Mrs. Fields' (PBSES Coach) Site

For the month of February, we’re talking about the beautiful character trait of Kindness.The dictionary defines it as: “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.” But it is so much more than that! 

Here’s the definition:
Kindness: the choice to act with words, gifts, or actions to bring appreciation, positivity, and encouragement to others and yourself.

The key part of this definition? Kindness is a choice that we get to make every day to bring good things into our lives and the world. Those good things can look like more than just some kind words; Kindness is given through our actions and our encouragement and our attitude and our gifts.

Looking for ways to enrich your dinner time conversations? Here are some ideas divided up by grade level.
K-2nd Conversation Starters
• What does Kindness look like in our home? What does it look like in our neighborhood? What does Kindness look like in our extended family, our faith or spiritual practices, our community centers, our sports teams, etc.?
• Why is it important to show Kindness to people who aren’t kind to you?
• What acts of Kindness have others shown you lately and how did you respond? How did it make you feel? How do random acts of Kindness help you grow?

3rd-5th Conversation Starters
• Kindness isn’t only for others. Explain how you show Kindness to yourself.
• Some people say that the most genuine act of Kindness is done when no one else is looking. What do you think that means? Can you think of any ways to show genuine Kindness?
• Discuss the 5 Love Languages (in summary, we all give and receive something like Kindness in different ways. Dr. Gary Chapman suggests the five primary ways are: giving and receiving gifts, words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, and acts of service). In which ways do you prefer others show you Kindness? In what ways do you often show Kindness to others? What are some love languages that you can bring more of into your home?

Reading Recommendations for you…
K-2nd
Are you raising nice kids? by Amy Joyce
Six ways to teach kindness by Natasha Daniels
3rd-5th
Ten secrets for raising a kind and compassionate child by Colleen Temple
14 little ways to encourage Kindness by Kristine Breese

Family Challenges
K-2nd
Over dinner tonight, brainstorm ways that you can show Kindness to your neighbors. Maybe you’ve noticed that your neighbor hasn’t walked his dog in a while. Perhaps there are some leaves that need to be raked or flower gardens that need to be weeded. Are there trash cans that could be brought in off of the curb? Or might there be a car that you’d be willing to wash? Discuss which service you might want to offer, then knock on a door and ask, “Need some help?”
3rd-5th
Save the coupon mailers from your mailbox or the paper. Be intentional this week to clip the coupons that you won’t use and put them next to that product on your next trip to the grocery store. Make it a competition who can collect and plant the most coupons for someone to find and experience some positivity! Bonus points if you write a kind message or quote on the back of each one.

Virtual LunchRoom - VLR - 12:00-12:20

Monday-K & 5th   Tuesday-4th   Wednesday-3rd   Thursday-2nd   Friday-1st

The Zoom link to join us is on your teacher's Clever page.

Student materials pick up - 

If you were not able to get your materials last week they are still available if you would like to come by. Call the office and we will bring the materials out to your car.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Curbside Book Pickup (Grades K-2)
January 27 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

2nd Grade Highly Capable Referral Window Closes
January 28

Coffee and Questions with Mr. Terry
January 29 at 8:00 am – 9:00 am

Cougar Ridge Incoming Kindergarten Parent Orientation
February 2 at 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Incoming Kindergarten Packet Pickup at Cougar Ridge
February 3 at 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Welcome to ISD for Incoming Kindergarten Families
February 9 at 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Presidents Day and Second Winter Break — No School
No school for students or staff.

February 15 – February 19

The Bobcat Way for Home Learning Expectations -  

Children’s problem behavior may be prevented or reduced when behavior expectations are clearly defined and taught. Be Safe, Be Kind, and Do Your Job are Cougar Ridge’s expectations used as a basis for establishing positive behavior. These expectations can be used to define how specific behaviors will look like when teaching at home.  You can choose your own expectations if you would like or use The Bobcat Way.

Think of your daily routines...

Some examples include:

• Morning routine   - Bathroom use          - Mealtimes
• Evening routine    - Homework               - Chore time
• Inside play           - Outside play            - Toy pick up
• TV time                - Use of electronics   - Pet care

Choose routines you would like to improve. It might be good to pick 3-4 to start with, or even just one routine. Start small and build from there.

If there is any Social/Emotional questions or concerns that you would like support with please reach out through my email.

Kinder.pdf                      1st.pdf

2nd.pdf                            3rd.pdf

4th.pdf                             5th.pdf

Parent Tips.pdf                              SEL Brochure.pdf

• PBIS Resources: http://www.koi-education.com/resources/ 

• Social Emotional Learning: www.casel.org 

• Parent Website: www.parenttoolkit.com 

• Intervention Ideas:  www.pbisworld.com 

• Behavior Interventions: http://www.interventioncentral.org/behavioral-intervention-modification ​

• SecondSTEP: http://www.secondstep.org/

PBSES (Positive Behavior Social Emotional Support)  in Issaquah is a district initiative targeting students in elementary through middle school.  We have combined PBIS withSocial/Emotional Learning, positive relationships, and proactive classroom management to support the whole child when establishing expectations and preventative behavior supports.

Click HERE to learn more about the Issaquah PBSES effort. 

​Click HERE to watch a short video about the PBIS aspect of PBSES

• Promote understanding of PBSES
• Train and coach staff
• Provide whole school professional development about evidence-based practices of:
  • Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS)
  • Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
  • Positive relationships
  • Proactive classroom management 
• Collect data to monitor progress and aid in decision making
• Facilitate PBSES team that creates/evaluates
  • The school-wide behavior expectations
  • Use of data-based decision making
  • Problem solving process to work within the multiple tiers of support