Hello Kindergarten to 4th grade families. Can not believe that we are in the home stretch before summer begins. We will have a unit on healthy choices. The healthy choices include factual information about alcohol tobacco/nicotine, healthy foods, peer pressure and what to do, empathy and finally revisiting their trusted adults that can keep them safe. Enjoy the moments of the last 23 days of school.
We are on the home stretch for our Howard Huskies. Kindergarten to 2nd grade will review how they can solve their own problems. We will view an interactive story so they can choose what the size of the problem is which is the first step in solving problems. It may feel big but we will discover if we stop and think of the size first, we are more than likely be able to handle the problem in an expected way.
Kindergarten to 4th grade will be exploring mindfulness. Mindfulness is the awareness of your emotions, thoughts and the world around you. You are present in the moment and focusing in on the here and now. Also, it helps in accepting your feelings and thoughts so that you can handle those moments that are difficult. K to 2nd grade will read the Lemonade Hurricane and explore their own happy place and breathing to use as a tool to help them deal with strong emotions or situations. 3rd and 4th grade will practice a few other tools to help be more mindful.
1st and 2nd graders will be reminded of their superflex powers this week. What better way to do that than having Ned's head filled with the unthinkables. The kids in 1st and 2nd grade will be able to pull out one of the unthinkables and we will tie it into our expectations and how to defeat it if it comes out at school. They will quickly remember how to be apart of our Howard Family. We will also watch the video that our own students made. Click Neds head for the amazing video.
Buddy up against bullying... is the theme for all classes this week.
When someone states hurtful words especially over and over again, individuals have a hard time dealing with it. So we will watch a little clip from McGruff the Crime dog and learn ways to Unite against bullying... STOP< TALK>WALK. Click the picture to the right and you can see what the K friends watched. Enjoy
When someone states hurtful words especially over and over again, individuals have a hard time dealing with it. So we will watch a little clip from McGruff the Crime dog and learn ways to Unite against bullying... STOP< TALK>WALK. Click the picture to the right and you can see what the K friends watched. Enjoy
1st grade will work on words that will help them if people are teasing them and they don't like it. Also, these same words can be used when others are being mean or even bullying them. The words are: It BUGS me when you... and I WISH you. When we began to explore the book with the students, we discovered also that we need to listen to others whole body listening. We explored reading body language and feelings and what to do in those situations. Once we read the book, the MAGIC bag came out. In the bag were bugs and one star. We talked about that many things throughout the day can bug us but when certain ones really bug us, we could use the phrases "It bugs me when and I wish". Some of the students were able to pick a bug and the star wand and practice.
Week two: this week we will watch a Sesame Street Video "Me wait" because all of them will be practicing patience and waiting their turn. This is also another strategy needed when dealing with others when you are frustrated, mad or other feelings. Tap on the picture and you can view the video.
Week two: this week we will watch a Sesame Street Video "Me wait" because all of them will be practicing patience and waiting their turn. This is also another strategy needed when dealing with others when you are frustrated, mad or other feelings. Tap on the picture and you can view the video.
Welcome back after our long Winter break... coming back from break is hard for all of us to get back into routine and know what is expected with our Howard Family. We will spend time going over the Howard Husky Way by doing an experiment with 3 glasses of baking soda... this will represent our Howard husky way. When we are doing what is expected, we are calm and can handle it. However, when we forget our self control, we start to loss it(I will add vinegar into the baking soda and the kids will see what happens). We will go over outdoor and indoor recess expectations, self control and review a way to help them have self control. Click on picture for video we will watch.
Welcome back from our break. Hope all enjoyed the time with your child. We are excited to see our students come back from break. We are going to be working on Choose Kind activities throughout the whole month of December. We are promoting Choose Kind and we will be utilizing activities from the book and movie Wonder. Our mission for our Howard Family is to instill Choose Kind and find Mindful Moments for them to reflect on their day to see how classmates and our family has truly made a difference.
Kindergarten to 2nd grade will be working on Size of Problem. Last week, we talked about a big problem where they need to get an adult. We will be exploring problems that they can solve (small problems I can handle), others they need help with from a friend or an adult (medium problems, I need help) and lastly we will explore problems that they need to find one of their trusted adults (big problem, big person). Hopefully this activity will help them to start exploring how to solve their own problems in an expected way. Having to solve problems is sometimes tricky because of how they make us feel.
Think Safe... Be Safe
Howard, we tell the students that our number one job is to keep them safe and their job is to keep it that way. This week, all classrooms are going to learn the 3 basic safety rules:
Howard, we tell the students that our number one job is to keep them safe and their job is to keep it that way. This week, all classrooms are going to learn the 3 basic safety rules:
- We all have the right to feel safe.. all the time.
- Other people have the right to feel safe with us... all the time.
- Nothing is so awful that you can't talk to someone you trust.
Hello K to 1st grade families:
This week we are going to venture into identifying our feelings and how to identify them. Feelings can be tricky but definitely all are ok as long as we deal with them in a respectful manner. We will start talking about what zones the feelings are in to help us find tools to deal with them. We will make connections of what zones they are in with what part of the brain they are in too. Again, all zones and feelings are ok as long as we deal with them. Wednesday in the family folder will be a parent guide to the Zones of Regulation. Enjoy! Kindergarten walked the Inside Out movie within the last couple weeks to wrap their brain around the zones.
This week we are going to venture into identifying our feelings and how to identify them. Feelings can be tricky but definitely all are ok as long as we deal with them in a respectful manner. We will start talking about what zones the feelings are in to help us find tools to deal with them. We will make connections of what zones they are in with what part of the brain they are in too. Again, all zones and feelings are ok as long as we deal with them. Wednesday in the family folder will be a parent guide to the Zones of Regulation. Enjoy! Kindergarten walked the Inside Out movie within the last couple weeks to wrap their brain around the zones.
shubert is excited to show them to be a star
Shubert was so excited to finally introduce himself to the Kindergarten and 1st grade friends. We started with our magic bag... we started with if we work together as a family, magic will happen. The magic bag contained a brain for the kids to feel. The K friends pointed to what part of the brain they were in and highlighted how he solved his problems. Shubert is a lightening bug who teaches us many things of how to handle life. In this book, Shubert was having a rough day and struggled to calm down and to move on. CLICK on the book to the left to show you the four calming tricks we practiced to keep calm and move on. Pointed out the Safe Zone in each classroom. ENJOY!
Welcome back our Howard Husky Family. We are so excited to have everyone back and welcoming our new family members. At Howard, we want all of our Howard Huskies to feel safe, be respectful and responsible. It is our Howard Husky Way. We spend the first 10 days of the school year with Character Camp. Our Howard Family goes over what is expected and unexpected at school including the bus, recess, and the lunch room. During the first week of life skills, we will review the Howard Husky Way and introduce the concept of "What's Your Name". At Howard, we want all students and staff to get to know each other so we will start off by knowing each others' names. Each grade will have an interactive way of getting to know each other. Kindergarten will use a husky, 1st grade will use "Hot Husky", 2nd grade starbursts, 3rd grade pepper and water, and 4th balloons. We will emphasize in the older grades KYHFOOTY (keep your hands feet other objects to yourself) for safety. Have a great year.
Welcome Back 2017-18 School year
In K through 3rd Grade this week, we will be reading Soda Pop Head. It is a wonderful book showing how important it is for ALL of us to learn to control our fizz... things that start to upset us or think is not fair. Below are ideas from the book that we can do and teach our children to do. Enjoy.
