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11th June 2023.
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What’s the Buzz? - a guide to the program
This page will help you understand how the books and the online resources work together. It also demonstrates what's available to those who secure online access.
What's the Buzz? books (teaching manuals)
There are 3 teaching manuals.
EARLY LEARNERS for students aged 5 to 8 years. What's the Buzz? For Early Learners: A complete social skills foundation course SECOND EDITION (2023). This program took What's the Buzz? on the ride of its life! So much so that global popularity demanded a SECOND EDITION. Over 16 lessons youngsters, aged 5 to 8 years, are immersed in a variety of essential interpersonal skills, stimulated by the experiences of a beautifully relatable character called Archie. In each lesson, the children help Archie solve the very same social dilemmas that occur in their lives.
Archie's BIG BOOK of friendship adventures is a large picture book to companion the EARLY LEARNERS. The newly edited and revised version of the book is now ONLINE. All 16 chapters, all 112 pages and loads of animations. Each page will fill your screen, at home, or at school, on any device. A fabulous way to introduce a lesson or connect kids to a particular social/ emotional theme! Ideal for pre-school, junior primary and lower primary aged kids! Don't have a membership? Then the first three chapters only are available to guests by clicking here.
PRIMARY is for students aged 9 to 11 years. The revised, second edition will not be available until August, 2019
In the meantime the original PRIMARY version is available and perfect for your needs.
The original PRIMARY version, book and online access, will continue to be available well into the future.
What's the Buzz with Teenagers? students aged 12 to 15 years
To run a program, you'll need to purchase books to teach from as lesson content is not available online. The website companions the book to;
- train educators to deliver the program (face to face, or online training, is necessary)
- provide deeper insights into working with more vulnerable students
- offers a wealth of digital resources to assist delivery of the program
Books can be purchased from this website by clicking here.
You can purchase multiple copies by emailing Sharon – mspalm@bigpond.com or Mark – mark@marklemessurier.com.au or calling on 0459418909.
The website – www.whatsthebuzz.net.au
The online resources available on this website companions all three programs.
A registration fee of $400 (AUD) will secure a site licence that allows everyone in your school or organisation access. Annual renewal is $150 (AUD). Conditions apply and to learn more about them read the Terms of Service, click here.
Online registration provides
Online TRAINING MODULES
These take about 2 hours to complete and give automatic online accreditation. Be sure to enter your own name and password before beginning these so your What's the Buzz? Accreditation Certificate will have your name on it. The TRAINING MODULES are ideal for educators wishing to run a program but are not able to join our Training Days at Sophia or invite us along to train staff personally. The TRAINING MODULES are equally useful for facilitators wishing to gain a deeper appreciation of the program and how to work more relationally with young people.
Direct access to the 96 FULL COLOUR ARCHIE IMAGES from all 3 What's the Buzz? programs;
What's the Buzz? for EARLY LEARNERS - 16 lessons/ 32 coloured images
What's the Buzz? for PRIMARY STUDENTS - 16 lessons/ 32 coloured images
What's the Buzz with Teenagers? - 16 lessons/ 32 coloured images
These will fill your electronic whiteboard or screen and have students absorbed as they listen to Archie's stories that reflect the complexities in their own lives. There are 2 Archie images for each lesson, and there's the additional option of accessing audio and having the authors read each Archie story to students (Click here to listen and see).
Sample images
The sample images displayed below have been taken from;
What's the Buzz? for EARLY LEARNERS
Lesson 9: Working with feelings
STORY – "Archie has big feelings"
Illustrator, Lauren Eldridge-Murray
twistedtales.com.au
Illustrator, Lauren Eldridge-Murray
twistedtales.com.au
What's the Buzz? for PRIMARY STUDENTS
Lesson 3: Peer pressure - when to follow and when to go your own way
STORY – "We thought you were better than this"
Illustrator, Lauren Eldridge-Murray
twistedtales.com.au
Illustrator, Lauren Eldridge-Murray
twistedtales.com.au
What's the Buzz with Teenagers?
Lesson 4: Wellbeing and social media
STORY – "Archie, get off your phone! You're addicted to it!"
Illustrator, Lauren Eldridge-Murray
twistedtales.com.au
Illustrator, Lauren Eldridge-Murray
twistedtales.com.au
Website access
Registration provides access to 5 social skills games for students to play online.
1. Scrapbook with 2 degrees of difficulty and 3 size layouts
2. Jigsaw with 3 degrees of difficulty
3. Pick the feelings. Explanation included.
4. Snap - print the 3 pages of photographs provided 3 or 4 times, laminate and trim so they become playing cards. Follow the rules included!
5. Copycat. Directions to play are included.
Online registration offers an easy alternative to prepare resources quickly before teaching the program;
Role-play cards
Example from, What's the Buzz? for PRIMARY STUDENTS.
Lesson 10: Empathy, responding to others
Interim graduation certificates and certificate of graduation
Example from What's the Buzz? for EARLY LEARNERS
Interim Graduation Certificate Graduation Certificate
Similar certificates can be downloaded when using, What's the Buzz? for PRIMARY STUDENTS.
Activity and worksheets
Examples from What's the Buzz with Teenagers?
Similar available in the other 2 programs
PRE and POST GROUP social functioning surveys
Examples of PRE-group surveys from What's the Buzz with Teenagers?
Similar surveys in the other 2 programs. POST-group surveys are not displayed here; only the first eight questions are displayed.
The website has a specialised facility to track the progress of children.
It visually compares responses from the PRE and POST-group surveys
After the Buzz, social thinking ideas for parents and caregivers
At the end of each lesson (48 altogether) are several pages written for parents, teachers and caregivers. They contain tips and ideas to continue to extend and strengthen the social and emotional skills introduced in the lesson. They are offered in a Word doc format, so they can be easily edited and distributed to parents as emails, handouts, or be included in your school's or organisation's newsletter.
To arrange online access, click on any of the What's the Buzz? book covers below
Use of this website signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service