‘I acknowledge and pay respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.’

MORE THAN A WORD. RECONCILIATION TAKES ACTION

Reconciliation week is over, but it the learning and action doesn’t stop now. It should be ongoing. Here is an easy and practical way to keep the Indigenous perspectives front and centre. I have used these 8 ways of learning symbols, displaying them in the classroom, and mentioning one or more each day. It becomes ‘normal’ that you refer to the symbols. Resources for this and other activities are listed below.

Great to see two weekends of Indigenous AFL jumpers. Listening to the Indigenous players stories, symbols and performances before the games are moving to see and hear.

Resources for 8 Ways of Learning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSetGyCcdSY&ab_channel=GlobalIntellectualGroupGlobalIntellectualGroup Symbols and explanations: https://vickidrozdowski.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/individual-investigation-of-a-learning-theory-aboriginal-pedagogy.pdf

More Resources: 20 Actions for reconciliation– https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/actions-for-reconciliation/ Schools frameworks https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/publications/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-cultural-safety-framework https://www.teachstarter.com/au/teaching-resource-collection/indigenous-australians/ https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/multicultural/Pages/koorieresources.aspx

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Our coastal Nations watched and interacted with at least 36 contacts made by Europeans prior to 1770. Many of them resulting in the charting of the northern, western and southern coastlines – of our lands and our waters. For us, this nation’s story began at the dawn of time. NAIDOC 2020 invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this country – a history which dates back thousands of generations. It’s about seeing, hearing and learning the First Nations’ 65,000+ year history of this country – which is Australian history. We want all Australians to celebrate that we have the oldest continuing cultures on the planet and to recognise that our sovereignty was never ceded. Always Was, Always Will Be.

(Article mostly Copied and pasted from Dandenong Council post on facebook, except resources)

Some Helpful Resources: https://www.teachstarter.com/au/teaching-resource-collection/indigenous-australians/

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/multicultural/Pages/koorieresources.aspx

https://www.aitsl.edu.au/tools-resources/resource/eight-ways-of-learning-illustration-of-practice

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By Barb Bellesini

Even though children or adults may not show outward signs of worry or anxiety, almost ALL will be effected in some way. They may have been in the fires, lost their home, been worried about the smoke everywhere, seen pictures on TV, heard adults talk about it, had their holiday changed or stopped, donated to the fire charities, been at sporting matches were they were raising money or had someone effected by the Coronavirus – all of these things can play on their minds. Until you ask the question, you don’t know what they are thinking. Try the following strategies:

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Routine at any time helps you feel safer and less anxious. You know what is coming. Go over safety plans, but NOT an unscheduled one, as is often the case for ‘practice.’ Put up your schedule every day, and try and stick to it.

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Watch, observe and listen. Are there mood changes? Unusual outbreaks? Lack of interest? Drop in motivation? Do they react to noises, sudden movement or sounds, smells or colours? Use a ‘Mood Map’ or ‘Catastrophe Scale’ to help them monitor their own moods and readiness for learning.

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Get to know each child. Learn their likes, hobbies and show an interest in them. Rapport and respect are essential.

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Use Circle time to give children an opportunity to state how they feel, using ‘silent statements’ may be a good way to start. Allow each child to talk, write and draw about things they did over the holidays, some will mention the fires, smoke or virus, others may not want to talk about it. Never force them to speak, always give them the option to ‘pass,’ but keep a close eye on their behaviour. Let them talk and walk with a friend or support person if they need to.

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Use deep breathing, mindfulness, gratitude, self soothing, counting to ten, music, physical exercise, colouring, reading, massage, walking and talking etc. Teach them as many different ways to calm as you can, as some will work on one day and may not work the next! They will know what works best for them. Gratitude is a wonderful way to show them they have good things in their lives. It can change their mood and attitude. Setting Goals can also help them to focus.

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Get them to draw a hand and write an adult they can trust to talk to and tell them any worries on each finger. If they are older, write friends or extras on the palm. Everyone needs someone to let out worries to. Different people may be for different worries. Some may need to be referred to a Doctor, Psychologist or Psychiatrist. Let them know that is OK.

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Watch and listen for negative self talk, encourage and teach positive self talk. This will lead to a Growth Mindset.

Other resources: Blog from Berry Street with more ideas on how to cope in the classroom. https://blog.goodchildhood.org.au/2020/01/22/supporting-our-communities/?utm_source=Berry+Street+Childhood+Institute&utm_campaign=d08356712e-BSEM-supporting-communities-2020&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e9cacd28b5-d08356712e-429994321

Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/bushfires-and-mental-health/ https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

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  Problem Solving Toolboxes 

                                       by Barb Bellesini

The post Problem Solving Toolboxes appeared first on Be Positive Program.

What is inspiration? Middles and Seniors watched the following short video called: –‘NEVER GIVE UP, Nick Vujicic in a School.’ Nick is a motivational speaker who was born a Thalidomide, with no arms or legs. He has a short limb he calls ‘Chicken drumstick’, and has become a VERY independent adult, teaching and challenging himself to do many and varied things that ‘able bodied’ people can achieve. The children were touched by the presentation and have come up with their own ‘Inspirational Statements.’ Watch the video again with your children to see what they saw.