Teach your child to control their fizz. When your child first starts to feel angry, teach him/her how to loosen their bottle cap before the pressure inside of them builds up. Techniques include:
1. Take five deep breaths.
2. Walk away and find a quiet place to sit down and relax your muscles.
3. Do the Push, Pull, Dangle (Push down on the seat of your chair while you count to ten; pull up on the seat of your chair while you count to ten; Dangle your arms at your side and feel all of your stress leave your body.)
4. Go into your room and play your music really loud.
5. If you feel the need to hit something, punch your pillow.
6. Get plenty of rest. (It’s hard to control your fizz when you are tired.)
7. Eat healthy. (It’s harder to control your fizz if your body doesn’t feel good on the inside.
8. Never screw your bottle cap on so tight you can’t loosen it. If you do your anger will build up inside and if it can’t come out through your cap, it will end up making you feel sick.
Teach your child to control their fizz. When your child first starts to feel angry, teach him/her how to loosen their bottle cap before the pressure inside of them builds up. Techniques include:
1. Take five deep breaths.
2. Walk away and find a quiet place to sit down and relax your muscles.
3. Do the Push, Pull, Dangle (Push down on the seat of your chair while you count to ten; pull up on the seat of your chair while you count to ten; Dangle your arms at your side and feel all of your stress leave your body.)
4. Go into your room and play your music really loud.
5. If you feel the need to hit something, punch your pillow.
6. Get plenty of rest. (It’s hard to control your fizz when you are tired.)
7. Eat healthy. (It’s harder to control your fizz if your body doesn’t feel good on the inside.
8. Never screw your bottle cap on so tight you can’t loosen it. If you do your anger will build up inside and if it can’t come out through your cap, it will end up making you feel sick.
During the next few weeks in Life Skills Class, students will be learning about making healthy and safe choices. Students in 1st grade will be introduced to and participate in activities from the programs Here’s Looking at You as well as the Michigan Model for Comprehensive School Health Education. These programs are designed to prevent children from using nicotine, alcohol and other drugs. They are based on reducing children’s risky behaviors and promoting children’s healthy behaviors.Students at Howard will have two lessons from this program. They will review what a drug is: anything you put into your body that changes how you feel except for food and water. Howard Huskies will review what are Helpful and Harmful drugs.
Since alcohol and cigarettes are two choices that each student will eventually need to make a decision about, we focus prevention efforts in this area. We will discuss healthy choices for your body with food and exercise plus go over what is the most addicted drug (tobacco and nicotine) and most powerful drug (alcohol). We will look at healthy choices by discussing situations that they may be in and how they will plan ahead if they are ever in those situations. Then we will see how helpful drugs (medicines) look so much like candy and focus the lesson on how important it is to have a trusted adult give them medicine.
The final lesson for students will be a lesson on personal safety. Students will identify early warning signals in their bodies that alert them to possible danger. If they don’t feel safe they are taught they need to get safe and talk with an adult. We will also review safe and unsafe touch. Students will learn about three different kinds of touches: good/safe touches, bad/unsafe touches (hit or pinch) and mixed up touches (a private part touch). Private parts will be defined as any area that is covered by a swimsuit. Students are taught to say no and talk to one of their five trusted adults.
Since alcohol and cigarettes are two choices that each student will eventually need to make a decision about, we focus prevention efforts in this area. We will discuss healthy choices for your body with food and exercise plus go over what is the most addicted drug (tobacco and nicotine) and most powerful drug (alcohol). We will look at healthy choices by discussing situations that they may be in and how they will plan ahead if they are ever in those situations. Then we will see how helpful drugs (medicines) look so much like candy and focus the lesson on how important it is to have a trusted adult give them medicine.
The final lesson for students will be a lesson on personal safety. Students will identify early warning signals in their bodies that alert them to possible danger. If they don’t feel safe they are taught they need to get safe and talk with an adult. We will also review safe and unsafe touch. Students will learn about three different kinds of touches: good/safe touches, bad/unsafe touches (hit or pinch) and mixed up touches (a private part touch). Private parts will be defined as any area that is covered by a swimsuit. Students are taught to say no and talk to one of their five trusted adults.
Kindergarten and 1st grade will be focusing in on the steps for self control. I am going to teach the "stoplight method" in life skills this week. It's an easy way for kids to visualize their thought processes. I start by asking them what happens when mom or dad is driving down the road and they come to a red light? They all yell out "stop!" We then talk about the other colors...yellow slow down, and green go. I tell them that the traffic light "gives warnings"to the drivers on the road to keep everyone safe. We talk about what would happen if people ignored the traffic lights. They all comment "they would wreck." I then explain that this is the stoplight for their brain! It helps them give warnings about their decisions and also helps prevent "wrecks" from happening in their life. Sometimes when we "go" without thinking first, disaster strikes...we get in trouble, someone gets hurt, etc. We then talk about each step....Red means "stop!", yellow means "slow down and think!" and green means "go!" We have to think about our actions before we go! This is a great technique to help with impulsivity and self control. We will also have some fun running, walking and stopping in place by playing red, yellow green light.
Welcome back from break. We will remind our K and 1st grade friends of our last lesson by actually put into play the Howard Husky Way (HHW) of being safe, respectful and responsible. They will actually become their cars and walk around the room. If they are safe, they will continue to drive around the room. IF they are not following the HHW, they will have to park their car and watch others. Of course the ones who drive the safest will have an incentive just like in real life.
Welcome back from break. We will remind our K and 1st grade friends of our last lesson by actually put into play the Howard Husky Way (HHW) of being safe, respectful and responsible. They will actually become their cars and walk around the room. If they are safe, they will continue to drive around the room. IF they are not following the HHW, they will have to park their car and watch others. Of course the ones who drive the safest will have an incentive just like in real life.
Kindergarten through 1st grade will work on words that will help them if people are teasing them and they don't like it. Also, these same words can be used when others are being mean or even bullying them. The words are: It BUGS me when... and I WISH. When we began to explore the book to the left with the students, we discovered also that we need to listen to others whole body listening. We explored reading body language and feelings and what to do in those situations. Once we read the book, the MAGIC bag came out. In the bag were bugs and one star. We talked about that many things throughout the day can bug us but when certain ones really bug us, we could use the phrases "It bugs me when and I wish". Some of the students were able to pick a bug and the star wand and practice.
Week two: this week we will watch a Sesame Street Video "Me want it" because all of them will be practicing patience and waiting their turn. This is also another strategy needed when dealing with others when you are frustrated, mad or other feelings. Tap on the picture and you can view the video.
Week two: this week we will watch a Sesame Street Video "Me want it" because all of them will be practicing patience and waiting their turn. This is also another strategy needed when dealing with others when you are frustrated, mad or other feelings. Tap on the picture and you can view the video.
This week, the Kindergarten and 1st graders will continue to learn how to think of others, instead of wanting to be first. We will read the book "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?". Then each of the classes will have a "team" bucket to fill the rest of the year. We hope that they will be able to fill it and have it over flowing. The concept behind filling bucket is that when you do nice/kind things for others, you fill their bucket and yours at the same time. It is amazing!
We are working as a Howard Family to be more kind. Recently, we talked in one of the 1st grade classes about the domino effect. Sooo, we are going to watch a video that will emphasize "because Kindness helps the world afloat... life vest". Click on the picture to the left to preview. Then we will brainstorm ideas of kind acts. Once they come up with a kind act, they will place the domino like to the left and we will push the dominos and see what happens. Then they will be challenged to do random acts of kindness for the Student Council sheet or out of the goodness of their heart.
