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.
2nd graders will be adding to ideas of how to unite/buddy up against bullying. We will check in on the kinds acts that they saw or did this week. We will watch a video to give them other ideas of Walk (walk away from the bully/mean person), Talk (distract them, say that is not true and find an adult to talk to) and Buddy Up (know friends that you can play with or go to if this happens).
2nd graders are starting to discuss how to deal with bullies. Julia Cook has a wonderful book, Bully Beans that we read. However, we also had some fun with jelly beans. The book and the sheet that the students will bring home highlight what to do if they are being bullied or if they see others being bullied. We will take a pledge to Stand up to bullies to help with self control especially if someone is being mean or bullying. Click on the link to see the book live from some students at Maywood Fine Arts Drama Class. Love it!!
As you can see, we have snow and I thought it would be fun to have a snowball fight since we have been inside a LOT! I know what you are thinking, a snowball fight at school. Well... we will be using paper snowballs to go over expectations of our Howard Husky Way out at recess and indoor recess. We will be throwing them with our good ideas of how we follow the group plan so that we can be safe, respectful and responsible. We will also have an opportunity to share what is bugging us and have someone help us out. Also, click on the snowball fight kids... you will see a website that we are showing how people may feel in the inside when people are following expectations and when they are struggling with the expectations.
Welcome back from Winter Break. We will be going over the Howard Husky Way and the Group Plan to be successful and learn at school. We will watch the video (click on the picture) to discuss how we are all in this together and how we can color our world if we work together on the group plan. 2nd graders will then enjoy the experiment to show if we work together, how we can make our world colorful.
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.
2nd and 3rd graders will be watching a video called "Stranger awareness for kids... Billy to the Bus". We will be highlighting strategies of how to stay safe and 4 trusted adults to go and talk to if something would happen that is a big problem. We will also be talking about the swimsuit rule and how it is important that no one touches your swimsuit area unless it is a doctor/nurse. Sometimes a parent may need to to check if there is a concern but mainly at this age they should be able to bath/shower by themselves.
This week, all classrooms are going to learn the 3 basic safety rules:
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
2nd to 4th grade will review what the zones of regulation are since they all were introduced to them last year and by their classroom teachers this year. It is a school wide system that we utilize to help students learn to self regulate and find tools for to help them with however they are feeling. We give students tools to help them read and the zones are tools to help them with their emotions. A letter will be going home in Wednesdays folder to give you some suggestions of how to incorporate the zones at home. Enjoy
2nd graders have been working hard at staying in the best part of their brain, the frontal lobe. Sometimes, the other two parts may be in charge and a simple taking a breathe of 4 in and 8 out helps them to settle and calm down. We will be practicing a couple of tools that they can use with playdoh... rolling it out and then make a maze like to the right and take a straw and blow a ping pong around the maze.
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.
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 2nd 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.
Students will also spend time learning about the effects of alcohol and tobacco. 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). To learn about alcohol we hear a story about a teenager who makes a poor choice and drinks alcohol. The story touches on the physical effects of a growing body consuming alcohol, peer pressure and also the consequences when a child breaks a family rule.
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.
Students will also spend time learning about the effects of alcohol and tobacco. 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). To learn about alcohol we hear a story about a teenager who makes a poor choice and drinks alcohol. The story touches on the physical effects of a growing body consuming alcohol, peer pressure and also the consequences when a child breaks a family rule.
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.
Welcome back spring breakers. This week, we need to go over our Howard Husky Way and we are going to review by working together on a hula hoop activity. We will need to work together as a family to accomplish our goal of getting the hula hoops around the circle of friends with encouraging words and if someone gets stuck, how to help them. While we accomplish this goal, we will review how to be safe, be respectful and be responsible. We have missed our Howard Family.
Welcome back from Spring Break. We will be going over the Howard Husky Way and the Group Plan to be successful and learn at school. We will watch the video (click on the picture) to discuss how we are all in this together and how we can color our world if we work together on the group plan. 2nd graders will then enjoy the experiment to show if we work together, how we can make our world colorful.
