Hi!  In August, All the classes came to see me to start learning all about our LIFESKILLS.  We started with the best one RESPONSIBILITY.  We talked about my responsibilities to them as their school Counselor.  I see students in individual sessions, small groups, and classroom LIFESKILLS lessons.  And we also decided sometimes on Sunday afternoons at Walmart.  It is important, to me , thatr all students know what my job is and how important it is to me.  I also talk about their job as a student and how important it is for them to be prepared and organized.  We have emphasized the importance of  BED TIME!  We have all agreed that 8 or 8:30 is the best time to feel rested and ready to begin the next school day! We also talked about how to get to school on time.  ASK YOUR child all about the LIFESKILLS they ar learning.  They know that these skills are just as important as reading and writing.  GO RESPONSIBLE STUDENTS!!!

PARENT PASS WORKSHOP:  DO YOU MAKE THE GRADE?  COME TO OUR STUDY SESSION FOR PARENTS ON APRIL 28. 2009 AT 5:45 BEFORE OUR PTO MEETING!  PLEASE RSVP AT 803-926-5700

Career Awareness Week is coming up from MArch 30- April 6, 2009.  We will be ahving lots of fun learning about careers through dress for success day, jobs in pawland, carer bingo, career city, and of course our CAREER FAIR!  SO... WHat do you want to be when you grow up?

• Eat a nutritious breakfast
• Be on time to school: Be early if possible.
• Be prepared with the supplies that you need for the test.
• Look at the teacher and follow directions.
• Don’t work too quickly or too slowly. Pace yourself at a medium speed.
• If you get nervous, close your eyes for a few seconds and take a few breaths. 
• If you don’t know an answer on a multiple choice item:
• Re-read the question and all answers
• Skip it and come back
• Eliminate the absolute wrongs
• GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT (PERSEVERANCE)

Dear Parents,

This month in character class we have been talking about RESPECT.  I found this excellent article about the role it plays in parenting and thought it would be beneficial for you all.  Have a wonderful New Year.

Angela M. Rowe, M.Ed., Ed.S., LPC, NBCT

Pair Elementary School Counselor

 

Positive parenting balances nurturing, discipline and respect

 

Positive parenting starts with a balance of nurturing, discipline and respect. But how parents balance these elements varies, says Ron Pitzer, family sociologist with the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

"Some parents are demanding and expect a great deal of their child, while others are permissive and demand very little," Pitzer says. There are also parents who limit their youngster's behavior and allow little or no freedom of thought and expression.

 

At least four distinct parenting styles are created, depending on the balance:

 

--Parents who nurture, discipline and respect their children are positive.

--Parents who nurture and respect their children but don't discipline them much or well are permissive.

--Parents who discipline their children but are not very nurturing or respectful of them are dominating.

--Parents who don't nurture, discipline or respect their children are unengaged.

 

A research study shows how children raised with these differing parenting styles are affected. The study examined self-esteem, confidence, respect, responsibility, academics, social competence, anxiety, depression and problem behavior.

 

The study showed that children raised by positive parents tend to do well overall, Pitzer says. They have self-esteem and confidence, are respectful and responsible, and show good academic performance. These children are socially competent as defined by having empathy, emotional control, good communication and ability to manage conflict. Such children have little anxiety or depression and don't have much problem behavior.

 

Children and teens raised by permissive parents tend to have good self-esteem, are socially competent in most areas and have little depression. However, Pitzer says they scored low on respect and responsibility, underachieve academically and have a lot of problem behavior.

 

Children raised by dominating parents are somewhat the opposite. They tend to have low self-esteem and confidence and a lot of anxiety and depression. These children are not very socially competent, rate in the middle on being respectful and responsible and have average academic performance. They have very little problem behavior.

 

Children and teens of unengaged parents tend to do the worst in all of the areas studied. They have low self-esteem and confidence, a lot of anxiety and depression, and little social competence. They are not respectful or responsible, have poor academic performance and show a lot of problem behavior.

 

"As this study clearly shows, the balanced approach of nurturing, disciplining and respecting children is where positive parenting begins," Pitzer says. More information on positive parenting is available at www.extension.umn.edu, or at a county office of the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

 

 

Source:  Ron Pitzer (612) 625-8169, rpitzer@umn.edu

Writer:    Jack Sperbeck (612) 625-1794, sperb001@umn.edu

ABC's of Student SUCCESS