Tag: Growth Mindset

Autism Awareness: Friendships

Seth E. Berg on

Be A Meadow Brook Hero!

Safe. Respectful. Responsible.

Meadow Brook Elementary School is fortunate to serve lots of friends who are impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Here are some ways we can strengthen our bonds with friends who have ASD:

  1. Remember that friends with ASD value the friendships we share.  Just like our friends who don’t have autism, friends with ASD are each unique. Some friends with ASD are more social and some are less social.  We should make sure all our friends know we care about them.
  2. Remember to be patient when talking with and listening to friends with ASD.  Our friends with ASD tend to communicate in unique ways. If it takes a bit more time to share thinking with some friends than it does with others that’s ok.  You’ll find that taking the time to listen carefully and respond with kindness helps friendships grow.
  3. Speak clearly and show friends with ASD what you mean. Sometimes our friends with ASD need a little more time to understand what we’re talking about.  It’s important that we speak slowly and clearly when we’re talking with friends who have ASD.  We can also use hand gestures and even pictures to help communicate.  Our friends with ASD often like to see the things they’re hearing about.
  4. Include friends with ASD in your plans. Our friends with ASD like to play and have fun just like anyone else. Your parents can help you communicate with families so that you’re including friends with ASD in your plans in and outside of school. Playing together and sharing time can help build strong and lasting friendships.
  5. Think about and be respectful of differences. Our friends with ASD often experience something called “sensory challenges,” which means they might not like loud noises, bright lights, and/or the way some fabrics feel to the touch. As we get to know our friends with ASD we should keep this in mind, work hard to understand our friends likes and dislikes, and take those likes and dislikes into account when we’re talking and playing with them.
  6. Be real. The fact is, our friends with ASD are friends just like anyone else. We all have differences that make us unique. Always make sure that you treat friends with ASD like you would anyone else through the typical challenges and celebrations that come along with being friends.

For more information about ASD and friendships you can click the following link: How To Be A Fiend To Someone To Autism

Sharing our stories with open hearts and open minds,

Your MBE Diversity and Inclusion Team

 

Hero Headlines: Mindfullness Modeling and Practice

Seth E. Berg on

Be a Meadow Brook Hero! Safe. Respectful. Responsible.

Greetings, Meadow Brook Partners!

We live in a really busy world with lots of expectations, and so do our kids.

Sometimes it’s difficult to find balance.

Sometimes it’s difficult to find calm.

Sometimes is difficult to focus.

We know that wellbeing is among the critical foundations of happiness and achievement.  When we feel good about ourselves we’re better able to focus on learning, socializing, and having fun.

The same is true for our kids.

At Meadow Brook we use positive behavior supports at all tiers of instruction and intervention to help drive a culture of wellbeing among kids and adults.

We focus on concepts like gratitude, kindness, and compassion as we seek to continueously learn about and share tools and strategies that support our individual and collective wellbeing.

One great strategy is to include mindfulness practice in our daily routines.

In my quest to learn and grow I recently came across the following New York Times article with some connected resources that can help when thinking about mindfulness practice for kids: Mindfulness For Children

The article underscores some important potential outcomes of consistent mindfulness modeling and practice, such as:

  • decreased anxiety and increased happiness
  • enhanced ability to focus
  • greater connectedness to others and the environment
  • deepened problem solving skills
  • lowered aggression and stress
  • relief from social and academic pressures

If you have some time to explore the article I believe you will find it time well spent.

Please touch base any time with thoughts, ideas, or questions…your input is always welcome and very much appreciated!

Thank you for your patience and your partnership…in it tougher for the kids!

With gratitude,

 

Seth

 

Seth E. Berg

Principal

Meadow Brook Elementary

Call: (248) 726 -4101

Click: sberg@rochester.k12.mi.us

My Reflective Journey: Berg’s Eye View

Autism Awareness: Looking Inside & Love

Seth E. Berg on

Safe. Respectful. Responsible.

Greetings, Meadow Brook Partners!

One of the greatest sources of pride for all Meadow Brook Heroes that we are a diverse learning community, sharing our journey together with compassion, kindness, and love!

We live and learn with a growth mindset, which means with hard work, dedication, and open minds and hearts we know we can alway get better in any area of focus.

Here’s the thoughtful & creative John Spencer sharing his thinking on Carol Dweck’s work around Growth Mindset if you’re interested:

At Meadow Brook, one of things we are constantly seeking to grow is our understanding and apperception for one another.

This week I woful ask you to think about autism.

Did you know that some of our friends are not yet able to communicate in ways that most others their age are?  Not yet.

This communication challenge can lead to unique frustrations and even communication that can seem out of the ordinary and even confusing at times.

As we think about autism and communication this week, let’s work with one another and with our incredible students to strive for growth in our already compassionate school community.

Let’s remember that the best way to communication is on a foundation of love.  After all, our shared love, understanding, and a dedication to kindness makes this world a better place for all of us with each passing day.

How about these Meadow Brook Heroes who spend their weekend making a kindness poster for all to learn from and enjoy:

Finally, here’s David Flood – a “Youth Inspirational Speaker” talking about the incredible impact of looking inside & love:

Thank you to Mrs. Nazione for bringing this video to our attention.  It’s one that you will be glad you watched.

I’m certainly better off for it!

Thank you for your patience and your partnership…in it tougher for the kids!

 

Seth

 

Seth E. Berg

Principal

Meadow Brook Elementary

Call: (248) 726 -4101

Click: sberg@rochester.k12.mi.us

My Reflective Journey: Berg’s Eye View