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From YouTube: Parents Corner February 2016
Description
PARENT'S CORNER
Kathy Shaffer presents information to adults caring for students in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. This month Kathy offers information about student stress and talks with AACPS Resource School Psychologist Nickolas Silvestri, N.C.S.P.
In the Principals to Parents segment, Kathy talks with Karen Soneira, Principal of Germantown Elementary School, about how to prepare for parent teacher conferences.
A
A
I'm
Kathy
Schaefer,
and
this
is
parents
corner
on
a
a
CPS
TV.
Each
month
we
talk
about
a
topic
of
interest
to
school
parents.
Like
you
and
me
this
month,
we're
focusing
on
student
stress.
Today's
students
face
high
expectations,
increased
testing
and
growing
workloads.
We
spoke
with
Nicholas
Silvestri,
the
resource
school
psychologist,
with
a
a
CPS
to
find
out
more
I.
Think
every
parent
is
familiar
with
student
stress
on
some
level,
whether
that
be
stomach
aches
or
test
anxiety,
or
basically,
your
student,
just
saying
I
don't
want
to
go
to
school.
B
I
would
say:
yes,
I
would
say
stress-
is
not
only
a
normal
function.
It's
actually
if
we
take
a
different
view
of
it
somewhat
of
a
healthy,
healthy
mechanism,
because
it
teaches
us
to
cope
with
situations
that
are
difficult
or
challenging,
and
it
also
gives
us
the
opportunity
to
learn
some
resiliency,
how
we
can
bounce
back
if
we're
really
faced
with
that
situation
again
in
the
future.
A
B
It
becomes
a
concern,
is
when
a
parent
observes
the
child,
perhaps
with
physical
ailments.
I,
don't
know
that
we
want
to
use
such
a
strong
term
as
psychosomatic
ailments,
but
what
we
mean
by
that
is
a
stomachache,
that's
not
really
caused
by
a
virus
or
perhaps
nail
biting,
or
perhaps
a
child
who
really
slept
through
the
night.
Quite
well
is
now
waking
up
waking
up
just
because
he's
waking
up
or
worse
yet
waking
up
with
nightmares.
So
what's
the
change
a
child's
behavior
that
parents
should
really
tuned
in
to
what
is
different
about
my
child?
B
Now,
then,
let's
say
six
months
ago
or
last
year.
It
would
be
that
point
where
the
parents
should
start
to
become
concerned
when
we
have
a
child
who's
very
stressed
about
academic
work.
Part
of
it
is
because
they
are
trying
to
do
well
because
they
want
to
do
well,
but
they
also
want
to
please
us
and
I
think
we
need
to
allow
them
to
see
we're
happy
with
who
they
are
just
because
of
who
they
are.
It's
a
tough
message
to
give,
especially
in
this
very
highly
competitive
world
that
we
live
in.
Is
there.
B
B
Well,
he
did
that
last
Thursday
also
and
I
didn't
used
to
see
that
from
him,
so
I
wouldn't
bring
act,
the
very
first
time
you
see
it
because
quite
honestly,
we
just
have
bad
days
sometimes,
but
it
would
be
over
a
period
of
time
where
it
now
has
come
to
the
parents,
awareness
that
the
student
child
really
is
behaving
differently
and
I'm
noticing
it
more
often
now
I
would
say
a
rule
of
thumb
is
maybe
a
month's
time.
Maybe
30
days
are.
B
Honestly,
especially
in
elementary
school,
we
might
see
a
kid
referred
to
the
nurse's
office
because
of
a
stomach
ache
or
a
headache
or
I'm,
just
not
feeling
well
when,
indeed,
in
a
younger
child,
we
might
be
seeing
symptoms
of
avoidance.
I
need
to
get
out
of
this
situation
and
once
again
to
my
earlier
point,
I'm,
not
sure
kids
can
do
that,
one
to
one.
They
don't
necessarily
know,
that's
why
their
stomach
is
upset
and
I
think
we
need
to
acknowledge.
They
might
indeed
feel
upset
in
their
stomach.
B
We
might
say:
oh
it's
just
in
your
head
and
in
a
way
that
might
be
true
in
terms
of
the
way
it
started,
but
they
are
really
feeling
upset
in
their
stomach.
Adolescents.
Do
have
a
different
way
of
demonstrating
some
of
their
frustration,
and
you
can't
say
across
the
board
that
adolescents
are
all
going
to
respond
with
anger
or
all
going
to
respond
with
irritability,
but
it's
more
possible
that
you
will
see
that
with
adolescence.
