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“Heads Up” is VOWS’ ten week,
early intervention program for 2nd Graders in the Warwick Public Schools that
combines age-appropriate lessons on self-awareness, conflict resolution,
cultural sensitivity as well as violence and bullying prevention. It was
developed in answer to the fast-rising problem of bullying in school, at home
and at the playground. The Heads Up curriculum was developed by Mr. John
Mattson, currently with the Children’s Crusade, is research-driven and is based
on well-established educational principals. These lessons have been designed to
impact children while they are still impressionable and not yet exhibiting
delinquent behaviors. Warwick School Department’s Administration has approved
this program under its “Health and Family Life” curriculum and continues to be
very supportive of its presentation within the elementary schools.
There are 10
core activities in the Heads Up Program:
 The
Peaceable Being:
Children
create a Peaceable Being as a way to begin thinking about the
kinds of behavior they want in their “Heads Up” experience.
This is our “contract”. Words written inside the outline of the
being connote acceptable behaviors and conduct; words written
outside the being represent unacceptable behavior for the
group setting.
Pick
Your Corner:
Children
explore the differences and similarities in the group by
identifying likes, abilities, or personal characteristics they
may share with other members of the group.
Understanding
Others’ Perspectives:
Children use story books to understand others’
points of view.
The
Anger Thermometer:
Children
learn a metaphor to help them identify how angry they are in
specific situations. When they observe, then acknowledge their
behavior, they also learn they can choose how to respond.
Green
Poison Darts:
Stories tell
how anger can spread from person to person. They help children
recognize how good and bad feelings can be transferred by either
hurtful or kind behaviors and/or words.
Making
Peace Puppets:
Children
make Peace Puppets to use to act out how to resolve conflicts.
The Peace Puppets must stay in “peaceful” character at all times
and may never be used to play an aggressive, antagonistic or
bullying role.
Conflict
Escalators:
Using role
playing, children explore the concept of how conflicts escalate,
they learn to break down the conflict into the steps on the
“escalator”, then, using their peace puppets, reconstruct the
role play to take steps to “de-escalate” the conflict.
Dealing
with Bullies:
Children
explore what bullying is based on their own experiences, and
they develop strategies they and others can use to deal with
bullies.
The
Very Best Part is the Bridge:
Through the
use of a story book, children learn creative ways to build
bridges back to friends after a misunderstanding.
Making
Posters:
The children
each make their own drawings of which Heads Up lesson has been
the most helpful to them.
2006
HEADS UP SCHEDULE
Orientation/Training for Lessons 1-3: Tuesday, January 16, 2007
9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Lessons 1-3
Presented in Schools: Weeks of 1/22/07 – 2/5/07
Training for
Lessons 4-6: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Lessons 4-6
Presented in Schools: Weeks of 3/5/07 – 3/19/07
Training for
Lessons 7 – 10: Tuesday, April 3, 2007 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Lessons7 – 10
Presented in Schools: Weeks of 4/9/04 – 5/7/07
Evaluation
Session/Journal & Poster Submission: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 9:00
– 11:00 a.m.
All training
sessions will be held in the large community room of the Warwick
Public Library, 600 Sandy Lane, Warwick, RI |
