Paw Print

Executive Function Skill of the Week: Organization

Our graphic defines the goal of organization as to stay tidy. Yes, and also I'd like to extend just a tad to include the goal of keeping track of things so we have what we need when we need it. Ever lose your keys when you're already late? Stress while your kids found their other shoe? Found it easier to reprint the form than to find the original on your desk? Yep. Organization, or the struggle with the executive functioning skill of organization looks like all of these. Messy rooms, overflowing purses and backpacks, piles on every surface, papers floating everywhere, not remembering where to find anything and being overwhelmed with all of the things. It's okay! We can do this!

Maybe it's time to start over. From scratch. Help your child- they'll need direction.

• Empty out the backpack. Make a DO, a KEEP, and a TRASH pile. I promise you that somewhere there is a KEEP and SEND BACK folder of some kind with your child's name on it. Is it in the backpack? Easy, peasy. Let's use that. Not sure what to do, keep or trash? Check the teacher's Seesaw or intro packet. There is probably an easy system that your kiddo just hasn't gotten down yet. Once you know what it is, you can better help them to stay on top of it. This, my friends, is an every single day need. I saw a really inspiring insta a while back that I wish I had followed when my kids were in school. The child came in the door, immediately went to the "organization station" where backpacks were emptied and hung up. Folders and papers went in one bin for parents to check. Lunch boxes went in another (or straight to the kitchen counter where darling children learn how to rinse and dry or whatever works with your system) and shoes were lined up on the rug. At our house things were more likely flung on the table until dinner, but hey, it was still a system and it worked for us. We just looked at everything and then we were less likely to miss things. Except for 100 day when my son was in kindergarten. Yep. Missed that. Sure did. Okay, letting it go. He's 30. I don't think he's scarred after all. The point is, THINGS need a PLACE so that we can find them again when we need them and THINGS that no longer need to be in that place need to get evicted. You might want to model this process with a purse or briefcase, or even a closet or junk drawer. Don't forget to talk through the process you're following so that your kids can learn from your great example!
• Ask (not really, but maybe to your child) annoying questions like, "Where can you put that book so you'll be able to find it to return to the library?" "What's a good place to put your shoes so that you won't have to search for them in the morning?" "How can we set up your toys so that you can always find what you want to play with quickly?" Asking question instead of giving directives puts the thinking on your kiddo's brain and that's how they grow!
• Using organization tools like bins, boxes, baskets is a lifelong option. The key is to make sure that what you need to store actually fits in the container. Who remembers the Trapper Keeper? Oh, man. If you don't you really missed out. It was a 3-ring binder with a zipper and handle. So cool. Also very helpful to divide and organize materials by subject. Practicing systems of sorting and organization at home help your child understand and connect why it's important to do the same thing here. That's why we use different colors of folders and spirals and such. Having TOO much stuff in desks and lockers causes an immediate organization problem. We're going to be sending home the extras and asking our sweet nuggets to leave it at home. Many of you are probably wondering where all of their sweatshirts and your fancy markers are anyway. Ha!

Let's hit another area where the lack of organization skills bites a bit...in thinking and writing and solving math problems. This is why we LOVE graphic organizers. Venn diagrams, lotus boxes, webs, charts, fishbone, graph paper and turning lined paper sideways to make columns. Even numbered or bulleted lists. They all help us to organize our thoughts so that we can get what we know out of our brains, visually process it (usually much easier that doing all of that up in our brains) and then use it to solve whatever we're working out. Never shy away from a good G.O.!

Bonus Points: Do you know if your child knows how to, and consistently does so, correctly write on lined notebook paper? For fun, ask them to write you a letter the next time they really, really, really want something. It'll be a fun little experience!

Writers should:

• Start at the top.
• Start at the left blue line.
• Write all the way to the right red line.
• Letters should be appropriately shaped and sized for the lines and stay consistent.
• Spacing between words should make sense to increase legibility.
• Maintain a topic.

Have a wonderful weekend! I'm going to go home and clean out a couple of closets and maybe the junk drawer. That will be REALLY crazy fun!

Belmont's student leadership team is proud to sponsor a food drive to benefit the De Soto Food Pantry. Items should be brought to school anytime before October 31st, although items that show up soon after the drive will certainly find their way to the pantry.

To add to the excitement for participating students, members of Team BE have put their creativity into decorating pumpkins as favorite children's book characters. Every item donated for the food drive will count as a vote and the creator of the winning pumpkin character will win the joy of being appreciated and knowing that their creation was loved by our students! It's all for fun!

The De Soto Food Pantry shared a list of most desired food items and we've shared it below. Thank you so much for helping us to make a positive difference at Belmont and beyond. If every child is able to bring one item, we'll make a positive difference on the shelves.

Peanut Butter, Jelly, Canned Fruit, Canned Meat, Macaroni and Cheese Mix, Pasta, Hamburger Helper, Soup, Flour, Sugar- thank you for any non-perishable items!

