Increasing Positivity

Thumbs up, thumbs down

May 31, 2013 Feedback and encouragement

The importance of meaningful feedback My husband just came in to read a bit of consumer feedback on a product he was researching. The book received rave reviews but the reviewer gave the author three out of five stars because “the box was dented.” We’ve all seen this kind of feedback. Excellent restaurants downgraded because [...]

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“Magic” Sentences for Effective Communication

March 28, 2013 Avoiding power struggles

 Positive language for avoiding conflict, negotiating agreements, and taking care of yourself “Magic Sentences” are key phrases that offer practical ways to use specific language to prevent, minimize, or de-escalate conflicts with others. Different sentences will be useful in different situations. These examples represent a win-win approach to relationships, and while they were originally developed for [...]

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Improving Student Behavior through Positive School Climate

January 13, 2013 Behavior Management

It’s not about the rules! From the January 2013 newsletter: There is a strange myth around kids’ behavior that if we just have enough rules (and severe enough punishments), the misbehaviors will disappear. What I’ve observed, however, is an even stranger reality in which the opposite tends to be true. In schools, the longer the [...]

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Ways to Improve the School’s Social Culture

January 6, 2013 Counselors

Practical strategies for positive change • Pay attention to peer-to-peer interactions. Increase awareness, advocacy, and a willingness to take immediate, positive action (regarding how kids treat one another). • Advocate for the underdog. Encourage kids to connect with children who seem isolated. Emphasize the value of inclusion. • Interrupt any instances of meanness, name calling, [...]

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Picking up the Pieces

December 23, 2012 Blog

Reclaiming our essence “I can never read your writing.” “That was awful. Maybe you should leave the athletics to your sister.” “I can’t tell what this drawing is supposed to be.” “You’ll never be any good at…” Do any of these sound familiar? I know very few adults who grew up without at least some [...]

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Staying Positive in the Face of Negativity and Horror

December 15, 2012 Blog

Staying positive in the face of negativity and horror I am, by nature, a positive person. For my own sanity, and for the sake of maximizing my potential contribution to the world, I try to look for the good in all things. That said, I am also extremely sensitive to violence and cruelty, and seem [...]

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The School as a Dysfunctional Family

November 25, 2012 Counselors

And some healthy, functional alternatives Similarities between schools and dysfunctional families are reflected in the beliefs or rules that can compromise the emotional climate of any system. Included for each category are alternatives which, when chosen, can have a positive impact on this climate, as well as on the relationships and performance of individuals functioning [...]

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Presentation: Climate and Connectedness

November 14, 2012 Counselors

Keys to Successful Teaching Presentation by Dr. Jane Bluestein It takes more than a well-planned lesson for learning to happen. Even in schools with all the best equipment and the latest technology, the school climate and students’ sense of feeling connected to others in the building has been shown to be

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Spanish “Pads” on the Back™ Template

October 25, 2012 Counselors

Download the “Pads” on the Back™ Template in Spanish by Dr. Jane Bluestein & Lynn Collins, Ph.D. These are two of the eight different messages on the PDF. By clicking on the link below you agree to keep the copyright notice on this page and to distribute or share these materials for free. Click here to [...]

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Italian “Pads” on the Back™ Template

October 24, 2012 Counselors

Download the “Pads” on the Back™ Template in Italian by Dr. Jane Bluestein & Lynn Collins, Ph.D. These are two of the eight different messages on the PDF. By clicking on the link below you agree to keep the copyright notice on this page and to distribute or share these materials for free. Click here to [...]

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English “Pads” on the Back™ Template

October 24, 2012 Counselors

Download the “Pads” on the Back™ Template in English by Dr. Jane Bluestein & Lynn Collins, Ph.D. These are two of the eight different messages on the PDF. By clicking on the link below you agree to keep the copyright notice on this page and to distribute or share these materials for free. Click here to [...]

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“Pads” on the Back Templates

October 23, 2012 Counselors

A world of positivitity! 44 FREE “Pads” on the Back™ Templates in 42 world languages (so far) by Dr. Jane Bluestein & Lynn Collins, Ph.D. Download for FREE! (Click here to go directly to the languages for your free downloads.) The same 8 sentence starters in our original pre-printed “Pads” on the Back are now available in [...]

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Creating an Environment of Resiliency in School with David Friedli

September 30, 2012 Behavior Management

Three ingredients for success Episode Summary: Dr. Jane Bluestein talks with principal David Friedli about resiliency from the standpoint of how a balanced approach of

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No Kidding About Bullying with Naomi Drew

September 30, 2012 Behavior Management

A constructive approach to a serious subject Episode Summary: What bullying looks like and the impact it has on children. Dr. Jane Bluestein talks with Naomi Drew about bullying words and actions, which could include teasing, making fun of someone, name calling, giving someone dirty looks or rolling eyes, excluding someone, or any physical event meant to [...]

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Product: Secondary “Booster Shots”

September 20, 2012 Behavior Management

Blackline masters for award stickers, buttons, and certificates by Dr. Jane Bluestein, Lynn Collins, Ph.D., and Sherri Holtke, B.A. Nine pages with a variety of blackline masters for awards you can create to recognize your students, duplicating them for use again and again. Booster Shots® may be photocopied or scanned, as well as colored, laminated, [...]

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Video: Responsibility, Respect, and Relationships

September 19, 2012 Avoiding burnout

Creating Emotionally Safe Schools Complete program on DVD featuring Dr. Jane Bluestein Get the Works! The complete staff development video package includes 15 self-contained, 30-minute inservice workshops featuring units that are engaging, entertaining, and geared toward action— not theory!

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Video: Responsibility and Classroom Discipline

September 19, 2012 Avoiding power struggles

Video presentations on 6 DVDs featuring Dr. Jane Bluestein Create win-win authority relationships! Explore practical and effective ways to teach students responsible behavior with boundaries instead of rules, and with positive outcomes rather than penalties. Discover how to construct and utilize win-win discipline strategies to encourage cooperation, responsibility and self-management, to resolve and prevent problems, [...]

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Video: Discipline and Achievement

September 19, 2012 Avoiding power struggles

Video presentation on 2 DVDs featuring Dr. Jane Bluestein A humorous and thought-provoking presentation that examines how a teacher’s approach to discipline can affect learning. Includes coverage of the characteristics and use of effective boundaries to build cooperation and emotional safety and meet both teacher’s and students’ needs. Appropriate for

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