SHOW TOPIC
Finding our Groove - Elementary School
SPECIAL GUEST
Ms. Lauren O'Donnell, Rowan Elementary School Counselor
Ms. Lauren O'Donnell is in her eighth year as the school counselor at Rowan Elementary School, grades K-4. She supports the individual growth of each student by working closely with parents, teachers, and community members. Her role as a school counselor is to serve as a front-line support system by addressing the academic, career and social/emotional needs and development of students through individual and group settings and programs.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE WILL REVIEW
• Staying focused and engaged (tips for success)
• Creating a workspace
• Forming a routine and maintaining consistency
• Trouble-shooting possible technology issues
• Asking for help
USEFUL INFORMATION
https://www.svsd.net/domain/482
SHOW TOPIC
Finding our Groove - Elementary School
SPECIAL GUEST
Ms. Lauren O'Donnell, Rowan Elementary School Counselor
Ms. Lauren O'Donnell is in her eighth year as the school counselor at Rowan Elementary School, grades K-4. She supports the individual growth of each student by working closely with parents, teachers, and community members. Her role as a school counselor is to serve as a front-line support system by addressing the academic, career and social/emotional needs and development of students through individual and group settings and programs.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE WILL REVIEW
• Staying focused and engaged (tips for success)
• Creating a workspace
• Forming a routine and maintaining consistency
• Trouble-shooting possible technology issues
• Asking for help
USEFUL INFORMATION
https://www.svsd.net/domain/482
FULL TRANSCRIPT (with timecode)
File Name: Voices E15 Lauren O'Donnell.mp3
File Length: 00:07:31
00:00:02:24 - 00:00:10:04
Introduction: Welcome to Voices, a podcast brought to you by the Seneca Valley School District.
00:00:10:20 - 00:00:18:23
Jeff Krakoff: I'm Jeff Krakoff and I'm here with Lauren O'Donnell who is school counselor at Rowan Elementary School. Lauren, thanks for joining us today.
00:00:18:26 - 00:00:20:26
Lauren O'Donnell: Yeah, thank you for having me.
00:00:20:28 - 00:00:40:03
Jeff Krakoff: I know at Rowan you're dealing with students grades K-4. So especially at that age I know being focused, working from home online, can't be easy. Do you have any tips for parents to help their K-4 children stay focused and stay engaged?
00:00:40:12 - 00:00:49:23
Lauren O'Donnell: Yeah. Yeah so sometimes it can be hard in the home setting to stay focused just because that's where they do feel more relaxed and want to play.
00:00:49:25 - 00:01:17:07
Lauren O'Donnell: So you know some tips I find that a whiteboard can do so many wonderful things for a young child to stay focused. Whether you're using it to do math problems, or writing words or letters practicing writing, but it can also be really helpful to break down activities into smaller chunks more manageable chunks. So making those chunks attainable for kids can be really helpful in having that visual.
00:01:17:09 - 00:01:17:29
Jeff Krakoff: OK.
00:01:19:08 - 00:01:23:09
Lauren O'Donnell: Yeah, a whiteboard, Yeah, and using you know something to erase.
00:01:23:11 - 00:01:28:20
Lauren O'Donnell: So as they get that task done, erase it. They love that sense of completion too.
00:01:29:15 - 00:01:39:24
Jeff Krakoff: So what other kinds of things and additional whiteboard, from from a space, a room a desk set up, what kinds of things can we do to help our kids?
00:01:39:26 - 00:01:59:22
Lauren O'Donnell: Absolutely yeah. So definitely you know like I said that whiteboard is really helpful. Incorporating rewards and breaks can be really helpful for them. But in terms of a space, making sure that they have a nice desk and a hard something hard to sit on so not their comfy cozy bed where they associate sleeping with,
00:02:01:14 - 00:02:23:10
Lauren O'Donnell: but have your child be part of that process to find that space. Have them be part of deciding where it is, or what it should look like, and what should be included there making sure it's free from distractions having all material meals in front of them ready to go. So they don't have to keep getting up and down or "Oh I forgot this."
00:02:23:17 - 00:02:29:08
Lauren O'Donnell: All of those things can be really important to set up a good, focused area.
00:02:30:01 - 00:02:45:11
Jeff Krakoff: So I think even as adults, right, we all know we need our routines. We need to be consistent and have good habits. Put us in the mind of K-fourth grader. How do we how do we help them formulate and stick with routines?
