Summary of "Chester The Cat and The Secret of Cool"
Chester set out to find a better way to handle difficult feelings and learned it's easy to choose to BeCool when you stay in control. Once in the "COOL state of mind," there are three steps... Looking COOL, Thinking COOL, and Acting COOL. Even though it sounds easy, being COOL is not always easy to do, especially when you're really afraid or angry. But if you practice and practice, it gets easier each time you try it.
Discuss the use of a "Chester with sunglasses" and the "3-note whistle" as symbols your students can use to remind themselves to act COOL. The person who is COOL is calm, relaxed, stop to think, acts positive, and is interested in working things out. The COOL response brings calmness to potentially difficult situations. As "sunglasses" and a "melodic cool whistle" are associated with being in control so the COOL response has the effect of improving peer relations and decreasing student conflicts.
Review
- COLD, giving up reactions, including acting helpless, can encourage the bully or teaser.
- HOT, blowing up reactions, including yelling at someone, can cause the situation to get worse. There can be injury from fighting, feelings of anger, or punishment from adults.
- Benefits of being COOL include ending the problem, feeling good about yourself, and protecting yourself from harm.
- The BeCool response is Looking COOL, Thinking COOL, and Acting COOL
Independent Viewing of Video
Encourage students to view the video independently. Have students practice the calming techniques along with Chester in the video.
Parent Education/Involvement
Consider showing the "BeCool Teacher/Parent Introduction" video and discussing the BeCool strategy at parent meetings, open houses, PTA meetings, etc. You may also suggest that the students take the video home to teach their families the BeCool strategy.