Internationally recognized author & educator for professionals, parents, and kids
signewhitson
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Posts by signewhitson
Teaching Feelings Literacy and Empathy Skills to Young Students
06 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
When I wrote my first book on the topic of bullying prevention, Friendship & Other Weapons, I wrote it with kids ages 5-12 in mind. Knowing that bullying peaks in middle school, I wanted to help young kids develop the social emotional skills they need to prevent the dynamics of bullying from taking root in their friendships.
To that end, I am still always developing and teaching new lessons that focus on building fundamental social and emotional intelligence skills, even from the earliest ages. This month, with my youngest students, I am teaching skills to differentiate feelings and recognize non-verbal emotional cues. This week, “the sorting game” has been a big hit, as kids pick a “feelings face” card from my magic box, then decide if the face looks MAD or SAD. With Kindergarten students, to build empathy skills, I add in a component where the kids are asked to imagine what might be making the person feel mad or sad. They love it!
Using LSCI in the Classroom
06 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
LSCI’s applications as a de-escalation strategy in schools and classrooms is featured in this month’s issue of Healing Magazine on pp. 14-15. Check it out below then visit www.lsci.org to learn how to bring LSCI training to your school and faculty!
http://www.healingmagazine.org/book/issue-42/
Therapy Dogs at The Swain School
06 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
Since the start of the 2018-19 school year, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of bringing Happiness Dogs (aka: Therapy Dogs) into my school twice a month to meet with groups of students in their classrooms and with individual students in my office. The smiles, happiness, caring, and calm these animals bring to our kids and staff is immeasurable. Here’s just a brief clip that some of my second graders featured in their weekly News Update!
Good Resources for Helping Understand Anxiety in Children
06 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
This week, I’ll be speaking with a group of parents and caregivers at my school on the topic of understanding anxiety in children and adolescents. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issue in the U.S and studies show that anxiety rates among young people are on a steady rise. While researchers debate the unique 21st century causes for these rising rates, advances in neuroscience show us very clearly what is happening in the brains of stressed out young people and tell us how we, as caring adults, can help kids regain their calm.
Here is a partial list of the resources I use with kids and/or cite in my presentations to professionals, parents, and kids on how to understanding and manage anxiety:
Why Smart Kids Worry & What Parents Can Do to Help
Anxiety in Kids: How to Turn it Around and Protect Them For Life
How to Train Your Brain to Stop Worrying
I am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness
Mindfulness Games Activity Cards
Anxiety or Aggression? When Anxiety in Children Looks Like Anger, Tantrums, or Meltdowns
Defeating My Inner Dragon: Teaching Kids How to Challenge Their Unhealthy Thinking Habits
Rules of Friendship in Elementary School
06 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
Last week, I was helping a small group of 2nd grade students work through a series of conflicts. Through our discussion, one of the girls suggested that having some rules to follow to guide their friendship would be helpful. “If we all agree on the rules, maybe we can prevent some of the problems,” she reasoned.
I couldn’t have said it better myself!
Here are the “Rules of Friendship” developed by the girls:
Best Articles about Bullying Prevention Strategies for Students
06 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
In honor of October’s National Bullying Prevention month, here are 10 of my top posts on the topic of helping bring an end to bullying. Please share these links with professionals and parents who can use the information to support kiddos.
Is it Rude, Is it Mean, or Is It Bullying?
What Parents Can Do When Their Reports of Bullying are Downplayed by School
Helping Girls Cope with Bullying and Frenemies
What Parents Can Do When Their Kids’ Friendships End Badly
10 Guidelines for Stopping Cyberbullying
Why Kids Choose Not to Intervene in a Bullying Situation
What Girls Can Say and Do to Stand Up to Bullying
8 Things Kids Can Say and Do to Stop Bullying
What Adults Can Do to End Bullying
6 Simple Strategies to Stop Bullying
Signe talks about Bullying Prevention on NYC’s WPIX 11
07 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
Give me a gymnasium full of 1000 students or an auditorium packed with professionals and parents and I am calm, cool, and collected. After all, I love talking about how to help kids who bully and/or are bullied. But tell me you are going to point a camera at me and broadcast a conversation live on social media and TV and I am terrified, terrified and terrified!
Despite the massive case of nerves, I managed to gather myself for this live interview last week on New York City’s WPIX 11. The producers originally contacted me to comment on this video (WPIX 11 Rude, Mean or Bullying Interview) and whether or not the situation described by the two young boys was best characterized as an incident of meanness or bullying. They also asked me to comment a bit on strategies that bullied kids can use to effectively manage unwanted aggression.
From there, our conversation took some turns into bullying behavior in adulthood and how to best respond to cruelty inn the workplace. I hope you find some of what we talked about useful!
BULLYING PREVENTION: Do you know the difference between rude, mean and bullying? We're going to show you how to spot the difference so that you know when it's important to intervene. Join Tamsen Fadal for our special digital series, Bully Proof, LIVE now.
Posted by PIX 11 on Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Is it Rude, Is it Mean or Is it Bullying?
07 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
In the Companion Guide for the 8 Keys to End Bullying Activity Book, I offer professionals and parents a tool for screening reports of bullying and determining an initial course of action. The Screening Tool, available for download below, may be used in schools, youth organizations, small groups, homes, or any setting in which allegations of bullying occur regularly and responsible adults need to discern between levels of aggression, in order to respond appropriately.
As the directions indicate, “Yes” responses to the four questions give a strong indication that bullying behavior has occurred and needs to be more thoroughly investigated by a a trained professional, such as a School Administrator or Counselor.
“No” responses, on the other hand, indicate that a problematic behavior that has not risen to the level of bullying has likely occurred. These behaviors are likely best addressed by the adult who receives the report from the child, according to school, group, or family rules.
All young people deserve their reports of bullying behavior to be taken seriously by adults. Whether or not the behavior is determined to be bullying, all children benefit from feeling heard and understood.
Click here to download the Screening Tool for Allegations of Bullying
The full form and directions are featured in the 8 Keys to End Bullying Companion Guide, available for purchase here.
Teaching Conflict Resolution Steps to Students
07 years
by signewhitson
in Uncategorized
Yesterday, I was working with one of my 2nd grade classes on the subject of Feelings. In particular, we were talking about strategies for calming down during times of the school day when strong feelings make it difficult to stay focused and ready to learn.
One of my students raised his hand in the air and eagerly told me about the new “Conflict Bridge” that his teacher had recently brought in. I challenged him to show me how the bridge helped kids solve conflicts; he accepted!
With pride, he rolled out a tan mat (see below) in grandiose style and picked a classmate to help demonstrate how the bridge gave them the steps and the language they needed to work through a problem situation. With each child facing the other, starting on the first square of opposite sides of the mat, they took turns following each step (I feel_____ when. I want _____. etc). With no rehearsal (because the step-by-step bridge makes rehearsal unnecessary), they walked toward each other (literally and figuratively), each following the same step from their own point of view. In the end, they met in the middle of the “bridge” and shook hands after effectively working through a recent sports-related conflict from recess. It was incredible!
I now have a new favorite way to teach the steps and language of Conflict Resolution to my students. Looking forward to bringing this to all of my elementary classrooms!