00:02:45:13 - 00:03:22:20
Lauren O'Donnell: Yeah, and you know routine and consistency is so important especially for our little ones. You know they thrive off that and their bodies feel more comfortable, their minds feel more comfortable when they know what to expect. And so when a child feels comfortable they're more readily able to focus and attend and to learn. So keeping that routine if you want to create you know a visual schedule with your child again, I really encourage involving your child in a lot of these plans that you create with them because you want them to have more buy-in and making them get, have that ownership and build that independence.
00:03:22:22 - 00:03:43:07
Lauren O'Donnell: So creating a visual schedule waking up at the same time every day whether you're coming to school or not, eating breakfast at the same time, having your lunch break at the same time. Keep it as much as you can. Although, I know you know the days at home may look a little different. I do understand that, but trying to keep it as consistent as possible.
00:03:43:24 - 00:03:56:21
Lauren O'Donnell: And again having your child be part of that process and developing that, sharing with your child: what are your expectations? what are your goals for the day? and have them share with with you the same.
00:03:56:23 - 00:04:06:19
Jeff Krakoff: So yeah you mentioned that a couple of times whether it's finding the right workspace, whether it's routines, having the the student themselves be a big part of that.
00:04:06:21 - 00:04:15:13
Jeff Krakoff: But one thing that a student in elementary school probably can't help with is when inevitably there's some kind of a technical issue or a glitch.
00:04:15:28 - 00:04:16:19
Lauren O'Donnell: Right.
00:04:17:02 - 00:04:19:25
Jeff Krakoff: What can parents do in that in that instance?
00:04:20:03 - 00:04:29:04
Lauren O'Donnell: So yeah things are going to come up and the one thing I know sometimes some kids this may be a point of worry for them.
00:04:29:06 - 00:05:06:17
Lauren O'Donnell: And so we want to make sure they're focused on what do they have control over? Help them redirect their their focus onto that what can they control. So things are going to happen out of their control, but what they can't control is asking for help, saying to themselves "you know what, it's OK," take a deep breath. My teacher will understand and I'll send them an email later you know with what happened. You can troubleshoot a little bit with your child outside of the school day like say "hey let's practice," let's sit down for a minute, let's practice logging in, let's practice finding your materials online, and help them to just practice those routines.
00:05:06:19 - 00:05:27:19
Lauren O'Donnell: Another fun thing could be even role-playing with your child. So say "Hey let's sit down, let's pretend that you can't find something." What are you going to do?" Take a deep breath first you know go to find me, ask for help you know that kind of thing. So those can be some helpful things to.
00:05:27:24 - 00:05:38:25
Jeff Krakoff: Ok, so going to school from home I think some people are feeling disconnected. What resources what help is there whether it's technical, emotional, academic?
00:05:39:05 - 00:05:50:28
Lauren O'Donnell: Yeah. So I think you know just because you and your child you're not physically at school it doesn't mean that we here at school are not here to help. So we're only an email and phone call away.
00:05:51:11 - 00:06:17:29
Lauren O'Donnell: So stay connected with your teacher, your child's teacher, stay connected to other parents. You know most likely maybe if you're having a challenge or you have a question, others have the same one. So you know help just stay connected to others, encourage your child to stay connected to their classmates. We always say here ask three, then me so you know ask three friends, ask three other kids questions that you may have first.
00:06:18:01 - 00:06:44:21
Lauren O'Donnell: You know that connection is so key and your school counselor I know I hear at Rowan, you know I'm here, I'm accessible and if I'm maybe not the exact person that can help I can certainly connect you connect you to the person that can help. So we're here for you. Whether your child's actually here or if they're working from home. So never hesitate to reach out is probably the best the best advice I can give because we're here to help.
00:06:44:23 - 00:06:51:22
Jeff Krakoff: So great message. Do you have any final thoughts you'd like to leave with parents of elementary-aged kids when it comes to?
00:06:51:28 - 00:06:59:07
Lauren O'Donnell: I just I know you know I know it's a challenge especially if you have other little ones in the home, but give yourself some grace
00:07:00:05 - 00:07:13:04
Lauren O'Donnell: And take a day at a time, and actually maybe even a moment at a time. Sometimes we need to do so get through the best we can. And again like I just said before is we're here to help.
00:07:13:06 - 00:07:16:18
Jeff Krakoff: All right. Well thanks so much for joining us, Lauren.
00:07:16:20 - 00:07:18:18
Lauren O'Donnell: Thank you for having me.
00:07:19:01 - 00:07:20:22
Jeff Krakoff: And take care.
00:07:20:27 - 00:07:22:04
Lauren O'Donnell: All right thank you. You too