We have been learning how tricky those unthinkables are when they invade our thoughts. Mean Jean and Rock Brain are two of the unthinkables who team up during the month of February to defeat Nice Brice and Rex Flexinator! Howard B Wigglebottom is struggling with the two of them and he is losing his friends. Howard is going to help the Kindergarten and 1st graders learn how to get along with others and find their superflex powers to defeat them.
We will watch the book called "Howard B Wigglebottom Learns How To Get Along". Click on the picture to the right and there will be even more lessons to learn if you want to share them with your child. We will be able to color a picture and set a goal of how to get along with others. They can circle one they need to work on. Enjoy.
We will watch the book called "Howard B Wigglebottom Learns How To Get Along". Click on the picture to the right and there will be even more lessons to learn if you want to share them with your child. We will be able to color a picture and set a goal of how to get along with others. They can circle one they need to work on. Enjoy.
During life skills for Kindergaren to 4th grade, we will be learning how to say we are sorry, mean it and work on steps of how we should have handled the situation better. Sometimes we make mistakes or intentionally hurt someone and we need to apologize and learn from the situation. Kindergarteners will continue to focus on how to be a good friend and this could be apart of being a good friend. To own when we make a mistake and truly be able to apologize is a life skill that all of us need.
1st through 4th will be starting off with watching the video of "Superflex and the thinkables and how to defeat the Unthinkables". Tap on the book "Sorry" and you will see the video. Some of our students are the main characters! There will be some of the Unthinkables in the book "Sorry" and how we can defeat them with the Thinkables help.
1st through 4th will be starting off with watching the video of "Superflex and the thinkables and how to defeat the Unthinkables". Tap on the book "Sorry" and you will see the video. Some of our students are the main characters! There will be some of the Unthinkables in the book "Sorry" and how we can defeat them with the Thinkables help.
Welcom back 1st graders. This week will be getting into their animal tribes and review how to work with each other in small groups and outside playing. The animal tribes are a group of about 4 individuals in their class that they will work with during life skills and their "Go To Group" out at recess. If they followed directions, each student is guaranteed at least one friend they chose in their tribe. Once we get into tribes, we will review behavior expectations and their goals to make their year better and what is the "Go To Group". Also continue to work on solving small problems I can Handle. Can't wait to see all the expressions on their faces.
The week is finally here... the buzz in the 1st grade wing has been going since we started gathering our shoe boxes. A 4th grade student, Callie, decided to share her best way she has learned to calm down before she says or does things that might hurt her or others. We hope you enjoy your child's box! They will be able to keep at school and/or bring home. IF they need it at both spots, they will be in charge of carrying it back in forth in a bag. Callie will be teaching life skills this week. Can't wait to see her be a teacher!
2nd week of calming down boxes as a tool... we will share some successes stories or something they put in their calm down tool box. Then we will spend time finding classmates they would love to be in a small tribe group after the holidays.
2nd week of calming down boxes as a tool... we will share some successes stories or something they put in their calm down tool box. Then we will spend time finding classmates they would love to be in a small tribe group after the holidays.
Welcome back from our long break. Our Group plan is to review our Howard Husky way. Well instead of talking about it, we will be actually using being safe, respectful and responsible while completing a project for each student K-3rd grade. We will be making homemade Play Dough. They will need to demonstrate the Howard Husky Way to get our project complete. If that happens, all students will walk away with a small bag full of play dough to use as a tool throughout the day. They will be responsible to close the bag and use it appropriately. When they first get it, it is super warm. Love the feeling. No worries, all ingredients are edible. Hoping no one takes me up on that though. Tee hee.
Sometimes during the day, we have distractions and others are really not following the group plan. A group plan is when everyone is thinking about and doing the same things especially when they are directed to do so. K-1 will be reading the book and then doing activities with apples and eggs to show how important it is to follow the group plan. We will be reflecting throughout the book which Zone each would be in if this was happening to them. We hope that you have been enjoying your child learning about the Zones of Regulation.
Hello K to 2nd grade families:
This week we are going to venture into identifying our feelings and how to identify them. Feelings can be tricky but definitely all ok as long as we deal with them in a respectful manner. We will start talking about what zones the feelings are in to help us find tools to deal with them. We will make connections of what zones they are in with what part of the brain they are in too. Again, all zones and feelings are ok as long as we deal with them. Wednesday in the family folder will be a parent guide to the Zones of Regulation. Enjoy! Click on the picture for the video we will be watching to help us.
This week we are going to venture into identifying our feelings and how to identify them. Feelings can be tricky but definitely all ok as long as we deal with them in a respectful manner. We will start talking about what zones the feelings are in to help us find tools to deal with them. We will make connections of what zones they are in with what part of the brain they are in too. Again, all zones and feelings are ok as long as we deal with them. Wednesday in the family folder will be a parent guide to the Zones of Regulation. Enjoy! Click on the picture for the video we will be watching to help us.
Kindergarten to 2nd grade are going to spend some time on Mindful Minute Tools. Throughout the day, they may be distracted, hearing things that may be loud to them or just plain tired. We will spend a minute practicing things students can do on their own if others around them are bothering them or just need to refocus. Tap on the picture to see the first thing they will be learning. Enjoy.
Think Safe... Be Safe
Howard, we tell the students that our number one job is to keep them safe and their job is to keep it that way. This week, all classrooms are going to learn the 3 basic safety rules:
Howard, we tell the students that our number one job is to keep them safe and their job is to keep it that way. This week, all classrooms are going to learn the 3 basic safety rules:
- We all have the right to feel safe.. all the time.
- Other people have the right to feel safe with us... all the time.
- Nothing is so awful that you can't talk to someone you trust.
Kindergarten to 2nd graders will be working on self control and looking at the size of the problem and the size of the reaction. We will watch a fun video with cookie monster called "me want it". Click the picture to the right and you can watch it. Then we will be have some fun with the sphere to show small vs. big problems and how small problems I can handle and big problems get a big person. 1st and 2nd graders will use small groups to discuss the problem and then use the booklets called the Howard Husky Hints to solve them.
Welcome back unthinkables and thinkables. Some of the students have already asked if we will be having fun with the thinkables and unthinkables again this year. Absolutely!! We will be beginning with Space Invader. Space Invader tries to get people to break the rules of personal space so that they make not-so-good impression on others. Space Respecter helps people pay attention to and respect other's personal space bubbles. K to 2nd graders will enjoy some moving around and getting to know others while they practice space respecter. Hopefully, this will continue to support our number one goal this year to decrease physical aggression/contact at Howard elementary. We will discuss the Safe Zone to help someone regroup and calm down.
During Life Skills this week for all grades, we will be working on self control with our whole body listening. We will have a little fun with bubbles K-2 to actually feel what it is like to knowing you can do something but deciding you won't. We will be able to pop bubbles and then blow bubbles and just let them fall. It is SOOO hard to do but that is what self control is all about. Larry the listener will be helping us know that we need to sometimes use our whole body to have self control. To see the book, click on the picture to the left and view the book. 1st graders may even get a self control sheet when they are showing using their whole body listening to control their bodies! Look for them.
Welcome Back to 2016-17 School Year!!
Welcome back to the 2016-17 school year! I am so excited to start this year. We will be starting off by getting to know each other by sharing names and giving each other high 5's. We will talk about what is a school counselor and what is life skills! Life skills are the classes that the school counselor teaches every week so that they can be the best they can be. Sometimes, students want to talk with me, so I will share a sheet with the teacher to have them fill out and the teacher will give it to me. We will discuss how to greet people, say hi to each other in the halls, what to do if we forget someone's name... say "what's your name?", and if someone is too close to you, we will be working on a fun way to let others know. We will say "KYHFOOTY" which means Keep Your Hands Feet Other Objects To Yourself. We are working on a safe environment from day one. Kindergarten through 2nd Grade will be working on the same lesson this week! Any questions, please call at 920-662-9760 or email me at [email protected]. Have a grand school year.
