New & Improved site here
The Unthinkables and the Thinkables
Two new set of cards for review and new learning!
The Thinkable Team
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Perspectives
A few good books... |
Perspective Taking
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Hey, Little Ant
Two perspectives & some peer pressure
What would you do?
Q.H. D.P.
B.B. |
F.B.C.O. |
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One Sided Sid is defeated by People FILES!
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Topic Twister, One Sided Sid & his sister the UNwonderer
How are they the same & different? Room 15 decides to compare. Wow they have 2 things in common- JUST Me Thinking & Talking! AND they work together! Uh oh- This is going to be a tough trio to defeat and understand!
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Conversation Tree
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Let's practice interrupting, staying on an unpreferred topic and listening. The Social Fake ( politely listening if not really interested ) is a strategy many use. Other strategies like walking away, changing subjects , taking turns etc. were explored.
Chatter Box Topics, Conversation Tree and an unpredictable story created numerous situations to explore, practice and discuss.
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How to stay on a topic you don't know much about… Many feelings came up. Great discussion.
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Is Interrupting Chicken a Topic Twister?
The children voted after listening to us read the story. This led to an interesting discussion on why people topic twist, if interrupting is rude and the 'Social Fake' .
Ms. Pelham and I acting out the story Interrupting Chicken
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Just Me Mirror
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Switching Topics…Topic Twister is coming!
Topic Twister gets the person to twist the topic around to what he wants to talk about and goes off on tangents when talking to others. He also makes us interrupt and not listen to others. This person may then go on and on about topics he wants to talk about, not realizing that others may be bored or disinterested in what he is talking about. JUST ME THINKING! Going to need listening, thinking about others , staying on topic & the 'Social Fake' to defeat this Unthinkable! |
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Comic Kick offs, Perspective Taking, Inference & Fun...
Calvin & Hobbs |
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Students add thought/talking bubbles as they look at clues and make inferences.
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In two Calvin & Hobb comics, the children were to determine if the character's mood was 'Ho Hum' or had shifted due to a kick off event. They indicated this by a red or a green thought bubble. They also had to distinguish between a thought or talking bubble. Many were asked to provide the clues for their thinking as well in the pre discussion. This was a multi layered project that required several iPad steps!
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Glassman Strategies on Shrinky Dinks
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A Wanted Poster Offers the Reward for Defeating this Unthinkable
Body Scan, Breathing & Self Talk
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A Kick Off is an unexpected event & is how Glassman sneaks in….
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An Ice Cube in the Hand
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I gave each child a baggy containing an ice cube. We listed what they might expect to feel or notice as they held the ice cube. We talked about the difference between reacting VS responding and the strategies we use to pause and respond instead of over reacting. We talked about noticing anything that came up for them. Just Notice. After the drippy event , each child & adult shared what they noticed. A deeper understanding of big reactions to a minor sensation or problem deepened. Every child was able to hold onto the ice cube and let it drip. Some exchanged hands & used a variety of strategies to stay with the ice cube. This led to an interesting discussion on self control, pausing etc.
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Introducing GLASSMAN
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Big Reactions to small problems!
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Rock Brain Unit has Ended
Rock Brain Moments Explained
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Strategy Blaster & the end of this unit!
After completing the strategy poster below, the children picked their favorite strategy , wrote it on a card and blasted it at Rock Brain using the blaster. Many taped their cards to their desks as reminders. 
Adults have Rock Brain too ;-) Students had some good ideas about how to help these three adults. |
For more information on the unthinkables go HERE.
| rockbrain_situations.pdf |
Introducing Rock Brain
He causes us to be rigid, unflexible and keeps us stuck on only what he wants to do or think. Rock Brain has a hard time listening to others or understanding their point of view.
Comparing a rock to silly putty
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The kids are learning to identify a rock brain moment.We started by comparing a rock to silly putty and brainstormed how the two were alike and different. We then compared this to our types of thinking & behaviors.We also talked about how sometimes having a rock brain is helpful. The kids decided that Rock Brain opens the door to Glassman and those big reactions/feelings we have when we don't get what we want. Great insight.
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A Rock Brain Padlet
A Padlet is a community board a teacher creates where those invited may post comments, pictures , links etc on the given topic.
Good bye Braineater ( AKA Mr. Distractor)
We now have some Strategies to defeat you!
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Student strategies!
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Braineater Strategy Movies
Using a strategy or two from the student's strategy G.O. chart,
the students made a Puppet Pals movie on how they would defeat Braineater!
