Dear Parents,
Your child was introduced to the “Debug System” during a lesson with the school counselor. The elementary level students and teachers use this system to help students solve some of those times when someone is “bugging” them. We encourage the children to attempt to solve these types of problems on their own and the DeBug System is a tool the students can use to help them out.
Below is a copy of the Five Step Debug System. It is also posted in your child’s classroom to help them remember. You may want to adopt it at home – it works with siblings, too!
The way it works for the adult is that when the child comes to you and complains that someone is “bugging” them, you say,
“Did you use the Debug System?”
If they say “No”, you say
“Try the steps and get back to me if you reach step 5.”
If they have already tried step 1 through 4, then you can intervene.
As a review of how the steps are taught include:
Step 1-Ignore means to not look at the person or think about what the person is doing. They can even put their hand next to their eyes so they can’t see the person.
Step 2-Move away or at least scoot away a little bit or turn their bodies away if they can’t walk away.
Step 3- Talk friendly usually includes “Please stop____.” Our goal is to stop at step 3 when someone asks us to please stop.
Step 4-Talk firmly is not yelling or name calling and may have a firm voice and telling the other person “I don’t like that”.
Step 5- Get an adult for help is not tattling if they used steps 1-4.
I have also made it clear to the children that there are times when it is important to skip right to step 5and get adult help…one can not ignore if someone is really hurt or being hurt, or if something else serious is happening.
Students are taught to tell an adult when:
>someone is hurt
>someone is sick
>you don't feel safe
>it is dangerous (such as climbing over the fence or they see a stranger near)
>someone is damaging property
>it is a BIG wrong (such as stealing)
This is a tool that your child can use for years and years. Please help your child feel capable to solve problems by reviewing this system with him/her and using it at home. I’d be glad to answer any questions about it, so feel free to contact me here at school.
When the Debug System is used consistently, children take ownership in solving problems and it reduces the times the adult has to intervene, plus it reduces the number of problems and it teaches the children a skill with problem solving and getting along with others.
Thank-you! And Happy Debugging!
Mrs. Lisa Raum
IU13 School Counselor
The DeBug System
1. Ignore. If that doesn’t work…
2. Move Away.If that doesn’t work…
3. Talk Friendly.If that doesn’t work…
4. Talk Firmly. If that doesn’t work…
5. Get Adult Help
Your child was introduced to the “Debug System” during a lesson with the school counselor. The elementary level students and teachers use this system to help students solve some of those times when someone is “bugging” them. We encourage the children to attempt to solve these types of problems on their own and the DeBug System is a tool the students can use to help them out.
Below is a copy of the Five Step Debug System. It is also posted in your child’s classroom to help them remember. You may want to adopt it at home – it works with siblings, too!
The way it works for the adult is that when the child comes to you and complains that someone is “bugging” them, you say,
“Did you use the Debug System?”
If they say “No”, you say
“Try the steps and get back to me if you reach step 5.”
If they have already tried step 1 through 4, then you can intervene.
As a review of how the steps are taught include:
Step 1-Ignore means to not look at the person or think about what the person is doing. They can even put their hand next to their eyes so they can’t see the person.
Step 2-Move away or at least scoot away a little bit or turn their bodies away if they can’t walk away.
Step 3- Talk friendly usually includes “Please stop____.” Our goal is to stop at step 3 when someone asks us to please stop.
Step 4-Talk firmly is not yelling or name calling and may have a firm voice and telling the other person “I don’t like that”.
Step 5- Get an adult for help is not tattling if they used steps 1-4.
I have also made it clear to the children that there are times when it is important to skip right to step 5and get adult help…one can not ignore if someone is really hurt or being hurt, or if something else serious is happening.
Students are taught to tell an adult when:
>someone is hurt
>someone is sick
>you don't feel safe
>it is dangerous (such as climbing over the fence or they see a stranger near)
>someone is damaging property
>it is a BIG wrong (such as stealing)
This is a tool that your child can use for years and years. Please help your child feel capable to solve problems by reviewing this system with him/her and using it at home. I’d be glad to answer any questions about it, so feel free to contact me here at school.
When the Debug System is used consistently, children take ownership in solving problems and it reduces the times the adult has to intervene, plus it reduces the number of problems and it teaches the children a skill with problem solving and getting along with others.
Thank-you! And Happy Debugging!
Mrs. Lisa Raum
IU13 School Counselor
The DeBug System
1. Ignore. If that doesn’t work…
2. Move Away.If that doesn’t work…
3. Talk Friendly.If that doesn’t work…
4. Talk Firmly. If that doesn’t work…
5. Get Adult Help