Can not believe it... this is the last week of life skills for all grades. We will be reviewing Summer Safety tips. Please look for the ABC's of safety to come home next week so you can review your family summer safety expectations! Have a fabulous summer
Well it is that time of year... the kids are trying to be helpful friends. We are going to go over small vs. big problems so we can continue our healthy choices. We want our students to be able to solve problems but also when they need to get to a trusted adult We will introduce specific situations that they will need to know if that is tattling or telling. And of course we will have a little fun with "Josh the Tattler!".
1st graders will spend time playing "pick a card any card" to discuss how to make healthy choices in peer pressure situations. We will review what is a drug? A drug is anything you put in your body that changes how you feel.
Second week, we will look at drug look alike and really talk about how important it is to take medication only from trusted adults and if they find anything that is unwrapped, not to eat it but just throw it away or get an adult to assist them in getting rid of it.
Second week, we will look at drug look alike and really talk about how important it is to take medication only from trusted adults and if they find anything that is unwrapped, not to eat it but just throw it away or get an adult to assist them in getting rid of it.
This week, the Kindergarten and 1st graders will continue to learn how to think of others, instead of wanting to be first. We will read the book "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" on the smartboard. Then each of the classes will have a "team" bucket to fill the rest of the year. We hope that they will be able to fill it and have it over flowing. The concept behind filling bucket is that when you do nice/kind things for others, you fill their bucket and yours at the same time. It is amazing!
Kindergarten and 1st graders will be working on "Me First". We have noticed that some friends LOVE to be first. I think we all have feelings like that some times. However, when this occurs at school, sometimes it involves pushing, running and not even thinking about what others are thinking. So we will read "Me First". It is about a pig who wants to be first no matter what. He learns in the book that first is not always the best.
Tap on the picture of a message from Kid President about 20 things we should say more often. We will be working on our words and actions and how we DO make a difference in others' lives even our own.
Tap on the picture of a message from Kid President about 20 things we should say more often. We will be working on our words and actions and how we DO make a difference in others' lives even our own.
Welcome back Spring Breakers. We have been away from each other awhile and we need to go over our Howard Husky Way. What better way to do that than having Ned's head filled with the unthinkables. The kids in 1st and 2nd grade will be able to pull out one of the unthinkables and we will tie it into our expectations and how to defeat it if it comes out at school. They will quickly remember how to be apart of our Howard Family.
Our journey with Superflex continues. Our unthinkables will go crazy in the next two weeks before spring break so we decided to find ways to defeat the most common one... Glassman. Glassman can see that citizens are happy especially when they are getting their way. As soon as they don't get their way, Glassman controls the brainso that he gets upset and shatter like a pane of glass. The people become angry over small problems and have a big reaction.
The Kindergarten and 1st graders will be introduced to Cool Q Cumber that will help figure out what the size of the problem is, stay calm and find a way to have positive self talk.
The Kindergarten and 1st graders will be introduced to Cool Q Cumber that will help figure out what the size of the problem is, stay calm and find a way to have positive self talk.
We had so much fun with Superflex and Rock Brain, that we are going to continue to explore Superflex and the Brain Eater. This books really helps us look at when we are suppose to be listening, and other things around us and in our brain get us distract us, we will learn how to defeat brain eater. Soon we will have a book being sent home to share with you the unthinkables with the thinkables to help defeat them. Enjoy!
K to 4th grade have been working hard at finding ways to change our I can't thoughts to I can or I can't yet. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be introducing some cartoon characters called Unthinkables. The Unthinkables are characters that people can connect to when they get stuck. When they can identify their Unthinkable, they will be able to use their superflex powers to get unstuck. We will introduce the Thinkables to help them defeat those unthinkables to help be flexible, productive thinkers.
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This week in life skills K-4, we will be working on Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset. Growth Mindset is changing your brain/mind through effort and practice their skills and having the belief that "you can change". Fixed Mindset is believing that your talent/skills are NOT able to change even with effort.
1st graders will read Salt in His Shoes and work on if they want to give up, how they can continue to work towards their goal. Hopefully this will help them continue to pursue their dream. Click on the Salt in His Shoes book and watch the Bruno Mars video "Don't Give Up"!
1st graders will read Salt in His Shoes and work on if they want to give up, how they can continue to work towards their goal. Hopefully this will help them continue to pursue their dream. Click on the Salt in His Shoes book and watch the Bruno Mars video "Don't Give Up"!
We will continue to work on our thoughts especially our red thoughts. We will read the book but we will also do the book live with the kids. We will be seeing what happens when we share angry words, how to bury them and how to use our words appropriately if we are angry. The 1st graders will share with a group what they are going to do with their anger the next time they are angry.
During group plan, we worked on thoughts and if we don't share them, how our group plan does not work. However, our own thoughts can get into the way of working together as a group. We can have green or red thoughts. Green thoughts are thoughts that state "I can" handle it and make good choices.
We will continue to work on our thoughts and have fun with the hula hoops.
We will continue to work on our thoughts and have fun with the hula hoops.
Red thoughts are thoughts that state "I can't" handle this situation or thought. When this occurs, the person makes poor choices and ends up saying or doing things that are not appropriate. So we will be working on what kind of thought is this and how to handle it. It works. It did for me!
Sometimes during the day, we have distractions and others are really not following the group plan. A group plan is when everyone is thinking about and doing the same things especially when they are directed to do so. This week during life skills for all grades, we will be working on practicing group plans. K-2 will be reading the book and then doing activities with apples and eggs to show how important it is to follow the group plan. 3rd & 4th will watch a 1st grader reading the book and then discussing in their tribes what a group plan is. 3rd will watch what they created last week and point out how they know people are following the group plan and when they are not following, what to do. 4th will create a plan how they will follow the group plan or do reminders when students are not following.
Kindergarten through 2nd grade will be working on size of problem and reaction so that we learn not to make more problems for ourselves. In life, we have many problems that come up from what to wear to having someone we love die. Our reactions to the problems is critical to the outcome of the situation. We will have a little fun with Jordy Nelson cut out being our guest to help show the big problem and then work on the appropriate reactions. We will use the expandable sphere to the right to show what happens if the size of the problem and reaction are not the same.
Welcome back Kindergarten & 1st graders!! We missed you and want to make sure that you are doing your best when you come back. We will watch a fun sesame street, spongebob and other characters to remind us of what we need to do for our Howard Husky Way. Then we will practice some of those ideas and watch some dancing bubbles to show us other ways we can work on self control and expected voice volume! Click on the classroom rules picture to view our video!
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Welcome back from Break!! Kindergarteners through 2nd graders will be venturing into thinking about their thoughts and feeling their feelings. It is important to work on both of them to help have expected/appropriate reactions to situations. During the book, we will practice the Howard Husky Way since we have had a long break. We will be working on these social skills for a couple weeks. We will also enjoy a few songs to remind us of our thoughts and feelings.
