Have a Go Spaghettio! Teaching children about Brain Bully Thinking and w...

This Have a Go Spaghettio! video is a review,

reminder that irrational BB thinking is unhelpful

thinking and this can be taught explicitly in the

teaching and learning context. Albert Ellis, creator

of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy, says the

future of psychotherapy is in the school system.

With the Have a Go approach, it has arrived in early

childhood learning.

Irrational thinking is that which stops us getting the

results we desire or prefer. It dismisses or is

ignorant of the reality that sometimes we may not

get what we strongly desire to have; people to like

us, to do well at tasks, reach our goals. This needn’t

be catastrophic unless we believe it to be. The BB

belief we are not OK if others think otherwise is an

irrational perspective on the worth we apportion to

our ‘self,’ i.e., we are worthwhile because we exist

not because someone else says we are!

Some children will be constructing BB beliefs that

undermine their confidence and sense of agency

impacting their psychological resilience against

harmful and intrusive irrational thoughts.

The six Success Helper habits of thinking are

introduced to the children via the Have a Go

Spaghettio! approach to building psychological

resilience and wellbeing. REBT’s ABC Theory of

Emotional Disturbance is its foundation theory,

which helps children understand that their belief

constructions can be helpful or unhelpful.

BB believing is Success Stopper thinking which is

irrational and unhelpful thinking causing BB

feelings and actions. Using the Have a Go

Spaghettio! approach will empower our children to

act in confidence, because they will learn to accept

themselves unconditionally which is ‘I’m

worthwhile crocodile’ thinking.

Have a Go Spaghettio!  Give it a Try Banana Pie!

Dr. Albert Ellis

When Students Are Our Teachers

Teachers beginning their careers will be challenged in their practise when situations present that require strength and resilience. One of a couple of things I will offer when asked is not to allow the fear of the disapproval of students thwart their resolve to establish their authority as classroom leader.

Why doesn't she like me? He doesn't seem to respond to my manner/style of teaching etc. Whilst these might prompt opportunities for reflection and review they don't need to become major 'crises of confidence.' Unless this is allowed to happen of course. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said: 

What we believe about ourselves is reflected in our behaviour and in how we feel when presented with difficult situations. Unconditional self acceptance is a kind of psychological buttress against the negative views and opinions that others may have of us. So suggestion number one for new educators: take ideas, opinions, advice on board but don't let them define you. What we believe about ourselves is less likely to be compromised. Our buttress isn't breached. For more on self acceptance visit:

Albert Ellis and REBT 

The second piece of advice I will offer is this; be aware of our personal prejudices about students. As we can't expect that all others must like/respect/admire us (though we may healthily prefer this) it is true that we may not have altogether positive views of others. I have heard colleagues over the years say that they 'can't seem to warm to this student and this effects how I relate to her.' This is an important insight to acknowledge and it can have positive outcomes if we determine to find 'a way in' to connecting with that child. 

Accepting self and accepting others are valuable attitudes to cultivate and educators who practise this by and large relate more effectively to their students. Those students who otherwise may be marginalised are eventually, in most cases won over!

Behaviour Education in Schools Workshop - an REBT based approach

REBT Workshop - What is it? What does it do?

Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) was developed in the 1950's. It is the original cognitive therapy which has many derivatives e.g. Choice Theory (Glasser) Cognitve Behaviour Therapy (Beck) Positve Psychology (Seligman). This 1 hour workshop looks at REBT, its philosophical underpinnings and the ABC Theory of Emotional Disturbance, the counselling model used by psychologists and counsellors the world over.

''The future of psychotherapy is in the school system.'' Albert Ellis, creator of REBT

Para Hills School P-7

Graduate teachers will say that amongst their main concerns when beginning their career is how to establish and maintain an effective behaviour education program. What models are there to base their practise on? How is their philosophy of learning reflected in their practise? Do they use a punitive approach to behaviour education or an educative one?

 

Bugs Bunny is self accepting!

The workshop (above) is the first of a program of learning designed to help educators, counsellors and parent/carers provide a counselling based approach to behaviour education which helps students learn how to manage themselves constructively especially in challenging situations.

Albert Ellis may not be with us anymore but his work is as relevant as ever especially in the school setting!

Albert Ellis