Welcome to your YCC newsletter! Each issue will bring you articles and resources to assist you in giving kids, teens, and young adults in your life a head start on success!
1. Welcome
2. Join me on Facebook
3. Article -- Small Changes, Big Results
4. Student Success Summit 2009
--------------------
--------------------
Hello everyone ... and welcome to the Youth Coach Canada newsletter! Special "Welcome" to all our new subscribers including members from OFHSA, Durham Catholic educators, Forest Avenue P.S., and Herb Campbell P.S.
This month's article is dedicated to the idea that often small changes can lead to big results. It's another way of using the whole idea of "baby steps" to support desired changes in our lives, or the lives of those around us (a popular topic at my speaking engagements).
I am also happy to announce the planning of "Student Success Summit 2009" is really coming along! Check below for the exciting details to date, and information about a call for workshop presenters and sponsorship opportunities.
I hope you enjoy the newsletter and find it valuable. If so, please forward it to people you know and encourage them to subscribe as well.
Until we talk again next month, I remain yours in support & success ...
Rob Stringer, BA, BEd, CPC
Founder & Coach
Youth Coach Canada
"Giving Kids a Head Start on Success"
www.YouthCoachCanada.com
Rob@YouthCoachCanada.com
Tel: 905.515.9822
Toll-free fax 888.892.8329 (North America only)
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
Looking for a way to get more access to ideas and resources? Then join me on Facebook! Simply visit the following URL and click on the "ADD AS FRIEND" link near the top:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Rob-Stringer/747315139
You can also join the Youth Coach Canada group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62796364941
Not on Facebook yet yourself? Then I'd like to invite you to try it out. To do so, click on the SIGN UP button at the top of the screen.
Hope to see you all online soon ...
Rob
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
~ SMALL CHANGES, BIG RESULTS ~
Are you still struggling to help your child change certain negative behaviours, or attitudes when it comes to school this year? Don't despair, and definitely don't give up allowing the problem to continue or worsen. Instead, I'd like to invite you keep trying and to consider three powerful strategies that work well, both for my coaching clients and in my classroom.
Change negative self-talk ...
When kids continually meet with failure or negative results, they tend to look for reasons to explain what is happening. Many times they end up seeing themselves as the problem. "I'm stupid ... I'm no good in Math ... I always get blamed no matter what I do!" These are just some of the things kids start to tell themselves.
The key to changing this self-defeating dialogue is to help show them it is not true. This can be done by getting them to remember past successes--e.g. times when they did well in a subject, or did not get blamed for something. You can also work with your child's teacher to intentionally manufacture new situations allowing your child to meet with success. This might include easier/modified work (starting to build knowledge from where they are), focusing attention on the correct portions of tests or homework, and/or simply helping to reinforce the idea that we all grow and learn at different rates and that's OK.
Find new ways to do the same things ...
Another strategy is find new ways of doing the same thing. Take Math for example. When I went to school we were taught one way and if you didn't get it, too bad (that was me!) However, now most teachers know several ways to approach various skills like multiplication, long division, fractions, etc. ... so if one way doesn't seem to make sense, they can teach other ways. Be sure to ask your child's teachers if there are other methods they could use to teach the same concepts. (Making sure, of course, that as the parent you have first been helping to support home practice of the old methods.)
Find new ways to get the same benefits ...
Whether or not it is true, a helpful idea is that most human behaviour has a positive intention driving it, and often makes sense when you understand the goal(s) being sought. For example, defiant or "Who cares" children may be trying to protect themselves from failure. A bully may be trying to gain control or respect. A class clown may have a need for attention. So while the goals may be perfectly acceptable, the methods they use are not. Therefore, in most cases, it's simply a matter of looking past the current behaviours, understanding the motivation behind them (the goal or benefit they are seeking), and teaching new ways to achieve the same benefits—replacing the current behaviour.
Although only brief overviews, these strategies have been the core of many dramatic behavioural and academic turn-arounds, and I hope will be of use to you and your family.
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
Be sure not to miss THE Youth event of the 2009!
Date: October 3, 2009 (Tentative)
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Redeemer University College, Ancaster, ON (Tentative)
Target Audience: Youth (12-18) & parents / educators
Max. Capacity: Registration is limited to 300 participants.
The one day Student Success Summit is more than just a unique event, it has the power to be a transformative experience. Offering two streams of workshops to best meet the needs and interests of both youth & adults, participants take part in a variety of hands-on workshops aimed at helping them achieve greater academic success this year. Participants will walk away with a greater sense of their strengths, abilities, learning styles, and new strategies to help them define and achieve success for the year.
Youth motivational speaker & Canadian Idol judge, Farley Flex, may be joining us as our keynote!
As well, unlike other conferences which offer no follow-up support, Student Success Summit 2009 offers youth the chance to join Success365™, offering weekly coaching calls & individualized support long after the Summit has finished. Imagine how much better could do if you had regular access to a professional Youth Coach this year ... and for only about a dollar a day.
Interested in presenting at Student Success Summit 2009? Send your workshop outline & bio to Rob@YouthCoachCanada.com by May 31, 2009 and/or call 905.515.9822 to discuss the details.
Help Youth Coach Canada make a tangible difference where you live, work and play. Make a meaningful contribution and help make a difference in the lives of students, be seen as a community leader, and take an active role in helping to support tomorrow's leaders today.
(And it doesn't hurt that Student Success Summit 2009 will also draw major media attention!)
Business / Corporate Sponsorship Levels:
Champion: $10 000
- Champion (title sponsor) designation for the Summit
- Listing as a title partner in all media promotion & event materials
- Logo & name will be used in all promotion
- Ability to include promotional materials in hand-out packages
- Exhibitor table at event in most prominent location
- Ten free registrations for use by employees and/or families
- Opportunity to contribute for a draw
Leader: $5 000
- Leader designation for the Student Success Summit
- Listing as a partner in all media promotion & event materials
- Logo & name will be used in all print & online promotion
- Ability to include promotional materials in hand-out packages
- Exhibitor table at event in prominent location
- Five free registrations for use by employees and/or families
- Opportunity to contribute for a draw
Supporter: $1 000
- Supporter designation for the Student Success Summit
- Listing as a partner in all media promotion & event materials
- Logo & name will be used in all print & online promotion
- Ability to include promotional materials in hand-out packages
- Exhibitor table at event in prominent location
- One free registration for use by employees and/or families
- Opportunity to contribute for a draw
Educational Sponsorship Levels:
Board Level: $5 000
- Fifty free registrations for youth in need ($4000 value)
- Two Board-level workshops for parents or staff to compliment the messages & strategies presented at the Student Success Summit ($1500)
- Listing as a partner in all media promotion & event materials
School Level: $500
- Five free registrations for youth in need ($400 value)
- One evening workshop for parents / staff to compliment the messages & strategies presented at the Student Success Summit ($350 value)
- Access to monthly articles for use in school newsletters
- Note: Both the workshop & articles meet criteria for Parental Involvement Grants
Exhibitor: $300
- Exhibitor table at event in designated exhibitor area
- Opportunity to contribute for a draw
Circle of Friends: In-kind / individual contributions
For more information on attending the Student Success Summit,
or becoming a sponsor, contact Youth Coach Canada at 905.515.9822 or email
info@YouthCoachCanada.com.
Copyright ©2009 Youth Coach Canada
For permission to re-print any content
contained within this newsletter,
please email the office at info@YouthCoachCanada.com