Kindergarten through 2nd grade will work on words that will help them if people are teasing them and they don't like it. Also, these same words can be used when others are being mean or even bullying them. The words are: It BUGS me when... and I WISH. When we began to explore the book to the left with the students, we discovered also that we need to listen to others whole body listening. We explored reading body language and feelings and what to do in those situations. Once we read the book, the MAGIC bag came out. In the bag were bugs and one star. We talked about that many things throughout the day can bug us but when certain ones really bug us, we could use the phrases "It bugs me when and I wish". Some of the students were able to pick a bug and the star wand and practice.
Week two: this week we will watch a Sesame Street Video "Me wait" because all of them will be practicing patience and waiting their turn. This is also another strategy needed when dealing with others when you are frustrated, mad or other feelings. Tap on the picture and you can view the video.
Week two: this week we will watch a Sesame Street Video "Me wait" because all of them will be practicing patience and waiting their turn. This is also another strategy needed when dealing with others when you are frustrated, mad or other feelings. Tap on the picture and you can view the video.
Buddy up against bullying... is the theme for all classes the last couple week. October is national bullying prevention month and this week we are honoring that mission and completing different activities that will help Unite against bullying.
When someone states hurtful words especially over and over again, individuals have a hard time dealing with it. So we will watch a little clip from McGruff the Crime dog and learn ways to Unite against bullying... STOP< TALK>WALK. Click the piture to the right and you can see what the K friends watched. Enjoy
This week in all grades we will be working on Unity Day... make it orange! Make it End. The National Bullying Prevention Center is setting aside October 21st, 2015 to promote unity for kindness, acceptance and inclusion. We will all be working on what kind of things we can say and do to be kind. The older grades will be focusing in on heart words that show someone that you care about them and respect them. Remember bullying is when someone targets someone to make them feel bad and does it over and over and over again.
Think Safe... Be Safe
Howard, we tell the students that our number one job is to keep them safe and their job is to keep it that way. This week, all classrooms are going to learn the 3 basic safety rules:
Howard, we tell the students that our number one job is to keep them safe and their job is to keep it that way. This week, all classrooms are going to learn the 3 basic safety rules:
- We all have the right to feel safe.. all the time.
- Other people have the right to feel safe with us... all the time.
- Nothing is so awful that you can't talk to someone you trust.
Howard Husky Hints
Kindergarteners and 1st graders this week will continue to learn about small problems vs. Big problems. We will use the sphere to show how small vs. big the problem and review all the ways they can solve their problems with the Howard Husky Hints. Can't wait to see their eyes when we use the sphere! Hope they can be thrilled to know that they can solve their own problems. Look for the booklet to come home next week. The Howard Husky Hints will be in a can called "I can" to show that every CAN solve their small problems.
Kindergarteners and 1st graders this week will continue to learn about small problems vs. Big problems. We will use the sphere to show how small vs. big the problem and review all the ways they can solve their problems with the Howard Husky Hints. Can't wait to see their eyes when we use the sphere! Hope they can be thrilled to know that they can solve their own problems. Look for the booklet to come home next week. The Howard Husky Hints will be in a can called "I can" to show that every CAN solve their small problems.
Whole Body Listening was amazing to learn and to see the 1st graders actually practicing it on the 2nd week of school. We are going to expland our Whole Body Listening to friend situation. in 1st and 2nd grade, we will be doing some Friendly Fishing! We want to make sure that we have the right bait to catch friends. We will also continue to practice Whole Body Listening, taking turns, sharing, waiting patiently for others. It sure will be fun to see them catch a good friendly fish and talk about what to do if they catch a bad fish.
WE had so much friendly fishing, we are going to continue to fish. In order to fish this week, they need to show whole body listening and tell of a time that they were being a good friend. Then they will write a goal about how they are going to be apart of our Howard Family and stay a friendly fish throughout the year!
WE had so much friendly fishing, we are going to continue to fish. In order to fish this week, they need to show whole body listening and tell of a time that they were being a good friend. Then they will write a goal about how they are going to be apart of our Howard Family and stay a friendly fish throughout the year!
WElcome Back...
Students were introduced to the class "Life Skills", with Mrs. Zimmerman, the School Counselor. Mrs. Zimmerman joins each classroom almost every week during the school year to work with your 1st grader. All Kindergarten through 2nd grade will be reading this important book. In order to learn, you need to be listening.
During the first lesson, students reviewed the "Howard Husky Way" agreements of "Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible" better known as being attentive listeners, being respectful to themselves/others/things and being a good participant (TRIBE agreements). They learned to be a "Whole Body Listener" by reading the book "Whole Body Listening Larry at School". They also were introduced to my Buddy Cart. Ask them about life skills and what they learn every week. This is a helpful site to have a conversation starter!
We will be learning about KYHFOOTY is... Ask them!
During the first lesson, students reviewed the "Howard Husky Way" agreements of "Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible" better known as being attentive listeners, being respectful to themselves/others/things and being a good participant (TRIBE agreements). They learned to be a "Whole Body Listener" by reading the book "Whole Body Listening Larry at School". They also were introduced to my Buddy Cart. Ask them about life skills and what they learn every week. This is a helpful site to have a conversation starter!
We will be learning about KYHFOOTY is... Ask them!
Welcome Back to 2015-16 School Year!!
We are having our last life skills class in the next couple weeks. We will finish by having some fun... we will go outside and play while we put some life skills in action. We hope you have a safe and fun summer. We are counting the days while we make them count. Enjoy the summer!!
As we are JUST starting to get nice weather, we are going to go over ABCs of safety as they venture outside more. Also, with summer coming, we wanted to make sure that they have ideas of how to keep themselves safe. Please look for a handout to come home to help you open the conversation about your safety rules at home during the spring/summer months. We will touch base on the importance of the 3W's too... who are you going with, where are going and when will you return. Can't wait to see them back next year safely!!
We will read a book called "The Crayon Box That Talked". It is helpful to all have different gifts we bring to our family and at school. Our spy in our class will hand out a puzzle piece to each of the students while they are sitting and listening to the book. When we are done, each will draw any picture they want and we will put the puzzle back together and displayed outside their room to show that everyone is unique but if we work together, how we can finish strong for the year and make life colorful.
Welcome back from Spring Break K-2nd graders... since we have been gone for awhile, we will be working at all levels of how to deal with others "bugging" us and "wishing" they would do something else. We will be all working on using our kind, firm words instead of being physical or using mean words. This is the time of year that students struggle with others since we have been gone for over a week but also, a little spring fever hits them. We will be working on some simple ideas... We will work on, It BUGS me when__________. I WISH__________> This is a simple way to teach I statements. We will use a bag of bugs adn they will be able to pick one when they are talking about what bugs them. The kids love to touch the bugs... I don't understand why??!!
We will continue to practice a bug and a wish... who would have thought that they actually liked touching the bugs!! They will work in small groups and share their bug and a wish.
We will continue to practice a bug and a wish... who would have thought that they actually liked touching the bugs!! They will work in small groups and share their bug and a wish.
Continuing to work on this lesson this week. We will figure out what bubbles and make them fizz inside. Then they will pick some ideas to have a plan of how to deal with it.
In K through 3rd Grade this week, we will be listening to Soda Pop Head. It is a wonderful book showing how important it is for ALL of us to learn to control our fizz... things that start to upset us or think is not fair. Below are ideas from the book that we can do and teach our children to do. Enjoy. Tap the picture of the book and you will see what we are reading.
Teach your child to control their fizz. When your child first starts to feel angry, teach him/her how to loosen their bottle cap before the pressure inside of them builds up. Techniques include:
1. Take five deep breaths.
2. Walk away and find a quiet place to sit down and relax your muscles.
3. Do the Push, Pull, Dangle (Push down on the seat of your chair while you count to ten; pull up on the seat of your chair while you count to ten; Dangle your arms at your side and feel all of your stress leave your body.)
