In Tribes, for the
month of November, students and teachers
will be discussing problem solving,
resourcefulness and cooperation. In the
first week of November, students will be
learning “I messages” to solve conflicts.
(“I feel ______ when you______. Will you
please_________.) You might want to have an
“I message” policy in your home, which is a
very effective, yet non-threatening method
of solving problems. They will also be
discussing the Four Step method of problem
solving:*Identify the
problem
*Think of possible solutions
*Pick a solution
*Take action/apply the solution
In the second week of November, we will
be discussing resourcefulness, which is
responding to challenges in innovative and
creative ways. They will be asked to respond
to questions such as:
*What can you do when you
are bored?
*What do you do if your ride doesn’t show
up?
*What do you do if you lose your jacket?
*What do you do if a stranger approaches
you?
Ask your child questions such as these to
help them learn to make decisions and have
the confidence to solve problems.
The third week of November, we will focus
on cooperation, which is working together
for a common goal or purpose. We will
discuss how cooperation is needed at home
and at school.
November is a month to remind us to give
thanks. When we feel down, bored, tired, or
depressed, remembering our blessings can
help us to put things in perspective. Let us
be grateful for our children, and look at
them as the special gifts they are. Let’s
give them a big hug and appreciate this time
with them! It won’t last forever.
Once again, we will be participating in
the Salvation Army’s Food Drive. They are
collecting nonperishable canned food items
for families in Tulsa. Last year was an
overwhelming success! The Eisenhower
families were so generous to donate food for
the needy families for the holidays, and we
would like to continue this tradition! Our
school is also adopting soldiers in Iraq to
write letters and hopefully send care
packages. Each class has the name of
soldiers, and they are writing to them
during class. If you feel inspired to write
to a soldier to express gratitude or just
send a friendly “hello” from Tulsa, you can
get a name from his/her teacher or myself.
Also, if you would like to help with a care
package, please contact me.
We have purchased some new books that you
can check out from my office.
Raise Your Child’s Social I.Q.,
by Cathi Cohen
Good Friends are Hard to Find, Help
Your Child Find, Make, and Keep Friends,
by Fred Frankel
The Unwritten Rules of Friendship,
Simple Strategies to Help Your Child Make
Friends, by Natalie Elman and Eileen
Kennedy-Moore
Kids are Worth It! Giving Your Child
the Gift of Inner Discipline, by
Barbara Coloroso
The Bully, the Bullied, and the
Bystander, Barbara Coloroso