Second graders learned how to be brave and stand up to bullies last week. It was about being around friends and others who will help them when mean or bullies enter their life. While we were practicing how to be brave, we also saw a boy get the confidence to persevere through a tough time by not giving up and standing up to the bully by saying "back off". During life skills this week, we will explore how to be more confident by listening to upbeat music, believe in their ability and realize that they can't do it YET! We will focus in on the sheet to the right and have them realize what they are good at and what they are pursuing! This lesson was really inspired from Mrs. Novoselatz's class They were stuck on something in class and now they are working as a team to figure out a something. I want to assure them they can do anything they put their mind too especially if they rely on each other and never give up.
2nd graders are starting to discuss how to deal with bullies. Julia Cook has a wonderful book, Bully Beans that we read. However, we also had some fun with jelly beans. The book and the sheet that the students will bring home highlight what to do if they are being bullied or if they see others being bullied. We will take a pledge to Stand up to bullies to help with self control especially if someone is being mean or bullying. Click on the link to see the book live from some students at Maywood Fine Arts Drama Class. Love it!!
2nd graders will continue to work on kind acts. We will be using the star code and learn how to be kind by being responsible, respectful, celebrate diversity and appreciate yourself and others. We will go over what kindness means and then tape stars on each others backs and write kind words on each others back. Then they will be able to decorate the other side of the star and hang it on their desks for good reminders of who they are as an individual.
Second graders will enjoy the Life Vest Kindness Video to help us start thinking about how we can make Each Kindness count (click on the picture to the left to see it). We will read the book Each Kindness and the spy will hand out rocks as they are showing kind acts in class. Then we will share kind acts that second graders have done or can do. Then they can put the rock into a vase full of water and see how kindness ripples when even one person starts the act or saying.Once they do, they can fill out the confetti sheets left with them and we will put it on the bulletin board. Enjoy
Our second graders will be helping save Ned! He has so many unthinkable in his head, he is having a hard time learning. The Unthinkable are distracting his learning and his behavior. SOOO, we are counting on the Superflex power that ALL of us have to defeat them and find the thinkable characters to help. They all have a booklet to help them and will be working in their tribes! Hopefully, Ned will not look so confused.
2nd week: we will continue to work on how to defeat the unthinkables. Poor Ned needs our help to save him!
2nd week: we will continue to work on how to defeat the unthinkables. Poor Ned needs our help to save him!
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.
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 4 glasses of baking soda... this will represent some of our howard husky ways. 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.
Our 4th graders were so amazing last week doing a "Pay it Forward" act with sharing their calm down bottles with the 2nd grade classes, I thought it would be nice if 2nd graders could do the same only with their words. We will be reading a book called "You make me Proud" and have a little fun with post it notes. Ask your child about it. YOU might even see one at your house.
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.
Hello 2nd to 4th families:
This week we are going to venture into identifying our feelings and how to identify them. Feelings can be tricky but definitely all of them 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! Click on the Green Zone 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.
2nd and 3rd graders will be watching a video called "Stranger awareness for kids... Billy to the Bus". We will be highlighting strategies of how to stay safe and 4 trusted adults to go and talk to if something would happen that is a big problem. We will also be talking about the swimsuit rule and how it is important that no one touches your swimsuit area unless it is a doctor/nurse. Sometimes a parent may need to to check if there is a concern but mainly at this age they should be able to bath/shower by themselves.
This week, all classrooms are going to learn the 3 basic safety rules:
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.
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
Our second graders will experience what it feels like to be "all tied up". We will have a life skill lesson on the importance of telling the truth the first time no matter what. Then they will be able to talk "honestly" about any concerns or questions they have for third grade next year. They have been together for two years and want to give them the chance to share any worries or questions they may have...
Since we had some worries, we are going to continue to address these and take a field trip down by 3rd grade if time permits.
Since we had some worries, we are going to continue to address these and take a field trip down by 3rd grade if time permits.