4. Go into your room and play your music really loud.
5. If you feel the need to hit something, punch your pillow.
6. Get plenty of rest. (It’s hard to control your fizz when you are tired.)
7. Eat healthy. (It’s harder to control your fizz if your body doesn’t feel good on the inside.
8. Never screw your bottle cap on so tight you can’t loosen it. If you do your anger will build up inside and if it can’t come out through your cap, it will end up making you feel sick.
In K through 3rd Grade this week, we will be listening to Soda Pop Head. It is a wonderful book showing how important it is for ALL of us to learn to control our fizz... things that start to upset us or think is not fair. Below are ideas from the book that we can do and teach our children to do. Enjoy. Tap the picture of the book and you will see what we are reading.
Teach your child to control their fizz. When your child first starts to feel angry, teach him/her how to loosen their bottle cap before the pressure inside of them builds up. Techniques include:
1. Take five deep breaths.
2. Walk away and find a quiet place to sit down and relax your muscles.
3. Do the Push, Pull, Dangle (Push down on the seat of your chair while you count to ten; pull up on the seat of your chair while you count to ten; Dangle your arms at your side and feel all of your stress leave your body.)
4. Go into your room and play your music really loud.
5. If you feel the need to hit something, punch your pillow.
6. Get plenty of rest. (It’s hard to control your fizz when you are tired.)
7. Eat healthy. (It’s harder to control your fizz if your body doesn’t feel good on the inside.
8. Never screw your bottle cap on so tight you can’t loosen it. If you do your anger will build up inside and if it can’t come out through your cap, it will end up making you feel sick.
1st graders will spend time playing "pick a card any card" to discuss how to make healthy choices in peer pressure situations. We are discussing healthy choices after five Senior Bayport Basketball players come over and talked about healthy choices. The Seniors sent really good healthy messages about attendance, homework, sleeping, brushing teeth, and exercise. We will review what is a drug? A drug is anything you put in your body that changes how you feel. Click on the picture to the left to see the seniors.
Second week, we will look at drug look alikes and really talk about how important it is to take medication only from trusted adults and if they find anything that is unwrapped, not to eat it but just throw it away or get an adult to assist them in gettin rid of it.
Second week, we will look at drug look alikes and really talk about how important it is to take medication only from trusted adults and if they find anything that is unwrapped, not to eat it but just throw it away or get an adult to assist them in gettin rid of it.
After reading about how to stay safe, we talked as a class about feelings we may have or just things in life that may get in our way of listening and do what is best for us. I felt after our talks, the students needed to have a tool to be able to share thoughts and feelings to help them move on. Sometimes when students come in my room, I give them a journal to be able to write, draw or be able to do something if they are feeling something that they are having a hard time sharing. It is a tool that all ages can do to help them move on. We also talked a lot this year about remembering good things about ourselves if others are saying or doing things that may upset us or just feel bad. We will introduce feelings and what they are and then have some fun with the journals.
We had so much fun exploring our feelings with the tic tac toe feelings board, we will continue to do this and also practice with our journals. Look for them in their take home folder. They can stay in there so they can use them at school and home.
We had so much fun exploring our feelings with the tic tac toe feelings board, we will continue to do this and also practice with our journals. Look for them in their take home folder. They can stay in there so they can use them at school and home.
Within the last couple months, teachers read "I'm not Scared... I'm prepared!". This book is about how to keep our students safe in the event that their is an active intruder in our building. In the recent past, we use to tell the students and staff to lockdown and stay in the classrooms to stay safe. However, the district invited a National Homeland security expert to come in and teach some of us ALICE; which means Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate... bottom line Homeland security states that the best option for students and staff to stay safe is to evacuate the building. The book to the left is a follow up that I will be reading to the K to 2nd graders... the other grades read to their students already. The main message is that whatever they are afraid of even at school, we need to take a deep breathe, work as a team and follow directions the first time. We will read the book and then practice working together as a team listening the first time.
Kindergarteners and 1st graders will be introduced to bucket filling. What is bucket filling? Everyone has in invisible bucket. When we show self control and use kind words or actions, we not only fill others bucket we fill our own. When we dip from others by using out of control behavior with our words and actions such as mean names or hitting, we dip not only from their bucket but our own. We are going to learn from the book to the right that we can color our world when we show self control. Click on the book to see the video we will watch.
We will be making paper buckets in the class for others to fill throughout the week. Then we wll practice what words are bucket fillers or dippers. Again we are working on self control to decrease our majors in January and February especially physical aggression.
We will be making paper buckets in the class for others to fill throughout the week. Then we wll practice what words are bucket fillers or dippers. Again we are working on self control to decrease our majors in January and February especially physical aggression.
Welcome back after our long WInter break... coming back from break is hard for all of us to get back into routine and know what is expected with our Howard Family. We will spend time going over the Howard Husky Way by watching a Sesame Street Video (if you want to see it just tap on the bubbles picture to the right). Then we will practice self control which is a major issue at school in the next coming months especially when snow comes along and indoor recess. The kids love bubbles and they will be challenged to control themselves from popping them. Just like when they are frustrated or irritated with others.
1st through 4th graders will spend time really applying the learning of I can or I can't yet or I can't thoughts (green, yellow, and red thoughts). We will have them work in groups and go over situations. We will point out that all individuals do not react the same with their thoughts however, we all need to handle situations respectfully. Thought this would be helpful to practice as we come up to a joyous time of year but stressful at times... Winter Break!
We will be continuing to work on Green thoughts (I can) and Red thoughts (I can't)... We will use hula hoops to show that on the inside of the hula hoop are things that I can control, outside are things that I can't do but if it is something we can change, we will work hard at setting a goal to state I can't... yet! which is on the hula hoop.
1st graders did fabulous with getting into their animal tribe! This week, I want to spend time with them sharing about themselves in a fun way. Each with get a cup full of M & Ms and whatever color they have they need to share what is to the right. The awesome thing about this activity is that they will be sharing, taking turns and of course they have to have patience. They have to keep their attention to the speaker so that when it is their turn, they can share. If they struggle with attentive listening, they will have to wait longer to eat the M & Ms. So excited to see how wonderful they will be working in small groups.
1st graders this week will be getting into their animal tribes. The animal tribes are a group of about 4 individuals in their class that they will work with during life skills and their "Go To Group" out at recess. If they followed directions, each student is guaranteed at least one friend they chose in their tribe. Once we get into tribes, we will review behavior expectations and their goals to make their year better and what is the "Go To Group". Also continue to work on solving small problems I can Handle. Can't wait to see all the expressions on their faces.
Dylan Monkey & squishy face... I need to be to be thinking and thinking and thinking of a plan!
We will continue to venture into solving small problems. Many didn't remember the interactive book we read in Kindergarten so I thought it would be a good review of being prepared for small problem situations so they don't get to be big problems. We know that it is a tough concept for friends to do but we need to start practicing so that later in life we know how to stand up to others and our own feelings. We will be watching "Dylan Monkey & Squishy Face! Is this a good idea mommy?". The book highlights how we need to think of a plan ahead of time so we are ready to handle friends, classmates and/or family situations that cause small problems. Then we will pick some friends that can be our "Go To Group" at recess to help solve our problems at recess.