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 by Barb Bellesini

We do the right thing,  because it’s the best thing to do.

This is from a Wilson McCaskill Poster from his Play is the Way program Life Raft  see : https://playistheway.com.au/

IT TAKES GREAT STRENGTH TO BE SENSIBLE

These are suggestions from the Seniors on ways we can do this:

How many of these do you do??

Consider others

Listen to everyone

Respect other’s work and property

Practise makes perfect

Be compassionate

No talking at the wrong times

Think about others- respect, kindness, listening, being nice

We should follow instructions

Stay confident

Don’t be encouraged by people doing the wrong thing

Let everyone have their say

Stand up for others

Help and include others

Have self-respect and respect others

Think before you act

Believe in yourself

Be resilient and be yourself

Trust yourself

Work co-operatively with others

Be positive at hard times

Control yourself

Think of things positively and meditate

Make time and be patient

Don’t say things about others when you don’t know the full story

Recover from mistakes and learn from them

Be strong in mind

Be fair with everyone, even if you are cross!

Stay calm when you are upset

Try hard even when things are frustrating or difficult

Co-operate with new and different people

Don’t do things you will regret, walk away

Encourage everyone

Believe in yourself, even if you don’t think it’s possible

Treat people how you want to be treated

Be strong and have goals

Think before you speak

 IT TAKES GREAT STRENGTH TO BE SENSIBLE –

HOW STRONG ARE YOU??

Control your Feelings

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by Barb Bellesini

After 5 months of toiling and trying, never giving up and making little and big bits of progress, following my own advice, positive thinking and Growth Mindset, I engaged a professional to help me finish setting up my BE POSITIVE PROGRAM Website and Shop. A BIG shout out and THANK YOU to Brad Swartz the director of ‘Seven 18 IT’ for a fabulous job. Please look him up if you need anything ‘IT’ done!!

So now it is SALE time! Go to the products page, order anything over $20 and receive a 10% discount on your CART TOTAL. Use the COUPON OPENINGSALE to get your 10% Discount. That is on top of discounts when ordering 10+ of the same Poster, 20+ Workbooks or the Gratitude & Setting Goals Journals, 4+ Lesson Plans and there are also other value ‘Packages.’

All items come in both hard copy and eBook or ePoster. 

Hard copies are available in Australia only with a Flat Rate of $9.95 postage and handling and any order over $200 has free postage.

ePosters and eBooks are the option for any other country at the moment.

Have fun browsing, and while you are there you might want to read a few of the Posts. The last one was on SELF TALK or Fixed Mindset /Growth Mindset. With many more to come.

Posters are suitable for ages 2-102 and already being used in many classrooms from Prep /Pre-Primary to Year 12 in Australia, in a Psychologist and Osteopath’s waiting rooms, (one in England), and in individual homes. Any country that speaks English can use them!!

Tell teachers, psychologists, doctors, friends, families about this Be Positive Education Program that has been developed, tried and tested in Australian schools for over 8 years so far.

The currently available Lesson Plans are most suitable for to 4-8 year olds, but by late 2018 other Lesson Plans for up to 14 years will be ready, with Blackline Masters as well. Check some samples on the Lesson Plans page.

With RESILIENCE, HARD WORK, a GROWTH MINDSET /  POSITIVE SELF TALK, GOAL SETTING, TAKING LITTLE STEPS, CONTROLLING MY EMOTIONS, MINDFULNESS etc. I have  made it this far! There is more to come!

Control your Feelings

Junior Workbook

ePoster Set

Package 2

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What IS Self Talk?

Get a pen and paper and write down the first thing that comes to mind when you read these words:

1. Dog
2. Cat
3. Breakfast
4. school
5. homework
6. fly

If you did this with a class of 24 students, you would get an average of 10- 25 answers for each of the words! We ALL think differently and can NEVER assume what some else is THINKING or FEELING!!

BUT if you are AWARE of your OWN Self Talk, it can help you change your mood and outlook on many situations. If you THINK you CAN you CAN, if you THINK you CAN’T then you CAN’T! Simple as that!!

Do some work with yourself and your students on ‘catching’ what you are actually saying to yourself, if you find yourself thinking RED Unhelpful Thoughts /Fixed Mindset, try to change them to a more positive thought, a GREEN Helpful Thought /Growth Mindset.

You could be sabotaging your own happiness by keeping on thinking RED Unhelpful Thoughts, when you could be happier by just thinking about the situation in a different way!

This is a poster I use in classrooms to remind students to catch their RED thoughts or Fixed Mindset and change them to GREEN thoughts or Growth Mindset.

Self Talk Traffic Lights

ePoster Self Talk Changes your MIND and ACTIONS

ePoster Set

Do YOU have FIXED or GROWTH MINDSET??

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