Healthy choices, healthy you. We will review what is a drug and then spend time going over facts about healthy activities, foods and alcohol and cigarette smoking.
2nd week... we will learn from a girl name Cherie what happens when you choose to put alcohol in a young body. Then we will learn about the body organs and how they are affected by alcohol and tobacco/nicotine use. It is the hope that at a young age we give our children facts about these two drugs so they make healthy choices as they grow older when they are introduced to them.
2nd week... we will learn from a girl name Cherie what happens when you choose to put alcohol in a young body. Then we will learn about the body organs and how they are affected by alcohol and tobacco/nicotine use. It is the hope that at a young age we give our children facts about these two drugs so they make healthy choices as they grow older when they are introduced to them.
It is Spring time even though the weather does not seem like it. It will get there. So in prepping for the nice weather, we will be working on how to fill others buckets. The students are familiar with this concept as we read this book last year. We will watch three shorts videos to help remind them and they will be able to fill others and their own buckets over the next couple of weeks. Attached to the book is a video with a message from Kid President about 20 things we should say more often. This will helpful if they get stuck... enjoy!
We will see how well the 2nd graders did as a team filling the bucket. Then we will have fun filling out a crossword puzzle highlighting other bucket filling acts.
We will see how well the 2nd graders did as a team filling the bucket. Then we will have fun filling out a crossword puzzle highlighting other bucket filling acts.
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.
2nd to 4th graders has a blast learning about the unthinkables. This week, we will introduce the thinkables to them. We will work in our tribes to continue to find ways to defeat them so we can be Amazing Social Thinkers.
We were able to get through Rock Brain, Mean Jean and Brain Eater last week. This week we will do Worry Wall, Glassman and Energy Hare. Cant wait!
We were able to get through Rock Brain, Mean Jean and Brain Eater last week. This week we will do Worry Wall, Glassman and Energy Hare. Cant wait!
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.
We will continue to work on I can't yet moments. When 2nd graders have practice getting unstuck from their fixed mindset, they will be able to use a post it note and place it on the poster to show how they are growing!
We will continue to work on I can't yet moments. When 2nd graders have practice getting unstuck from their fixed mindset, they will be able to use a post it note and place it on the poster to show how they are growing!
We will continue to work on our thoughts by figuring out ways that we can get unstuck from our mindset. We are working on green thoughts, I can. If we get stuck on I can't, we will work on I can't yet. We will do an experiment to show when we work together and look out for others too, we can change their mindset. Click on the colorful picture to the right to view the video we will start with... amazing what happens if we work together.
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 2nd Graders!! We had a long winter nap and we need to review our Howard Family Expectations especially out at recess, in the commons and on the bus. Instead of just talking about it, we will do an experiment. Right before break, we watched the movie Inside Out. The characters are Joy, fear, disgust, anger and sadness. We will be using clear cups with all five colors to represent the characters. When all are in control and use the Howard Husky Way, we get along and learn. However, if one of us or some of us do not follow our Howard Husky Way, we will see what happens! We missed all of you!
2nd graders will review what they learned from our book called Thinking Thoughts and Feeling Feelings. They will work in their tribes and brainstorm many ideas of what they learned and how they can be a good friend. Then they will need to work together to come up with one idea. That idea will go on the bulletin board of how to be a good friend by the commons area. We will need reminders the next couple weeks as Christmas Break nears. It will be emphasized should I think it or say it? Be Safe and Merry Christmas everyone!
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.
2nd graders will be adding to ideas of how to unite/buddy up against bullying. We will check in on the kinds acts that they saw or did this week. We will watch a video to give them other ideas of Walk (walk away from the bully/mean person), Talk (distract them, say that is not true and find an adult to talk to) and Buddy Up (know friends that you can play with or go to if this happens). We will write down these ideas on our paws we worked on last week.
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 on purpose.