Using a strategy or two from the student's strategy G.O. chart,
the students made a Puppet Pals movie on how they would defeat Braineater!
A.N.D.P.Making the Brain Eater Video Rubric
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E.H. |
Who is Braineater?
He is the master Distractor
The Strategy Blaster!Brain Eater can be defeated with many strategies learned in class.
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Brain Eater can distract us two ways! OTBD and ITBDs.. ask your child - he KNOWS!
OTBDs/ITBDs that distract us!
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Introducing Braineater
We will begin this year with the strongest and most powerful unthinkable - BRAINEATER. During all activities , we will be focussing on keeping our brains and bodies in the group, positive peer interactions, talking in turn, listening and defeating unthinkables as they try to sneak in. Be on the lookout for Braineater in your home especially during HOMEWORK. The children brainstormed & voted . They all agreed he appears during homework time because they are easily distracted by noise, TV, video games etc.
The pages below are examples of how we will be thinking & working with to outsmart Braineater!
Oh, and NED is back ;-)
The pages below are examples of how we will be thinking & working with to outsmart Braineater!
Oh, and NED is back ;-)
Strategies Brain Science Identifying Behaviors
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NED
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The Strategy BLASTER!!!!
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Pirate Club started outside this year
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The children played two popular recess games with a specific focus- to learn how to play four square & wall ball, practice teamwork, keep their body & brain in the group and follow the group plan. We had a lot to talk about after each game ;-)
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Got Problems?
The children worked together in partner teams and sorted pre written problems into the three problem categories. Some of these problems are posted on our Got Problems? poster near Maroon Island. See more below for previous years posters and further explanation!
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Problem Sorting
What causes others to have Red, Green and Yellow thoughts?
Stop, say it or think it?
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Sticky Words
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We start every day with positive thought and how we are feeling.
We begin each day with a check in routine that starts with each person sharing a positive thought or memory from the last 24 hours. This is followed by a feeling statement about how we each feel at the moment. A visual with the sentence prompt is visible for those who need it. We toss a bean bag to the person raising their hand and mindfully listen without commenting when they speak. Once each person has shared we then pass a clapping sequence with gestures to get us up and moving. It is a fun way to start the day and sets a positive tone for the rest of the day. It also helps us listen to each other. Even the teacher cannot comment and must mindfully listen! It is a wonderful way to learn about each other. The things they say are sometimes priceless!
Got Problems?
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Above Maroon Island is the yearly class created Got Problems? poster. We do many activities & then sort common problem situations with a partner into the three categories. These are discussed their rankings and solutions and then placed on the poster as a reminder about the size go our problem and our reactions to them. ( Another series of lessons called KICK OFFS!) We do this every year and refer to it often as needed. Once we sort problem solve the work with the Unthinkables and Superflex begins! The students learn how to defeat them using multiple strategies. This is a life long goal for this population.
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A Group Plan IS Teamwork
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We each held onto a long piece of thread and talked about how we are all part of a team in room 15 . We talked about ways we can help and support each other succeed. The thread was then cut into 12 pieces which they tied onto each other. Thanks for the idea Mindful Schools!
The 1st Teamwork Task of the Year
Saving Fred is room 15's first teamwork task. Have your child explain the pictures and video below for this fun team building activity.
The Story- Fred , the gummy worm , has been spending his time sailing around the world. He has survived many perils. He never learned to swim so needs to wear his life preserver to stay afloat. The worst has finally happened. His boat capsized and he is stuck without his life preserver which is floating away! Can you get his life preserver and put it on Fred?
The Problem- How can you and your partner save Fred using only paper clips. You may not touch Fred, the boat or the life preserver with your hands. You can touch the paper clips.
The Story- Fred , the gummy worm , has been spending his time sailing around the world. He has survived many perils. He never learned to swim so needs to wear his life preserver to stay afloat. The worst has finally happened. His boat capsized and he is stuck without his life preserver which is floating away! Can you get his life preserver and put it on Fred?
The Problem- How can you and your partner save Fred using only paper clips. You may not touch Fred, the boat or the life preserver with your hands. You can touch the paper clips.
The story of Fred the Worm
Can we save him? See below….
Partners working together to Save Fred!!!
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Superflex and the Unthinkables
Superflex helps students learn about their own inner superheroic, flexible social thinking skills using strategies defeat various social challenges, represented by Unthinkable characters, such as Glassman, Brain Eater, Rock Brain, Worry Wall, Body Snatcher, One-Sided Sid, Mean Jean, and others. Stayed Tuned! We will be focussing on a few this year. |
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