PTO (that's you) sponsors three classroom parties for our students: Fall, Winter and Valentines Day. First up is our Fall Party Day, scheduled for Thursday, October 31st! Last year's format brought all the fun with zero fright so we're sticking with the plan and doing it all again! Start crossing your fingers for BEautiful weather for our parade!

Here's the plan:

• Costumes!
• Party!
• Parade!

Details, details, details....

• Costumes are encouraged for students during the party and parade time, but of course, they are not required. Experience has taught us that it's really not as easy as you'd think for students to manage a costume all day, so costumes should be brought to school in a bag or backpack and should be fairly easy for your kiddo to put on by themselves with minimal assistance. Costumes should be elementary appropriate and not too scary. Please do not include blood, guts, gore or weapons of any kind. Accessories (think..projectiles and things to trip over) should stay at home and be saved for Halloween night trick-or-treating. Masks are fine as long as vision is not impaired for walking in the parade!
• Classroom Party help is encouraged, but will be limited to best accommodate student needs! We would like to invite 3-4 parents from each classroom to plan and lead a craft, game or both for the 2:45-3:15 party in their child's class. These parents will be welcomed into the classroom at 2:30 to set up as well as assist younger students with their costumes if needed. We will NOT be serving food at parties. This helps us to both enjoy more time playing, and alleviate allergy concerns for every child. They'll get PLENTY of candy and treats during trick or treating with your family- and you'll be able to best monitor their safety! If you would like to volunteer to plan and lead your child's classroom party, please click the button below and sign up! Thank you so much for your time!
• Outdoor Parade at 3:!5! YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY is invited for a front row view of all of our little monsters, movie stars, scientists, musicians, scarecrows, animals, super heroes, creators, book characters, princesses, ..............oh, my goodness! I can hardly wait! Here's how we know we can best make this happen- when you arrive for the parade, you may either park in an open parking space and walk up to the front lawn (see the map below for the best view) or just pull right up in the regular pick up loops, turn off your car and leave it in line, then walk up to the viewing area (in purple on the map below.) After the parade (about 3:32ish) just walk right back to your cars and get ready for the loops to move like normal at regular dismissal time. Please, do not come inside to check your kiddos out early- we'll need those precious minutes to make sure our Bulldogs are all packed up and ready to go with all costume parts intact for the big night. Genius!

It's going to BE Spooktacular!! We hope you can join us for the parade and appreciate the planners who volunteer to lead the crafts and activities!

October 28-November 1 🌻 PEACE WEEK & Food Drive (see above for details)

October 31 🌻 Fall Parties (2:45-3:15) and Parade (3:15-3:30)

November 7 🌻 4th Grade Music Program, 9:00am and 6:30pm

November 8 🌻 Picture Retake Day

November 18 🌻 PTO Meeting, Cafeteria (enter on west side), 6:30pm

November 25-29 🌻 Thanksgiving Break

• No School for Students

Visit the BE Online Calendar of Events (by clicking on the button below) for a more complete list of activities!

11:00-11:30 1st Grade

11:20-11:50 Kindergarten

11:40-12:10 5th Grade

12:00-12:30 4th Grade

12:20-12:50 3rd Grade

12:40-1:10 2nd Grade

Reservations are required to join your child for lunch- when we are ready, you'll be able to CLICK HERE to reserve your family table!

It's a WatchDOGS revival in the Belmont DogHouse! With at least a week's notice, we'll welcome a DAD (gotta be a significant adult guardian or relation) each Wednesday to work a day at BE. There will be a schedule provided that will include a variety of tasks including building safety, academic assistance in classrooms, and logistical support during lunch, and the reward...RECESS! We guarantee you'll have the opportunity to enjoy lunch and recess with your own child(ren) and around that, we'll put you to work in the classrooms where your extra hands will be the most helpful! Do YOU have the opportunity to take a day off to hang out with about 370 beautiful children and the adults who love learning with them?

Access the WatchDOGS Sign Up HERE.

We are blessed to have such an amazing team here at Belmont! Would you love an opportunity to formally show appreciation...without spending a dime? Through the generosity of the Great American Bank and the USD 232 Education Foundation, we have the opportunity to recognize staff members who go above and beyond in their daily interactions with students. All you need to do is click on the link below and fill out some general information about the deserving nominee. Thank you for helping our team know that their dedication is appreciated. I appreciate your time and gift of gratitude if you've recently nominated, or plan to nominate a Belmont team member for their service.

Making a Difference Nomination Link

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Email: phargrove@usd232.org
Website: be.usd232.org
Location: 5805 Belmont Drive, Shawnee, KS 66226, United States
Phone: (913)667-1810
Facebook: Belmont Elementary Bulldogs
Twitter: @BEBulldogs