5th/6th Steps To Respect

What Would It Be Like...

The past couple of weeks we've been talking, writing, and drawing about what a town would be like if no one cared about bullying behaviors.  Some names suggested for the town were, "Unhappy Place", "Scholarsville", and "Gorgonzola".  A student described walking down the street in this fictional town:

"I turned around the dark corner that is leading me closer and closer to the school.  Anger and fear enveloped me as fence posts vanished behind me.  While I was walking, my steps went more and more shaky.  I arrived."

Another student wrote:

"Me and my family moved to a town called Gorgonzola.  There is more bullying than I have ever seen.  The worst part is that nobody does anything about it."

Most of the stories gave great examples of students stepping up and refusing the bullying and reporting the bullying.  I like to think that they have the courage to do this even when it seems that others stay quiet.

Emotions and Sleep

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Sleep researcher Matthew P. Walker (University of California, Berkeley) and his team have discovered that our amygdala (the emotional center of the brain) is over sixty percent more reactive when we are sleep deprived.  This makes us react in a "fight or flight" way to things that occur during our day.  Getting ten to twelve hours sleep each night will help us respond to situations with the more rational frontal cortex area of our brain.  Think about how this might change how you view your friend's intentions.

Mirror Neurons

Image from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

These special brain cells help us recognize what others are feeling and what other people's intentions might be in certain situations.  Our last reflection post showed that many students in this class focus on what their friend's feelings are when trying to solve problems together.  Perhaps that focus will strengthen our mirror neurons!

Point of View

With this week's reflection activity we share ideas on seeing someone's point of view and using respect when we're angry.

"One way that I can remember to see someone else's point of view:"

"Let them talk."  "I can calm down and listen carefully."  "Just take a deep breath and ask what they want to do."  "...is to listen."  "Put myself in their position and analyze their feelings."  "I would calm down and then start to talk."  "I try not to jump to conclusions."  "...is to ask how they feel."  "Listen to them."  "...is put myself in their position."  "Play half the recess her way and half mine."  "Don't get angry."  "I listen and think about what my friend said."  "...to think what they might be thinking."  "Ask him what IS his point of view."  "I can breathe in and out and picture if somebody did that to me."  "Say, 'Okay, what do you think we should do?' "

"One way that I can behave respectfully toward someone--even when I'm angry:"

"By thinking of things to say that won't make the other person mad."  "Breathe, relax, and say something nice."  "Stay calm and talk things through."  "...is to listen to them nicely."  "Say, 'I don't want to fight with you--let's try to see both points.' "  "Say calm down (to myself)."  "I can take a deep breath."  "I stop and say as calmly as I can, 'Ok--let's do yours first and then mine.' "  "Take a deep breath and talk it over."  "I try to calm down and work out the problem."  "Try to talk calmly and listen to what they have to say."  "Take deep breaths and relax."  "...is to cool off and be nice."  "I take a deep breath."  "...is to calm myself down."  "I can just relax and just talk."  "I can practice controlling my anger."  "Don't talk until I've completely calmed down."  "Take a deep breath and not yell or get mad."

Intentions

The first week's reflections activity involves finishing these sentences:

"One way that I have shown my good intentions to a friend:"

"I help her when she was hurt or sick."  "Compromise."  "I gave her a friendship card."  "I tried to help out my friends with their problems."  "I waited for her before I wnt on the bus and I saved a spot in line."  "I gave him money in The Age of Empires 2."  "When I listen to them."  "I got my friend a birthday present."  "I stood up for her when someone was being mean."  "...is by being nice to them."  "I saved a spot for my friend in line."  "I helped my friend in a video game."  "...by talking to her about things."  "I told him of a game (that I thought he'd like)."  "I waited at the door for my friend at recess and then told him I was his best friend."  "I've shared some of my food and toys with my friend."  "...is to be nice to them, help them with their homework, help them up when they're down."  "I gave him a compliment."

One way that I have looked for the good in a friend:

"Listen if they want to help me."  "I gave someone a chance and then we became friends."  "I have looked for their trust."  "I see the kindness in their actions when I hang out with them."  "...when my friend helped me when I got hurt."  "Saying 'hi' and seeing what he was doing."  "(Noticing) When she forgave me for being me."  "I wait until my friend explains what she really means when we disagree."  "...is to learn about them and their intentions."  "I forgave her even when I was angry :) (hi mom)  We then talked it out."  "...is that I ask her something (if it is or isn't true)."  "I give them a compliment and they will usually give a compliment back."  "...is I have waited for her to explain."  "...is by forgiving him."  "I give them a chance, if something is wrong.  We talk it out."  "I waited to know what kind of person she is."

Welcome To Our Blog

This is where Mrs. Warner's fifth/sixth grade will be collecting reflections, posting interesting questions, and announcing resources that support our learning.  We have just started Steps to Respect.  As we go through the lessons, we are also listening to the book, Crash, by Jerry Spinelli.