We will continue to venture into solving small problems. Many didn't remember the interactive book we read in Kindergarten so I thought it would be a good review of being prepared for small problem situations so they don't get to be big problems. We know that it is a tough concept for friends to do but we need to start practicing so that later in life we know how to stand up to others and our own feelings. We will be watching "Dylan Monkey & Squishy Face! Is this a good idea mommy?". The book highlights how we need to think of a plan ahead of time so we are ready to handle friends, classmates and/or family situations that cause small problems. Then we will pick some friends that can be our "Go To Group" at recess to help solve our problems at recess.
Howard Husky Hints
The first graders had fun reviewing Dylan Monkey and Squishy face. This week we will review small problems vs. Big problems. We will use the sphere that is to the left to show how small vs. big the problem is. Then we will review all the ways they can solve their problems with the Howard Husky Hints. Can't wait to see their eyes when we use the sphere! Hope they can be thrilled to know that they can solve their own problems.
The first graders had fun reviewing Dylan Monkey and Squishy face. This week we will review small problems vs. Big problems. We will use the sphere that is to the left to show how small vs. big the problem is. Then we will review all the ways they can solve their problems with the Howard Husky Hints. Can't wait to see their eyes when we use the sphere! Hope they can be thrilled to know that they can solve their own problems.
STOMP out bullying... is the theme for all classes this week. October is national bullying prevention month and this week we are honoring that mission and completing different activities that will help STOMP out bullying.
When someone states hurtful words especially over and over again, individuals have a hard time dealing with it. 1st graders will learn how to give compliments to STOMP out bullying. We will create a Compliment Web with compliments starters such as
When someone states hurtful words especially over and over again, individuals have a hard time dealing with it. 1st graders will learn how to give compliments to STOMP out bullying. We will create a Compliment Web with compliments starters such as
- You make our class better by...
- I like it when...
- You are a great student...
- I like how you...
- You are good at...
- You are a good friend...
- I admire how you..
Think Safe... Be Safe
Howard, we tell the students that our number one job is to keep them safe and their job is to keep it that way. This week, all classrooms are going to learn the 3 basic safety rules:
Howard, we tell the students that our number one job is to keep them safe and their job is to keep it that way. This week, all classrooms are going to learn the 3 basic safety rules:
- We all have the right to feel safe.. all the time.
- Other people have the right to feel safe with us... all the time.
- Nothing is so awful that you can't talk to someone you trust.
Bus Expectation Assembly...
CLICK ON BUS PICTURE AND ENJOY
1st graders were sweet this week in life skills. We worked on Mmmmmm, first grade is SWEEEEET and boy did they teach me a lot about what they already have learned from their teachers about our Howard expectations. Since they seem to understand our expecations in the classroom, we will be looking at what we can do on the playground to be safe, respectful and responsible. We will read a book called "Playground Rules". They will be able to put it in their book box for the rest of the year to look back at what is expected of the on the playground. Click on the picture to view videos we will be reviewing throughout the month.
1st graders have been working hard the first week of school at being safe, being respectful and being responsible, our Howard Husky Way. During our first life skill class, we will welcome back all of our friends with M & Ms. You are probably wondering how this is going to help. Well... the 1st graders are going to enjoy a couple M & Ms but before they do, they will have to share their names and answer a question about our Howard Husky Way. We will sit in a community circle and share with each other class expectations in a "sweet" way.
Welcome back to 2014-15 School Year. We are super excited to have you apart of our Howard Family. The first week of school, I helped students get back into school routines which we call Character Camp. Character Camp is the first 9 days of school that we as a Howard Family really focus in on school expectations and routines. We practice many things that will help your child be successful. Every staff member is on hand to help assist all of our students know where to go so they are safe, how to get their respectfully and what to do when they get there so they are responsible Howard Huskies! We hope you enjoy our Howard Family. .
BELOW ARE CLASSES FROM 2013-14 SCHOOL
As we are JUST starting to get nice weather, we are going to go over ABCs of safety as they venture outside more. Also, with summer coming, we wanted to make sure that they have ideas of how to keep themselves safe. Please look for a handout to come home to help you open the conversation about your safety rules at home during the spring/summer months. Can't wait to see them back next year safely!!
This week in K and 1st grade, we are going to spend time making play dough. We talked about how the last 26 days for kids can be exciting and sometimes stressful, so we are going to make it together and then give each a little in a bag to use if they need something to squeeze to get calm. While we are making it, we will talk about some safety tips about cooking, the measuring of ingredients and above all, being patient while it is being made. Excited to see their faces when they see what we create together. Look for the recipe in a handout that will come home this week.
We will read a book called "The Crayon Box That Talked". Our goal will be to show sometimes are differences create problems and how do we solve those issues. It is helpful to all have different gifts we bring to our family and at school. Our spy in our class will hand out a crayon to each of the students while they are sitting and listening to the book. When we are done, each will draw a picture of their gift they bring to the class or our Howard Family and discuss how helpful it is to all have differences.
We have explored several ways of how to deal with others who are bugging us. We are also going to review top ten ways to be a good friend. We will have fun with a heart print of several ideas that tribes will have to put together in a puzzle form. Once they put the puzzle together, they will decide as a tribe what are the top ten reasons to focus on for the rest of the year to be a good friend. Each will come home with the list. Please review them with your child so they have a successful end of the year as a friend.
This week in Kindergarten and 1st grade, we will spend time making bug/star sticks. On one side, the bug to the left will be on it with the saying "It bugs me when...". The other side, will have a star on it and say "I wish...". So each of the students will have a tool in their hand to solve their problems with respectful words. We have been practicing for two weeks and wanted to give them a tool to have either at home or at school. Enjoy!
Welcome back from Spring Break... since we have been gone for awhile, we will be working at all levels of how to deal with others "bugging" us and "wishing" they would do something else. We will be all working on using our kind, firm words instead of being physical or using mean words. This is the time of year that students struggle with others since we have been gone for over a week but also, a little spring fever hits them (I know that this is hard to believe since we still have snow). We will be working on some simple ideas... see the image below... We will work on, It BUGS me when__________. I WISH__________> This is a simple way to teach I statements. Encourage all to use this simple statement at first...We will continue to work on It Bugs me when... I wish... to continue using respectful words and ways. The kids loved to touch the bugs... I don't understand why??!!
What is a drug? A drug is anything you put in your body that changes how you feel. 1st graders over the next two weeks will spend time playing "pick a card any card" to discuss how to make healthy choices in peer pressure situations. Then the following week, we will look at drug look alikes and really talk about how important it is to take medication from trusted adults and if they find anything that is unwrapped, not to eat it but just throw it away.
1st graders will be lifesavers by decorating a bag for their teacher and classmates. All week long they are going to spend time noticing things they love that they did in class or what the teacher or students did. Then we will spend time reading them next week. We will be working on random acts of kindness and also others noticing you doing them. (CLICK ON THE LIFE VEST TO SEE HOW RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS CAN BE A PAY IT FORWARD ACTION. WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND... ENJOY)
After we explored empathy, we thought it would be a good idea to explore feelings since empathy is about noticing how others feel and possbly do something about it. They will be introduced to feelings from this animated book and then will be given a sheet of feelings to have for practicing the art of noticing! Click on the picture to see the copy of the feelings. Also, the link has the Conscious Discipline Website which might have some parenting ideas that might interest you.
We will begin to explore the meaning of empathy with 1st graders. We will start by watching what is empathy with Mark Ruffalo and a sesame street character (click on the picture to see the video). Then our friend, Maranda in the book will help us know what it is like to stand in your shoes. The 1st graders then will practice drawing or writing how they felt that morning and their partner will listen carefully and use EMPATHY to imagine themselves standing in their partner's shoes!
