When you give true peace & happiness to others through your words and actions, you are definitely remembered in that light.

President's Letter
Value Focus:   Happiness

 

Happy New Year!  In this issue, we are focusing on the value of Happiness.  Are you happy?  Are you always happy - or just sometimes?  What can we do to maintain our own happiness and share it with others?

 
Dr. Martin Seligman, the founder of the Positive Psychology movement, has studied positive emotion, positive character traits, and positive institutions for many years.  In his research he has found that it is "possible to be happier - to feel more satisfied, to be more engaged with life, find more meaning, have higher hopes, and probably even laugh and smile more, regardless of one's circumstances."


The Living Values Education Program encourages students (and all of us) to explore personal definitions of happiness and increase knowledge about happiness.  For example, students are asked to think about words and actions that create happiness and words that cause harm.  They are asked to reflect on the relationship between happiness and trying to do their best.  Finally, they learn about self-talk and how to encourage themselves more.


But perhaps the most important goal of the Living Values lessons on happiness is to give children the opportunity to enjoy the feeling of happiness.  Happy songs, games, art projects, and imagining exercises are designed not just to talk "about" happiness, but to create an environment where children are naturally happy.


You can visit the Living Values websites for sample lessons, free posters that can be downloaded, and a series of reflection points to get you thinking. www.livingvalues.net and www.livingvalueseducation.org.

 

Perhaps you can share your secrets to happiness this year!  Ask students to make a list of things children their age can do to give happiness at home and in school.  Read or tell stories about things that make you happy.  Make it a point to create joy this week!

Kathleen A. Shea, Ph.D.

President

Upcoming Events:

For more up-to-date information on the events in your area, please check the LV Calendar on our website at www.livingvalueseducation.org

 
NORTHEAST AREA:

Topic:      Stress Free Living
Content:   A look at ways to releive and eliminate the feeders of stress.
Date:        February 10, 2010
Time:       2:00 - 4:00 PM
Location:  Tannersville High School
               Tannersville, NY. 02121
For more information contact:
Email: ed wondoloski at ed@livingvalues.net
Phone 418-589-5000 ext 24



SOUTHEAST AREA:

Topic:      Living Values Parent Workshop:
               Encouraging Automony in Children
Content:   A workshop to help parents with specific skills that help children
               become more self-reliant at any age.
               Focus on the Value of Cooperation.
Date:        January 20, 2010
Time:       8:45 - 10:30 AM
Location:  Aventura City of Excellence School
               Aventura, Florida
For more information contact:
Email:     Elahe Mehrel at mehreli@hotmail.com
Phone:    305-582-2547

 
Topic:     Living Values Parent Workshop:  Positively Building Behaviors
Content:  Learn ways to help children become aware of their specialities.
              Explore kinds of praise that build a child's positive and realistic
              self image.
Date:      February 17, 2010
Time:      8:45 - 10:30 AM
Location: Aventura City of Excellence School
              Aventura, Florida
For more information contact:
Email:     Elahe Mehrel at mehreli@hotmail.com
Phone:    305-582-2547


Topic:     Living Values Train the Trainer Workshop (Part 1)
Content:  Learn how to implement the Living Values Educational
              Program in your school or Agency.  Training program
              includes two weekend workshops and a commitment to
              co-train with an experienced trainer. This workshop provides
              background and introduction to the Living Values model,
              the variety of values activities that can be implemented,
              and creating a blueprint for implementing Living Values
              in schools and communities.
Date:      Friday, March 26th  and Saturday March 27, 2010
Time:      6:00 - 9:00 PM Friday March 26 and
              9:30 AM to 4:40 PM Saturday March 27th
Location: South Florida location TBA
For more information contact: 
Email:  Kathy Shea at miami@livingvalues.net
Phone:  888-589-5837 x 0
 