So.
A
B
Not
going
to
benefit
us
to
ask
the
direct
question:
what's
bothering
you
or
how
was
your
day
because
quite
honestly,
I'm,
not
sure
kids
really
know
the
answer
to
that.
So,
when
they're
telling
us
nothing
or
I
don't
know
they
are
being
very
honest,
it
is
not
very
clear
to
them
what
is
causing
them
stress.
What
we're
now
calling
causing
calling
stress
so
I
think
what
we
might
encourage
parents
to
do
is
to
ask
probing
questions
in
a
nonchalant
kind
of
way.
You
know
I've
been
noticing.
You
seem
a
little
bit
more
angry
lately.
B
Have
you
noticed
that
as
well
or
how
are
you
feeling
that's
kind
of
an
open-ended
way
to
get
the
kid
to
tune
into
not
the
behavior
per
se?
You
know
you'll
grab
the
remote
and
you
change
the
channel
and
your
sister
was
watching
that
program,
but
to
deal
with
what?
What
were
you
feeling
at
the
time
you
just
decided
to
get
up
and
change
the
channel
so
to
promote
from
the
child
may
be
a
little
more
discussion
asking
open-ended
questions
which
don't
really
require
or
permit
a
one-word
answer,
because
it's
frustrating
for
everyone.
B
B
Our
kids
aren't
going
to
believe
us
by
the
way
they're
going
to
work
very
hard
for
that
a
anyway,
but
just
to
hear
permission
from
us
as
parents
that
it's
okay
not
to
be
perfect.
There's
a
certain
Liberty
in
that
for
kids.
They
kind
of
feel
okay
that
I
don't
want
to
be,
but
at
least
mom
won't
be
upset
if
I
get
it
be
and
as.
A
B
If
parents
minimize
the
children's
reactions
like
oh
come
on,
it's
not
that
bad
you
can
get
through
it.
That
probably
does
not
help
matters,
because
if
you
look
at
it
even
on
the
surface,
the
parent
is
discounting
the
kids
feelings
and,
in
reality,
their
reaction
to
the
situation.
The
parent
might
want
the
child
to
go
in
a
completely
different
direction.
That
might
be
true,
but
the
initial
comment
that
it
can't
be
that
bad
or
you
don't
feel
that
way.
B
It
really
discounts
the
child
and
doesn't
give
them
the
affirmation
they
need
that
I
can
really
talk
to
my
parent,
so
be
an
active
listener.
Don't
necessarily
introduce
negative
comments
that
might
make
the
kid
think
I
you
don't
really
care
what
I
have
to
say.
You've
already
had
your
mind
made
up.
We
might
want
to
say,
let's
take
a
little
bit
of
your
concerns
and
maybe
study
that
section
a
little
harder,
because
I
know
you
had
some
trouble
with
that
before,
so
it
affirms
for
the
child.
You
have
some
anxieties
about
this
test.
B
Let's
pin
point:
it's
not
the
whole
chapter
that
you're
worried
about
you're,
just
worried
about
this
particular
sequence
of
events,
or
these
particular
dates.
Let's
see
if
we
can't
take
a
look
at
that
specifically
and
I'll
help
you,
maybe
we
can
come
up
with
some
ways
to
trigger
your
memory.
So
if
you
ask
that
question
on
the
test,
you're
ready
for
it,
it
channel's
the
anxiety,
as
I
mentioned
before,
in
a
mode
of
a
manner
to
maybe
use
that
anxiety
to
the
kids
benefit,
but
to
just
completely
say
you
have
no
reason
to
be
anxious.
B
B
A
Parents
are
navigating
through
the
school
system
when
they
do
think
that
it's
something
more.
Where
should
they
start?
Should
they
start
with
the
teacher?
Should
they
start
with
a
principal?
Should
they
start
with
the
contacting
the
school
guidance
counselor?
Is
there
sort
of
a
roadmap
of
contact
of
where
parents
should
look?
We.
B
Probably
had
the
impression
that
if
our
parents
were
called
in
to
school,
it
was
because
we
did
something
wrong.
That
is
no
longer
the
intention.
When
parents
make
a
contact
with
the
school
for
the
most
part,
it
is
very
welcomed
we
enjoy
when
parents
make
themselves
available.
There's
a
support
system
that
we
know
that
student
has.
So
I
would
encourage
parents
to
let's
say
not
be
a
pest
of
themselves,
but
certainly
to
follow
up
on
an
issue
that
you
and
I
just
discussed
or
maybe
just
to
make
a
regular
contact.
