Teasing at Pohatcong Township School
06 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
Today, I had the pleasure of spending my day with the 4th-7th graders at Pohatcong Township School in New Jersey. This is my fourth visit to the school in recent years and it’s so awesome to be invited back again and again by a team that is truly dedicated to social-emotional learning in addition to traditional academics.
Last year, I spoke with kiddos about how the small, daily acts of kindness that they do in school are the most powerful way to bring an end to bullying. We also talked about the difference between rude, mean, and bullying behavior and how to best respond to each one.
This year, we got into even more of the gray area and nuances of peer interactions, talking about the key differences between kidding around with friends and the kind of teasing that creates hurt and upset feelings. We were all on the same page with the fact that we like to laugh with our friends and that joking around is fun! Because they could so easily agree that kidding around is one of the best parts of being friends, the kids did a great job at thinking through and identifying when a joke crosses the line into being offensive or unkind–and how to prevent this from happening whenever possible. We talked about what to do when we have inadvertently crossed the line and made a list of topics that should never (read: ever) be joked about.
With the younger students, I also shared the story, Just Kidding, by Trudy Ludwig. The kids loved it! I got to share 
this autographed copy of the book (courtesy of the author) with one winner of a random drawing, which was a great keepsake!
I taught eight back to back classes and loved every single one of them. Great kiddos with fantastic insights and lots of say.
Our Children are Our Best Teachers
06 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
Our children are our best teachers.
Check out the LSCI Institute’s new book and training programs, Parenting the Challenging Child, to learn strategies for de-escalating conflict situations and more effectively responding to the child that you have.
Making Kindness a Part of School Culture
06 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
This month, I’m working with my first grade students on the power of kindness and the idea that the “little,” daily things we do to reach out to others can make the biggest difference.
Making kindness a part of school culture is the most effective Bullying Prevention strategy.
KidsPeace Certifies 7 New Associates inn LSCI
06 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
Congratulations to these 7 newly certified LSCI practitioners from KidsPeace National Centers in Pennsylvania!
To inquire about attending LSCI training at KidsPeace, click here.
To bring an LSCI Trainer to your school or organization, email signewhitson@lsci.org
Follow these links to learn about other LSCI training opportunities, including LSCI Skills for Parents & Caregivers or LSCI online training.
10 Rules for Kids on How to Text Respectfully
06 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
One of the most popular workshops I offer for upper elementary and middle school students is called 10 Rules for Enjoying Life Online & Deleting Cyberbullying. In my 45-60 minutes with students, we talk about, watch videos about, and share real life examples about how fun and engaging and USEFUL technology can be…and how to avoid reputation-damaging mishaps that can occur through texting and social media. The students and I tend to laugh a lot but we also get real! I think I open their eyes to some of the unanticipated long-term consequences of their online activities…and they always teach me a thing or two about a new app or game. We all have so much to learn…
Here is a list I posted on Psychology Today of 10 Rules for Texting Respectfully that shares some of what I talk about with students and may be helpful to you as a professional or parent working or living with kids.