 
Topic:     Living Values Train the Trainer Workshop (Part 2)
Content:  Learn how to implement the Living Values
              Educational Program in your school or Agency.
              Training program includes two weekend workshops
              and a commitment to co-train with an experienced trainer.
              This workshop includes Adult Facilitation Skills
              and Presentation Skills.
Date:      Friday, April 9, and Saturday April 10, 2010
Time:      6:00 - 9:00 PM Friday April 9 and
              9:30 AM to 4:40 PM Saturday April 10th
Location: South Florida location TBA
For more information contact: 
Email:  Kathy Shea at miami@livingvalues.net
Phone:  888-589-5837 x 0



 
MIDATLANTIC AREA:

Currently N/A

 
 
 NORTHWEST AREA:

Currently N/A


SOUTHWEST/CALIFORNIA

Create Peace and Respect in Your Classroom
February 4, 11, 18, 25 from 4:30 to 8:15 pm - Los Angeles

This LVE workshop will be held on four Thursday afternoons from 4:30 to 8:15 p.m. at West Adams Preparatory High School at 1500 West Washington Boulevard in Los Angeles (90007).  One salary point credit is available to LAUSD educators who complete this 15 hour course and the 30 hours of homework. Teachers at all grade levels and content areas are welcome.

This LVE Workshop will be led by Lorien Eck, a National Board Certified Teacher, LACOE Teacher of the Year, and experienced LVE teacher. Possible Special Guest presenter Diane Tillman, Licensed Educational Psychologist and the primary author of the award-winning Living Values Series may join us for some of the workshop.

The workshop will include information about LVE's theoretical model, the breadth of the program internationally, as well as time for reflection, sharing, role-playing and play. Skills to create a values-based atmosphere and values activities will be explored.

Please register by January 22nd. The $40 materials fee includes a Living Values Activity book and a LVE informational notebook. The materials fee needs to be paid in advance to secure space in workshop.


To register, email Lorien Eck at lre0878@lausd.net.

LVE Consultation Now Available:

Happiness Lesson 11
Talking to Myself

The following lesson was taken from the Living Values Activities for Children Ages 8-14 book.

Happiness Lesson 11: Talking to Myself

Build Concept:
"Talking to Myself" is an acknowledgment of the process that occurs within every individual.  We all talk to ourselves with a silent voice.  This is called self-talk or inner dialogue.  In this unit on Happiness, this is an important aspect to think about, as self-talk can be positive or negative, encouraging or discouraging.

Discuss:  "Today, let's think about the things we say to ourselves."  Ask:

• What do you say when you make a mistake?
• What tone of voice do you use when you say that?
• What do you say to yourself when you're afraid that you'll miss the ball during a ball game or fail a test?
• If you make a mistake, do you feel better if you call yourself "Stupid," or if you say, "It's okay to make a mistake, all I have to do is correct it"?  There's no need to feel angry or sad -- mistakes are simply things through which we learn.
• Does it help if you get angry?
• What happens to your feelings when you say, "I'll never be able to do it" or "I'll never make it"?
• Are the feelings different when you say, "This is a bit scary, but I'll do my best"?

Say, "Repeat the mistake rule with me, please:  It's okay to make a mistake, all I have to do is correct it."

Make two columns on the board.  Head one column with a sad face, the other with a happy face.  Ask students to tell you what they say to themselves that makes them feel sad or unhappy; and what they say or could say to themselves to make them feel glad or happy.

Ask:

• What can you say to create a happier feeling when working on an assignment?
• When walking alone?
• What differences do you notice in the tone of voice you use with yourself when you say things to make you happy?
• When working with others cooperatively?
• When trying to understand something disappointing?

8-11 Activity: Write a note to yourself, giving yourself advice about how you should talk to yourself.

12-14 Activity:  Think about the Reflection Point: When there is a feeling of hope, there is happiness.  Write a note to yourself, giving yourself advice about how you should talk to yourself.  Consider situations when it is best to be encouraging, and tell yourself to persevere.

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