Happy New Year!

Hi Everyone!

2019 has arrived and with it lots of dreams, goals, plans and intentions! 

I started the new year out with another post at Free Spirit Publishing's blog. "Motivating Kids with Effective Praise" was fun to write because I believe as educators and counselors we have a very unique responsibility AND opportunity to help children find inner desire to do well and that starts with us! 

SEE MORE HERE on how I suggest we can be most effective with this: MY NEWEST POST ON MOTIVATING WITH EFFECTIVE PRAISE!

Feel free to share this link and some of my others you may find on this site or on Free Spirit's blog if you think it may be useful to someone out there who works with young people (teachers, counselors, parents etc..) ? Sharing is caring and we need to keep caring if we are going to make this world a better place for our kids. So let's dig in and really THINK about this stuff. 

Beyond this, I want to really stop and be more reflective in my own blogging practice. And then I want to DO something about it. Read: do *more* with it. 

Stay tuned for another post where I am going to be seeking feedback on what would be most desired in my content.

Everyone loves a good poll, right?

Be well, 

Amanda 

TRAUMA INFORMED LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS MATTER

Hi all-

I know, I know...I said I would be better about posting...and that hasn't quite happened, but I am getting there...we are all working on something, right?

And I have continued my writing for Free Spirit Publishing's blog...what a wonderful company I am fortunate enough to get to write for each month...the topic assignments have challenged me in ways that stretch me to figure out how to share with all of YOU what I know... in the most interesting and consumable way possible. Fun stuff.

So here is the latest:

CLICK HERE to read my Trauma Informed Learning Environment article

In the meantime, let's keep caring, connecting and loving one another. Relationships matter!

Hang in there friends-

Ms. Symmes :) 

WORK LIFE BALANCE: WE NEED IT!

Hi Gang! Happy Tuesday!

I am just dropping by to share my latest Free Spirit Publishing Post on Work-Life Balance. It's essential for educators. Feel free to dive in and share if you feel so inclined...

Thanks---

CLICK HERE TO READ THE LATEST POST!

Let's try to stay balanced and whole this week, and don't forget to enjoy the ride!

Be Kind,

Ms. Symmes :) 

NEW blog post

Hi Friends!

Well, my latest Free Spirit Publishing blog post was shared this week. It is about teaching Communication Skills to Elementary School Kids. I will admit, it's a little "out there" and theoretical but my intention in writing about this subject this way was to shed light on the topic in a new and different way. I think we need to start being more reflective of our practices as parents, educators and counselors. My hope is that some little nugget of something I offer will be helpful? I welcome you to engage me in further dialogue around anything that I am writing about :)

Click here to read my latest post:

TEACHING COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS

Don't forget to be KIND,

Amanda

WEBSITE BACK UP!

Hi everyone!

So I had some issues with technology recently and it took me some time to fix. 

Stay tuned for more regular blog posts...

I hope everyone has had a nice transition back to school. 

Shoot me an email if I can be of support to you!

PLEASE ENJOY KID PRESIDENT REMINDING US OF WHAT MATTERS AS WE START THIS YEAR OFF! 

Happy Fall,

Amanda :)

     LOOK WHO IS JOINING ME THIS YEAR!

I am probably WAY too excited about this new addition to my office, but I figure there are SO many things I can teach with this help of this handsome guy. We will practicing nurturing and caring, through the practice of meeting basic needs and sharing genuine love and attention.

Perhaps we will take notice of the breathing that happens with this awesome fish, as he allows us to use him as a guide to help us practice more purposeful breathing. He might even help with some mindfulness lessons too!

Plus, who doesn't love Spongebob? (Well, lots of folks actually- and that's fine- a giant square sponge isn't every one's cup of tea) However, my older kids are now teenagers and they have always LOVED this show. Typically I am not a big fan of TV or animated cartoons all that much, but I have always cracked up at this one. And soooo, I might even create some lessons relating to Spongebob this year? Hmmm...

The first big thing I am excited to do however: is to find the right name for this fella- with the help of the kiddos of course!?

Start thinking everyone....

The count down is on:

TWO WEEKS UNTIL SCHOOL STARTS! Yay!

Ms. Symmes :) 

More new stuff!

Hi again,

Two posts in two days, I told ya I am going to be better about this!

So there are a few OTHER new things I wanted to share...

The first thing I wanted to put out there, is that my third Free Spirit Publishing "Counselor's Corner" blog post is up. 

It was a fun one to write as I am very interested in how mindfulness can be utilized to enhance ALL of our lives. I try to weave it into much of what I do and hopefully these things will stick with your kiddos that I see in the halls here at Silver Hill. Mindfulness is really quite simple. Just be open to the moment and don't be afraid to notice things---inspiration will soon follow!

If you'd like to check out the Free Spirit post "Mindful Movement With Children" 

Click here: 

Mindful Movement With Children

The OTHER thing that's exciting is that I was asked by the Corner On Character's Barbara Gruener to be the first guest on her brand new podcast! Prosign Design Co wanted to team up with Barbara (because who wouldn't??) to create a "Character Speaks" podcast to promote the work of folks trying to make a difference in the world. What an honor to be asked as the first guest! If you feel like checking it out click on the link below:

Character Speaks PODCAST

That's all for now...back to organizing my office space. Maybe I will post some photos of that in the upcoming days/weeks. It's fun to redecorate and organize :) 

Kindness Matters,

Ms. Symmes :)