Kindergarteners and 1st graders are going to continue to review the difference between tattling vs. reporting. This is an important to practice with our children so they know when it is important to solve their problems with Howard Husky Hints and more importantly when it is a big problem that they need to Report it to a trusted adult. Knowing when to report is an important step to understanding what to do with bullies. We just started last week with introducing the concept. This week we will use the Pickle People with situations that they need to decide if I tell an adult is it tattling or reporting.
In order for students to deal with bullies, we need to teach younger students the importance between tattlng vs. telling/reporting. We will watch a video (click on picture to the left) to get our brains ready for the difference. Then we will discuss it before doing an activity called pick a card, any card. The cards have situations on to decide if it is tattling vs. telling/reporting. If you want to practice with your child, click on the picture below called "Keep calm and move on" and the video will give you situatios to practice with your child.
Welcome back to the new year!! It has been an interesting start especially taking a few more days off with the chill in the air. This week, we are ALL going to have the same lesson. This lesson has been inspired by many individuals... a teacher, a former family and a former teacher in our district all recommended this lesson. With everyone letting me know, I decided to do it. It is quite simple... Christian Bucks (pictured with his family) decided to introduce the "Buddy Bench". The Buddy Bench is located out on the playground and when an individual is not sure what to do or can't find someone to play with, he/she sits on the bench. Others at recess will come up to them and ask them to play. If two individuals are there, they find something to do together. We already have a bench outside so I made a sign like pictured and that is how simple the lesson is!!! So excited and hopeful this will be helpful outside. Click on picture to see how Christian came up with the idea. Priceless.
You are probably wondering what that image is above??? Well I thought it would be fun for 1st graders to end the year with some skittles. Skittles?? I know it sounds strange but here is how it works. The animal tribe your child is in will each get a plate with skittles on. They can choose a color and every one they choose they have to answer a question about how to deal with anger, what they could have done differently in a particular situation or maybe if they have a situation they want help on that could be a mystery question. By the way, this will also teach them self control. They will not be able to take one until their turn. They will have to wait patiently and listen to their classmates answer. Sometimes when they choose a certain color skittle they have to be prepared to state what the person just stated in the group. The lesson, their are many things in life that can distract us, we can get angry about but if we have self control, we can handle anything.
Before our break, we will explore what may happen when we share our angry words. We will read the book but we will also do the book live with the kids. We will be seeing what happens when we share angry words, how to bury them and how to use our words appropriately if we are angry. The 1st graders will share with their animal tribe what they are going to do with their anger the next time they are angry.
Hope your Thanksgiving break went well... 1st through 3rd graders this week will be getting into their animal tribes. The animal tribes are a group of about 4 individuals in their class that they will work with during life skills. If they followed directions, each student is guaranteed at least one friend they chose in their tribe. Once we get into tribes, we will review behavior expectations and their goals to make their year better. Can't wait to see all the expressions on their faces.
Welcome back... state testing is wrapping up so we are starting life skill classes again. So excited to be back. We will start again this week by remembering the importance of filling buckets. The book to the left is the book we will read and we will practice what it means to fill someone's bucket. The theory is that everyone has an invisible bucket. If it is full, we feel happy and content. If someone does something mean or disrespectful, then someone not only dips out of that individual's bucket but their own too. We will discuss how we learn best when our bucket is full.
Howard Husky Hints... reminder of some of the ways we can solve our own problems... Hannah Rose helped us.
First graders reviewed BIG vs. small problems and they were thrilled to see the husky puppy pictures to remind us of how to solve our problems. This week, we will review talking it out and letting it go as two ways of solving our own problems as we review Hannah Rose knows how to let it go. Then we will give the 1st graders some practice of how to use the Howard Husky Hints...
First graders reviewed BIG vs. small problems and they were thrilled to see the husky puppy pictures to remind us of how to solve our problems. This week, we will review talking it out and letting it go as two ways of solving our own problems as we review Hannah Rose knows how to let it go. Then we will give the 1st graders some practice of how to use the Howard Husky Hints...
Howard Husky Hints
The first graders had fun reviewing Dylan Monkey and Squishy face. This week we will review small problems vs. Big problems. We will use the sphere that is to the left to show how small vs. big the problem is. Then we will review all the ways they can solve their problems with the Howard Husky Hints. Can't wait to see their eyes when we use the sphere! Hope they can be thrilled to know that they can solve their own problems.
The first graders had fun reviewing Dylan Monkey and Squishy face. This week we will review small problems vs. Big problems. We will use the sphere that is to the left to show how small vs. big the problem is. Then we will review all the ways they can solve their problems with the Howard Husky Hints. Can't wait to see their eyes when we use the sphere! Hope they can be thrilled to know that they can solve their own problems.
Dylan Monkey & squishy face... I need to be to be thinking and thinking and
thinking of a plan!!
1st graders are being Howard Huskies on the roll. Many of them are being role models to show others how to stay in control if others are doing things that hurt their feelings, not being helpful and getting upset feelings. We have practiced many ways to get calm and move on to stay in the best part of our brain. Our favorite by far has been the third grade Hamburger calming trick (better known as the crusty crab if you are a Spongebob fan). So now it is time to venture into solving small problems. We will be reviewing a favorite book that we watched in Kindergarten last year called "Dylan Monkey & Squishy Face! Is this a good idea mommy?". The book highlights how we need to think of a plan ahead of time so we are ready to handle friends, classmates and/or family situations that cause small problems. We will introduce the "Howard Husky Hints" which is a booklet with many hints to solve problems We will keep it at school for awhile to review daily or weekly to be able to start taking charge of solving small problems on our own.
Think Safe... Be Safe
Howard, we tell the students that our number one job is to keep them safe and their job is to keep it that way. This week, all classrooms are going to learn the 3 basic safety rules:
Howard, we tell the students that our number one job is to keep them safe and their job is to keep it that way. This week, all classrooms are going to learn the 3 basic safety rules:
- We all have the right to feel safe.. all the time.
- Other people have the right to feel safe with us... all the time.
- Nothing is so awful that you can't talk to someone you trust about it.
1st graders are reviewing awesome ideas from
SHubert... click on the book and see them!!
Shubert was so excited to finally introduce himself again to the 1st grade friends. Shubert is a lightening bug who teaches us many things of how to handle life. In this book, Shubert was having a rough day and struggled to calm down and to move on. The 1st grade friends used lightening bug flash lights to highlight what part of the brain they were in and highlighted how he solved his problems. CLICK on the book to the left to show you the four calming tricks we practied to keep calm and move on. ENJOY!
1st grade friends are great listening
We spent some time catching up and introducing a new friend "Howard" so we were unable to review with Mr. Potato head and the magic bag!! We will start our time with the magic bag and add in whole body listening with emphasizing the brain. All 1st grade friends will know how to be calm and move on after this lesson. SOOO excited to be with them.
Welcome back!!
1st grade students were introduced to the class "Life Skills". Mrs. Zimmerman, the School Counselor, comes into each classroom mostly every week during the school year to work with the Kindergarten students. During the first lesson, 1st graders learned how to be a good listeners and listen with their whole body. We used Mr. Potato Head to demonstrate listening with your eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet.
1st graders sang the song, "This is my School Family," and pulled Mr. Potato Head listening parts out of our "magic" bag. They now know that when Mrs. Zimmerman comes into their class with the "Buddy Cart", it is now time for life skills.
1st graders sang the song, "This is my School Family," and pulled Mr. Potato Head listening parts out of our "magic" bag. They now know that when Mrs. Zimmerman comes into their class with the "Buddy Cart", it is now time for life skills.