As IB learners we strive to be reflective. We give thoughtful consideration to our own learning and experiences. We are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development.

This IB learner profile is one of 10 attributes recognized and valued by IB World Schools. We believe these attributes, and others like them, can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities.

IB students have developed an ability to reflect on their learning and to articulate how they learnt. They have learned that critical reflection is an important academic and life skill.

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Have your child stop and think throughout the day about their behaviors. Assist him/her with focusing on the following prompts:

• Is what I'm doing appropriate? If so, explain why it is. If not, explain how it is not.
• How can I change my behavior? Have your child think of positive ways to make changes.
• Is the situation I am in a positive situation? If not, how can I make it a positive situation?
• Am I doing my best? Am I working my hardest?

Parents can model the above thinking process by talking aloud to themselves, ask and answer yourself these questions about things you are doing throughout your day. This way your child sees you working through the Reflection process, and can use your examples as their models to learn from.

* Model how to make mistakes, how to fail. And then, how to pick yourself up and dust yourself off. It's okay to make mistakes, making mistakes is part of learning. Being Reflective teaches us how to grow and learn from both mistakes and from positive experiences.

When students are able to identify how they are feeling they can then choose strategies to change how they feel. Younger learners need support including modeling, guided think alouds, and practice using strategies. In a moment of struggle, students should have some strategies they are comfortable to choose from. This moment of struggle is not the time for learners to try new strategies.

Some strategies for changing your zone are:

• mindful breathing
• having a safe place to go when things feel overwhelming
• picture books showing how characters face their challenges
• yoga or exercise
• use of fidgets
• noise cancelling headphones
• meditation

Click the image to blog post describing self-regulations and additional activities for building self-regulation skills.

Ruthie and The (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie is an adorable story about a little fox who tells a lie that eats her up inside, she feels so horrible about what she has done. After taking time to reflect on her behavior, Ruthie decides to tell the truth on her own. In the end, Ruthie realizes that being reflective, changing her actions has benefits for her and for her friends.

1) Explain how Ruthie felt when she found Martin's teeny tiny toy camera?

2) How do you think Ruthie and Martin were feeling at the end of the school day when it was time to go home? And why were they feeling those feelings?

3) Explain why Ruthie's teacher took the teeny tiny camera to keep in her teacher desk over night.

4) Why did Ruthie have a stomach ache all night? Why do you think she started crying at night?

5) Ruthie seemed to love Martin's teeny tiny camera, why wasn't having it making her feel happy?

6) Explain why you think Ruthie told the teacher that the camera really wasn't hers in school the next day.

7) How would you feel if a friend took your toy and said it wasn't yours?

8) What does integrity mean?

A little girl and her canine assistant set out to make the most magnificent thing. But after much hard work, the end result is not what the girl had in mind. Frustrated, she quits. Her assistant suggests a long walk, and as they walk, it slowly becomes clear what the girl needs to do to succeed. A charming story that will give kids the most magnificent thing: perspective!

1. What happened when the girl was frustrated and ready to give up?

2. How did her anger affect her ability to work?

3. How can taking a break from something help motivate you to try again?

4. What are some ways to calm down when you are frustrated?

5. Did the girl find the solution right away? What did she learn when she came back to her project? Were they really all wrong?

Website: https://www.buffaloschools.org/PS99
Location: 1095 Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo, NY, USA
Phone: (716)-816-4180
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