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Greetings!
Helping you Take Charge!™ is the theme for April,
inspired by your tremendous feedback over the past
few months. Enjoy!
| Take Charge!™ Lessons, Tips & Tools: Find Direction in Life using Take Charge!™ Tools |
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The Bridges Associates' Take Charge!™ (TM)
Educational Coaching curriculum integrates the use
of one or
more symbolic tools in each of its 12 lessons.
The
tools provide an opportunity for hands-on learning of
the concepts presented in the lesson.
In
the first of a 12-part lesson series, we invite you to
explore the power of these tools for learning with an
abbreviated version of Take Charge!(TM) Lesson 1:
Find
Direction in Life by clicking here.
You can either
purchase the multisensory Take Charge!(TM) Tool Kit
[containing all 16 tools and a colorful and
durable
Lessons and Notes Booklet to coordinate with the
Take Charge!™ Lessons and use as a journal], or
improvise your own materials.
Each of the
abbreviated
lessons in this series is available in greater detail in
the Take Charge!™ Workbook.
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| Take Charge!™ of your health: Eat the Rainbow by Betsy Werner, M.Ed., R.N. of Balance Wellness |
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Bright, colorful whole foods provide brain fuel for
optimal learning. Daily consumption of high quality
proteins, carbohydrates and fats help you feel more
alert, focused, and energized. Shop for rainbow color
foods around the perimeter of the store and avoid
processed foods in the aisles. Replace white foods
like sugar and flour with sprouted whole grains. Bright
fruits and vegetables are high quality carbohydrates
which contain antioxidants for cellular health. Think
fresh foods, simply prepared for optimal brain power!
Write to Betsy with questions or ideas:
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| Help Wanted: Youth Volunteers & Sponsors to Produce Educational Video |
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Can you help us make our dream a reality?
We have begun to develop a video to illustrate the
Educational Coaching techniques in Bridges
Associates' Take Charge!™ (TM) Curriculum Guide. We are depending on
financial support from individuals to make this project
successful. Please consider making a tax-deductible
contribution today. Click here to donate, or call us at
(800) 790-1890 and mention that the donation is
restricted for youth programs.
Who: Youth ages 16+
interested in acting or video production.
When: This summer, 3 hrs per week, 24
hours total.
Where: mid-Cape Cod, MA
What: Bridges Associates will be producing
thematic skits illustrating the concepts in the Take Charge!™ Lessons. The resulting video will
be used with groups of parents, program leaders,
teachers and younger students who have learning or
attention differences. High school student Adam
Foster, 17, will serve as Youth Director. Lisa
Canto of
Harwich Jr. Theatre will serve as drama
consultant.
Why: Gain experience, meet new friends,
and take
home your own free copy of the video.
How: Contact us with your name, age,
address, ability-experience creating skits and tell us
why you are interested. The scope of this program
will depend on funding received and response from
volunteers. Include parent permission signature if you
are under 18.
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| Learning Disabilities and Learning Differences: What are they? by John A. Beach |
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We all learn in different ways. Some of us prefer, for
example, to receive directions orally while others
would rather look at a map. Some of us prefer to
communicate by the phone while others find email
more effective. No two brains are the same. The
most effective people have a good understanding of
their own strengths and weaknesses and also the
strengths and weaknesses of the individuals with
whom they are communicating. Such individuals are
able to adapt their learning style and accommodate
to others' learning differences...
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| Educational Coaching Course at Curry College |
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Upcoming coach training course in Plymouth, MA
at Curry College's Summer Institute for Teachers
July 11-15. This introductory coach training seminar
will be tailored to educators: educational therapists
and coaches, school counselors and psychologists,
special education and alternative education
programs. Contact Dr. Donald Gratz, Director
Graduate Programs in Education
PS: Bridges will also offer workshops and the seminar
on the Cape this summer. Watch for details next
month or contact us for information.
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Reader Questions and Answers |
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Our readers look to us for answers..
Q: It seems so long ago that I was part of
your parents group. My son is heading to high school
in September. He's such a smart kid but his
homework
and studying skills, or lack thereof, are causing
tensions in the family. His father and I are concerned
that the homework demands in high school are going
to grow and thus the tensions will increase. We have
the (very helpful!) handouts from our past meetings.
I was wondering if you could recommend any books
that we could read that would help us assist him,
who, by the way, thinks there is no problem.
A: You are not alone! As you enter the final
stretch of the school year, and prepare for the
transition to high school, sit back and observe what
happens at homework time and keep some notes or a
log of your observations and reactions. Ask your son
and husband to do the same. Then write back and
we will have some information to make a plan for the
fall. Congratulations! You deserve an award for your
persistence. Hang in.
PS In response to this issue and requests for parent-
student programs, we have decided to offer a
workshop for parents and students together on
Thursday evenings in August: Get Ready for
School:
Develop Homework Routines and Find Balance in
Life.
Q:
My son will be 16 in April. He has a great deal of
difficulty socially. He has very low self-esteem and
does not connect with others well. I recently had him
evaluated by a psychologist and it was confirmed
that he is struggling with not only ADD but also
depression. He is on a waiting list to get into a
recommended psychiatrist's group. I was wondering if
you have any groups or activities for teenage boys.
I'd appreciate an email and, if appropriate, literature
in the mail. Thank you.
A: As a worried parent, it is tempting to
arrange for
lots of help for a child. The first priority for this
young man is to get effective treatment for his
depression. While finding friends may help him feel
better, a clinical depression might keep him from
enjoying others. There will be time to talk about
developing friendships and socializing when he is
feeling better.
Given the inquiries from parents, I wonder if you are
interested in a parent education course and support
group when things settle down at home.
Submit your own question of your own..
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