What's the Buzz?

What's the Buzz? is a unique 16 lesson social skills enrichment programme designed to explicitly teach children how to think and relate socially.

It is for children, who for all manner of reasons, struggle to make friends and fit in socially.

Current research reveals that teaching 'social thinking' to young people with social delay does improve children's ability to interact socially. Kids can learn these vital living skills through direct teaching, role-play practice and social games in the context of a small friendly group.

How can What's the Buzz? be used?

There are 4 components to the programme;

1. A new release book for teachers, counsellors, teacher assistants and allied professionals to use in schools
   
   $65.00 plus $10.00 postage.
2. A training and resource website, download; www.whatsthebuzz.net.au
3. One day training workshops run by the authors - Mark Le Messurier and Madhavi Nawana Parker
   http://whatsthebuzz.net.au/main-menu/whats-the-buzz-training-day
4. Real What's the Buzz? children’s groups for children to participate in, download;
   http://marklemessurier.com.au/main/products/Whats the buzz.pdf

1. The book
This highly adaptable programme has been released internationally by educational publishers Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group in London. What's the Buzz? is proving to have wide appeal to teachers, counsellors, psychologists, teacher assistants, support staff and parent volunteers in schools who wish to run a programme in their school. While tailored for small specific groups of children it also has a broader to mainstream classes and a whole school approach.

Recognising the most influential people in a child's life, each lesson includes extensive notes offering parents and teachers handy ideas to reinforce the themes presented.

What's the Buzz? targets everyday themes - how to greet, make and keep friends, fit in, read one's own emotions, read the feelings of others, deal with competition and cope with worry, frustration and disappointment more constructively. The engaging direct method of instruction is designed on an extensive body of research believed to stimulate social thinking and accomplish powerful outcomes.

To order the book, What's the Buzz?

2. A training and resource website www.whatsthebuzz.net.au
The book is complemented by a practical training and resource website for teachers, counsellors, special education coordinators, teacher assistants and parent volunteers in schools wishing to discover more about this friendship building programme, and how to implement it. The website offers 4 online TRAINING MODULES to help deepen capacities to run a program, it also provides access to images, games, role-play cards, photo galleries, certificates, worksheets, pre and post survey forms, and an option to measure each participant's progress using a specialised online tracking facility. Most printable items can be amended and personalised.

3. One day Training Workshops run by the authors
The authors offer a one day training workshop to provide participants with full facilitator accreditation and the capacity to run or coordinate a programme. To enrol, or for further information concerning the Training Day; http://whatsthebuzz.net.au/main-menu/whats-the-buzz-training-day In addition, the authors will come to schools and train staff on request.

4. What's the Buzz? children's groups
A What's the Buzz? children's group consists of 4 or 5 children with Mark Le Messurier, or 7 or 8 children with Mark and a cofacilitator working together. Children selected are about the same age so everyone has the opportunity to learn new relational skills, and to build friendships in a safe, structured and encouraging environment.

Term one topics

• Meeting people
• How to get good attention
• Following instructions
• Being friendly
• Competition; playing for fun and friendship
• Feelings, identification
• Feelings, early warning signs
• The power of positive thinking. Celebration and certificate

Term two topics

• Tricks to stay calm under pressure
• Responding to the feelings of others
• Dealing with worry
• Handling disappointment
• Responding to bullying
• The 'art' of a friendly conversation
• Giving compliments
• Tuning into what's happening around you. Celebration and certificate

Beyond seeing students absorb the new skills taught there are two additional bonuses that consistently emerge from the program. The first is witnessing warm interactions blossom between participants and the formation of new friendships. Secondly, is seeing parents enjoying one another's company, exchanging thoughts and finding support in each other over coffee while children's sessions are in progress.

To register interest you may phone, Australia (08) 8332 0698 or email Mark (mark@marklemessurier.com.au).

Click below to learn more or print a brochure.

Download PDF file.