Unfortunately, with some of the activities of last week, my two groups are a week off.  This week, the Thursday group will be developing their group name, writing their social contract, and discussing how we participate as a group.

The Tuesday group will be moving ahead, with a lesson on You Are A Social Detective (for more information, check out Books We're Reading).  In addition to talking about school vs. social smarts, it introduces concepts such as, thinking with your eyes, expected and unexpected behaviors, and being a social thinker.  Between sections on School and Social Smarts / Expected Behavior, Unexpected Behavior, and Being a Social Detective, we will be discussing how these concepts can be used throughout day-to-day life.

Discussion points that you might also be interested in talking about at home:
* What are some ways that you know what behaviors are expected of you? At home?  At school? At sports, church, or other community locations? (social contract, class rules, etc.)
* What are some ways that you know what behaviors are unexpected? (moving card, call out from teacher, unable to participate in fun activities)
For more on the terms expected behavior and unexpected behavior, check out Using "Expected" and "Unexpected" Rather Than "Appropriate" and "Inappropriate" to Describe Behavior.
* How do parents, teachers, friends, and classmates act when you behave unexpectedly?
* How can you be a Social Detective in your every day life?
 
Picture
For our first breakfast meeting, we will be deciding on our group names and creating a social contract that discusses how we will expect to be treated and how we will be expected to treat each other.  Every member of the group (including myself) will sign the contract stating that this is how we will treat one another when we meet together.

On the left, there is a picture of the first group's contract that they decorated themselves.  Their names/signatures have been removed to preserve their confidentiality.  This group decided to call themselves "The Revolution."

The dictionary defines a revolution as, "a complete or marked change in something."  I could not have picked a better name myself!  This group could certainly serve as a BEHAVIOR revolution!

 
September 11, 2012

Dear parents,

I just wanted to introduce myself as the new behavior specialist for Bowie Elementary School.  Many of you knew the previous behavior specialist, Ms. Miles, very well.  I will be continuing in a very similar capacity.

In addition to meeting with students individually, new for the 2012-2013 school year will be weekly breakfast groups and a regular schedule of student observation and data collection.  I feel that both of these will help us keep a more accurate gauge on student progress and assist them in developing more appropriate tools for dealing with the everyday challenges of school and life.

Also new for this year will be a website/blog that I will be keeping up for you and your children – campbellbehaviorspecialist.weebly.com (no www. needed).  It will include blog entries on the theme/lesson for that week’s breakfast group and entries on different ways to foster social skills at home, behavior management for home and school, and building consistent messages about expected behaviors between home and school.

I am really looking forward to get to know each of your children!  If you have any question, concerns, or would like to discuss or any unexpected changes that might be affecting your children, feel free to contact me at any time.

Thanks so much,
Liz Campbell

Liz Campbell
Behavior Specialist
Bowie Elementary School
[email protected]
972.262.7348