2nd and 3rd graders will be watching a video called "Stranger awareness for kids... Billy to the Bus". We will be highlighting strategies of how to stay safe and 4 trusted adults to go and talk to if something would happen that is a big problem. We will also be talking about the swimsuit rule and how it is important that no one touches your swimsuit area unless it is a doctor/nurse. Sometimes a parent may need to to check if there is a concern but mainly at this age they should be able to bath/shower by themselves.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
We will be using Tribbles to talk about situations that occur at recess and how to handle the isses. We will reivew small vs. big problems and what to do in those situations. We will also point out that different situations affect different people. The 2nd & 3rd graders will walk around and pick how they feel about the situations and then brain storm what to do with the Howard Husky Hints. Look for the Howard Husky Hint booklet to come home next week. We will have a can outside called "I can" and will have all of the Howard Husky Hints plus more ideas of how to solve small problems.
We discovered that being a good friend... we need to stay in the best part of our brain! We will be forming a brain train this week and really focusing in on what to do if they are upset or really angry at a friend. We will understand that we need to calm down (we will review calming tricks) especially if we are feeling like Shubert. Also, start to discuss our Howard Husky Hints to be a member of our family!
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.
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 2nd 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 be exploring the gifts that second graders bring their class. Sometimes when people have gifts, others don't like them and we will discuss what to do in these situations. We will read the book called "The Flower and the Caterpillar". The flower loves her gifts so much that she is disrespectful to the other creatures in the forest especially the caterpillar. However, the catepillar remembered his gifts and didn't let the flower ruin his day.
Kids need to be reminded of what their gifts are and we explored at least four of them. Look for your child's handout.
Kids need to be reminded of what their gifts are and we explored at least four of them. Look for your child's handout.
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. We will also have a little fun ripping paper to draw up our plan.
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.
Healthy choices, healthy you. We will review what is a drug and then spend time going over facts about healthy activities, foods and alcohol and cigarette smoking. We had five Senior Bayport Basketball players come over and talk about healthy choices. They sent really good healthy messages about attendance, homework, sleeping, brushing teeth, and exercise. We want to continue going over healthy choices for our 2nd graders. Click on the picture to the left to see the seniors.
2nd week... we will learn from a girl name Cherie what happens when you choose to put alcohol in a young body. Then we will learn about the body organs and how they are affected by alcohol and tobacco/nicotine use. It is the hope that at a young age we give our children facts about these two drugs so they make healthy choices as they grow older when they are introduced to them.
2nd week... we will learn from a girl name Cherie what happens when you choose to put alcohol in a young body. Then we will learn about the body organs and how they are affected by alcohol and tobacco/nicotine use. It is the hope that at a young age we give our children facts about these two drugs so they make healthy choices as they grow older when they are introduced to them.
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.
We will continue to work on self control by figuring out ways that we can say kind words and do random acts of kindness. We will do an experiment to show when we work together and use self control, we can color each others' world. Click on the colorful picture to the right to view the video we will start with... amazing what happens if we work together. 2nd graders will be put to task to do 16 acts of kindness over the week...
This week, we will check in on how many were able to do the 16 acts of kindness but more importantly what they learned.
This week, we will check in on how many were able to do the 16 acts of kindness but more importantly what they learned.
2nd graders are starting to discuss how to deal with bullies. Julia Cook has a wonderful book, Bully Beans that we read. However we also had some fun with jelly beans. The book and the sheet that the students will bring home highlight what to do if they are being bullied or if they see others being bullied. We will take a pledge to Stand up to bullies to help with self control especially if someone is being mean or bullying. Click on the link to see the book live from some students at Maywood Fine Arts Drama Class. Love it!!
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 4 glasses of baking soda... this will represent some of our howard husky ways. 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.
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 continue to add things to our calm down box. We worked last week on Green thoughts (I can) and red thoughts (I can't) and how to change those red to green thoughts. One way to get beyond red thoughts, is to say "I can't... YET! We will write down many things that we can do and put those slips into our calm down box. Also, we will have one slip called "I can't... yet" and write down step of how to get to that goal or when that thought comes up how to do that.We were unable to watch the video we were suppose to so it is linked to the picture to the right. Enjoy the many ideas on the video to help with red thoughts.