B
You
know
I'm
not
asking
you
to
get
my
kids
special
treatment,
but
I
just
wanted
an
update
everything
going.
Okay,
now
we've
built
in
some
natural
ways
where
we
can
do
that.
There's
the
November
conferences
and
there's
the
report
cards
with
parent
comments
and
so
on,
but
every
now
and
then
it
would
be
very
helpful
for
parents
to
reach
out
I
think
the
teachers
would
enjoy
hearing
from
a
parent.
If
there's
a
concern-
or
maybe
just
I,
really
think
my
kids
doing.
Okay
in
your
class,
do
you
have
the
same
reaction?
Are.
B
A
To
taking
breaks,
Silvestri
highlighted
other
ways
that
parents
can
help
at
home.
Overall,
he
felt
comfortable
that
parents
could
adopt
a
three-step
approach,
including
validation,
acknowledgement,
removal
of
the
parents,
personal
emotions
and
asking
their
students
open-ended
questions.
He
reminds
us
that
additional
resources
are
available
via
the
AAC
PS
website.
Thank
you
to
mr.
Silvestri.
For
your
time.
Great
things
are
happening
at
our
schools
every
day
and
will
help
mark
your
calendars.
Please
email
special
events,
fundraisers
fun
fairs.
Basically,
anything
your
school
is
hosting
that's
open
to
the
public,
to
parents,
corner
TV
at
gmail
com.
A
C
Idea
that
I
have
that
I
think
works
really
well
is
for
parents
to
bring
kind
of
a
goal
sheet
with
them
to
conferencing.
Maybe
you
can
jot
down
on
the
left
side
of
the
sheet
three
areas
that
your
child
does
really
well
or
three
areas
that
the
teacher
feels
your
child
excels
in
and
then
on
the
other
side
of
the
teach
art
or
the
other
side
of
the
page.
C
Maybe
you
could
write
down
three
areas
of
growth,
sometimes
as
parents
you
know
we
get
home
and
maybe
we
have
more
than
one
child
and
we
get
back
and
we
see
our
children
and
then
we
want
to
provide
useful
feedback
to
them
and
that's
one
way
of
grows
and
clothes
if
you
would
maybe
a
gross
I'd.
These
are
things
that
you
need
to
grow
in
during
the
next
marking
period,
and
these
are
glows.
These
are
things
that
your
teacher
really
said.
C
You
do
a
great
job
with
and
I
think
it's
a
very
valid
question
to
ask.
The
child's
teacher
tell
me
a
little
bit
about
my
child.
Tell
me
what
you
see.
What
kind
of
a
learner
is
my
child
tell
me
some
character
traits
that
describe
my
child.
Ask
the
chop.
Ask
the
child's
teacher
those
kinds
of
questions
to
really
get
a
good
feel
for
how
the
teacher
sees
your
child.
It's
really
about
the
whole
child.
C
You
want
your
very
interested
in
your
whole
child
and
how
are
they
getting
along
with
their
friends
and
how
are
they
participating?
Are
they
organized
take
a
little
peek
inside
their
desk?
You
can
find
out
a
lot
of
information
about
your
child's
progress
just
by
looking
at
their
desk
and
seeing
what
kind
of
learner
they
are.
How
organized
are
do
they
have
the
materials
that
they
need?
C
I
do
think
it's
important
for
parents
to
save
samples
of
work
that
comes
home,
especially
samples
that
you
might
have
some
questions
about.
Then
you
can
bring
those
papers
with
you
back
to
conferencing
and
ask
specific
questions
about
how
to
help
your
child
or
how
to
find
resources.
If
there's
an
area
that
maybe
your
child
didn't
understand.
One
of
the
problems
you
can
easily
show
that
to
the
teacher
and
ask
for
additional
support
with
that
student
works.
I
think
that's
a
great
thing
to
bring
with
you
I
hope
all
parents
are
aware
of
parent
connect.
C
They
can
log
on
look
at
their
child's
grades
throughout
the
whole
school
year.
They
can
get
notes
and
notifications
from
the
teacher
through
parent
connect.
It
lets
you
know
if
their
assignments
are
missing
or
if
their
assignment
was
turned
in
late.
There's
a
wealth
of
information
on
parent
connect
and
you
can
find
information
regarding
how
to
log
on
and
set
up
an
account
on
the
school
website
on
the
county
website
can
also
call
your
child's
school,
if
you're,
not
sure,
I'm.