Anger Notebook

I've got a little darling this year who has trouble controlling her anger. She couldn't be any cuter than she is. She also has amazingly strong emotions. One strategy we're trying with her is a notebook. She is a bright, bright girl and capable of doing a lot of writing in the beginning of first grade.

When I gave her the notebook I told her she could write or draw whatever she wanted there. I even told her she could write, "I hate Ms. Orr." again and again if it would help. She asked if she could write happy things. I said sure. The first thing she wrote is happy, "going to the pool".

On other occasions she clearly wrote when she was angry. I think this third one says, "Ms. Orr is stupid."

It's the final note here that made my afternoon today. I love the idea of a six-year-old writing a "note to self," especially about the progress of her day. I'm also quite impressed by the idea that she can recognize when things are going downhill.

It's not clear to me yet if this notebook is helping or not. We started it on Monday and this week has definitely been better than last week. We'll see how things continue.

(She does not attempt to keep this notebook private; she shares with countless people regularly. Today, she left it out in the midst of everything at the end of the day. I suggested she put it back in the home she chose for it but she declined, several times.)