We will continue to do this activity as the 2nd graders just got started with the activity in class!!
Welcome back 2nd graders... we will be working in our animal tribes on continuing to solve small problems. 2nd graders will watch a video to figure out how they can get their "Awesome" on with using words that will be helpful instead of hurtful. We will work together on what we should be saying out loud to friends and classmates vs. what we should filter before even saying it.
If you would like to see the video, click on the "filter the thoughts" picture to the left.
Welcome back 2nd graders... we will be working in our animal tribes on continuing to solve small problems. 2nd graders will watch a video to figure out how they can get their "Awesome" on with using words that will be helpful instead of hurtful. We will work together on what we should be saying out loud to friends and classmates vs. what we should filter before even saying it.
If you would like to see the video, click on the "filter the thoughts" picture to the left.
2nd & 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 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.
Now that we know that big problems we need to get to our trusted adults, we need to review how to solve those small problems so they don't become big. We will use the sphere to the left to show how it would be helpful to keep our problems small. We will go over some issues they are seeing and solving them with the Howard Husky Hints booklet that they have in their book box.
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. 2nd graders will be reading a book called Chrysanthemum and wrinkling a heart when others are saying hurtful words. Then we will practice kind words and commit to "Before you speak, Think & Be Smart. It's hard to fix a Wrinkled Heart"
When someone states hurtful words especially over and over again, individuals have a hard time dealing with it. 2nd graders will be reading a book called Chrysanthemum and wrinkling a heart when others are saying hurtful words. Then we will practice kind words and commit to "Before you speak, Think & Be Smart. It's hard to fix a Wrinkled Heart"
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.
2nd graders had fun building a brain train... we saw live what happens when the best part of our brain is in charge of our day when we get angry. We also saw when the other two parts are in charge... not too much fun. We talked about having a plan, back up plan and a back up back up plan of how to get calm. We looked at a book called Calmng Down, and the groups choose one to show the whole class. If you would like a book at home, please email me or call me!
Bus Expectation Assembly...
CLICK ON BUS PICTURE AND ENJOY
2nd graders are so excited to be back to school. Some have already started to give us a helping hand. We will review classroom expectations by them thinking about what they are going to do this year to be a helping hand to our Howard Family. It could be completing homework, being a safety cadet, raising their hand before speaking, coming to school every day or many other things they can do with their hands. All of our students strive to be on "Super Student" on our clip up clip down chart so I want the 2nd graders to remind themselves what they need to do to get there and the steps they need to take. Excited to see their hand projects when we are done!
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
Our second graders will experience what it feels like to be "all tied up". We will have a life skill lesson on the importance of telling the truth the first time no matter what. Then they will be able to talk "honestly" about any concerns or questions they have for third grade next year. They have been together for two years and want to give them the chance to share any worries or questions they may have...
Since we had some worries, we are going to continue to address these and take a field trip down by 3rd grade if time permits.
Since we had some worries, we are going to continue to address these and take a field trip down by 3rd grade if time permits.
We will be exploring the gifts that second graders bring their class. Sometimes when people have gifts, others don't like them and we will discuss what to do in these situations. We will read the book called "The Flower and the Caterpillar". The flower loves her gifts so much that she is disrespectful to the other creatures in the forest especially the caterpillar. However, the catepillar remembered his gifts and didn't let the flower ruin his day.
Kids need to be reminded of what their gifts are and we explored at least four of them. Look for your child's handout.
Kids need to be reminded of what their gifts are and we explored at least four of them. Look for your child's handout.
Got a bug? We have been working on what bugs or bothers us in Kindergarten and 1st grade. The second graders could use a tool to use their words respectfully to solve their problems. We will have a bag full of bugs that we can hold onto why we figure out what bugs us. Then the 2nd graders will practice using the phrases "It bugs me when..." and "I wish..." This may not solve the total problem but it will help the individual use respectful words to let someone else know what bugs them.
The students had so much fun practicing how to deal with bugs they wanted to do it again this week.
The students had so much fun practicing how to deal with bugs they wanted to do it again this week.
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). In 2nd grade we will be working on our own things that tend to bug us to the point of being distracted. We will have Ned help us go over what bugs us on the outside of our brain and what bugs us on the inside of our brain. Once we have figured that out, the 2nd graders will find ways of what "I can do" to get rid of them those distractions. Ned was a big hit. We will continue to work on distractions on the inside of our brain and the outside of our brain and how "I" can deal with them. They enjoyed picking this ear and especially out of his nose. I reminded them that this is the only nose that they can pick!
Last week in life skills we worked on healthy choices and the groups had to work cooperatively. Working cooperatively can mean taking turns, sharing ideas and finding out a solution to the problem and ultimately all agreeing on the outcome. The 2nd graders struggled a little bit with this and I want to give them hands on activity to test run cooperation. They will be given marshmellows and noodles to build the tallest tower in the class. They will have to pre-plan, be patient, may have to start over and ultimately be a good sport with whoever wins. Crossing fingers that they do well with this project! It is a good life lesson.
Healthy choices, healthy you. We will review what is a drug and then spend time going over facts about healthy activities, foods and alcohol and cigarette smoking. Then next week we will learn from a girl name Cherie what happens when you choose to put alcohol in a young body. Then we will learn about the body organs and how they are affected by alcohol and tobacco/nicotine use. It is the hope that at a young age we give our children facts about these two drugs so they make healthy choices as they grow older when they are introduced to them.
Second graders will spend time tracing their own hand to remind them they are in charge of sharing kindness. They will share their hands with their animal tribe and the tribe member will write one kind word or action they know that person did. Then they will trace another hand and will randomly give it to someone in the class. The mission is to spy all week to see what they know the person did OR we could leave them on their desk to so people can write on it too. (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)
Well I planned a little too much for our empathy lesson last week. However Emily taught us a ton about Empathy. We all learned that if we just notice some times how others are feeling, it not only helps others feel better but we do too. We started practicing with some examples and will continue so that we can do it ourselves.
We started by reading "Stand in My Shoes" by Bob Sorenson. In this book we met Emily, a young girl that is learning about empathy. Throughout her day she tries to "put herself in other people's shoes". She learns that this means to think of how that person might feel and then think about what she can do to help. After that we looked at 3 pairs of shoes and we learned about what the people that are wearing them are experiencing. We practiced then what we could do to help.
The second graders are going to continue to learn about bullying. We are going to focus in on verbal bullying. We will do an activity with Sam...see picture of Sam. We will discuss in animal tribes some of the mean things they have heard others tell them or others. Then each time we share, they will be able to crumble up the paper to show how words can be hurtful if we don't stop and think first. We will review the picture above... before you speak, think... this is not only good for 2nd graders to review but adults too.
2nd graders are starting to discuss how to deal with bullies. Julia Cook has a wonderful book, Bully Beans that we read. However we also had some fun with jelly beans. The book and the sheet that the students will bring home highlight what to do if they are being bullied or if they see others being bullied. Click on the link to see the book live from some students at Maywood Fine Arts Drama Class. Love it!!
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.
We went over many ideas of how to deal with the grouchies. My parents and a fellow pink lady inspired life skills lesson for the 2nd graders this week. Another idea of how to deal with the grouchies is to have inspriational saying hanging around. When I was growing up my parents gave me a plaque stating "Stop and smell the roses" to help remind me to enjoy the ride of life! So the second graders will be able to make their own or I will have several of them to decorate to pin up where ever they want to! You might even see them at home!
Sometimes when the holidays are coming, we might get the case of the grouchies. 2nd graders will learn how to deal with the grouchies after watching the book on the smartboard. They will get into their animal tribes at the end of the book to see what each can do if they get the case of the grouchies!
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 2nd grade parents... we are finishing up state testing so we are starting back with life skill classes. Some of our older students have been reporting to me that others have been mean to them. So we are going to review what our expectations are of how to treat others in our Howard Family. We will be reading a book called "You make me Proud" and have a little fun with post it notes. Ask your child about it. YOU might even see one at your house.
Finally week of Howard Husky Hints...
We have been working hard in 2nd grade to practice solving our own problems. They have been working hard at using their Howard Husky Hints booklet. Your second grader will be bringing a home a reminder of what small vs. big problems are... you are their first and best teacher!! Today we reviewed Hannah Rose Knows how to deal with your anger, sadness or frustrations by letting it go. Letting it out is a difficult concept for children and adults to do so we used a balloon as a visual reminder of blowing all of our frustrations in the balloon and then it go. Then we gave them an opportunity to help each other solve problems. Please help guide your child in helping them solve their own problems. Over the next month Life Skills will only happen about 1 or 2 times as we are completing state testing.
We have been working hard in 2nd grade to practice solving our own problems. They have been working hard at using their Howard Husky Hints booklet. Your second grader will be bringing a home a reminder of what small vs. big problems are... you are their first and best teacher!! Today we reviewed Hannah Rose Knows how to deal with your anger, sadness or frustrations by letting it go. Letting it out is a difficult concept for children and adults to do so we used a balloon as a visual reminder of blowing all of our frustrations in the balloon and then it go. Then we gave them an opportunity to help each other solve problems. Please help guide your child in helping them solve their own problems. Over the next month Life Skills will only happen about 1 or 2 times as we are completing state testing.
Howard Husky Hints Continued... we know some of our ways to solve our problems and we reviewed many good ideas with watching a little clip from Dylan Monkey. This week we will explore more Howard Husky Hints and give them time to write down problems they are having and we will solve them LIVE. Their Howard Husky Hint booklet is staying at school for awhile. If you need one at home, just tell your child to let me know.
Howard Husky Hints
The second graders are working hard as role models for The Howard Husky Way of being safe, respectful and responsible. Sometimes our Howard friends struggle with getting along with others and understanding how to agree to disagree. So we are going to review "Dylan Monkey and Squishy Face's book (tap on the picture to the left to view)... which the theme is to be thinking, and thinking and thinking of a plan which means to think ahead to solve small problems. We understand that we need to try "3 before me" which is that the students are encouraged to try 3 different Howard Husky Hints before going to an adult unless it is a big problem. This helps students become independent thinkers and be able to solve their own small problem.
The second graders are working hard as role models for The Howard Husky Way of being safe, respectful and responsible. Sometimes our Howard friends struggle with getting along with others and understanding how to agree to disagree. So we are going to review "Dylan Monkey and Squishy Face's book (tap on the picture to the left to view)... which the theme is to be thinking, and thinking and thinking of a plan which means to think ahead to solve small problems. We understand that we need to try "3 before me" which is that the students are encouraged to try 3 different Howard Husky Hints before going to an adult unless it is a big problem. This helps students become independent thinkers and be able to solve their own small problem.
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.
2nd graders giggled with performing Tony Chestnut..
now They will be able to perform the book below & show off how they can be a star. Be calm & move on!!
2nd graders will be continuing to show off their talents. They had fun with Tony Chestnut and act out the brain like a train. Ask them... This week some of our friends will perform the book Shubert is a star. Then we will review the calming tricks. CLICK on the book to the left and the calming tricks will appear. You can review with your child.
2nd week... the brain
The second graders were so excited that Larry was back to teach them whole body listening. They requested to start with a song so we are starting by getting up and moving to "Tony Chestnut Noses Eye Love You". CLICK on the BRAIN picture and do it with your child. GUARANTEED to laugh. we will talk about the connection between whole body listening and the being in charge of our brain. They learned the three parts of the brain and calming tricks to get them back in the best part of their brain. Look for the handout.
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 2nd grader.
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".
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".