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.
Our Kindergarten friends will be finding out they all have super powers. We will be learning about our Superflex powers to help us deal with our thoughts. The Superflex character will help us put pictures to our thoughts; they are called Unthinkables and Thinkables. 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. Excited to see them defeating those unthinkables
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.
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. Kindergarteners 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.
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. 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.
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
At 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:
At 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(K) 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 Kindergarten 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. We will also discuss poisons and how important it is to not put anything in their mouth if they are not sure what it is. Also, we will review their phone number, address just in case of emergency.
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. We will also discuss poisons and how important it is to not put anything in their mouth if they are not sure what it is. Also, we will review their phone number, address just in case of emergency.
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 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.
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!
When someone states hurtful words especially over and over again, individuals have a hard time dealing with it. Kindergarteners will be reading a book called Chrysanthemum and wrinkling a heart when others are saying hurtful words. We will also try to smooth out the wrinkled heart and demonstrate it is hard to fix a wrinkled heart.
Then we will practice kind words and commit to "Before you speak, Think & Be Smart. It's hard to fix a Wrinkled Heart". They will each get a heart with one of their classmates name on it and they will do something kind for them or say a nice word and leave it on their desk or table spot.
Then we will practice kind words and commit to "Before you speak, Think & Be Smart. It's hard to fix a Wrinkled Heart". They will each get a heart with one of their classmates name on it and they will do something kind for them or say a nice word and leave it on their desk or table spot.
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
Our Kindergarten friends will be finding out they all have super powers. We will be learning about our Superflex powers to help us deal with our thoughts. The Superflex character will help us put pictures to our thoughts; they are called Unthinkables and Thinkables. 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. Excited to see them defeating those unthinkables
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 Kindergarten friends. We will be reviewing our "Back 2 School" rules by watching the video "Understand the basic school rules". During this video, they review them by having a game show. Click on the picture to the right to watch.
We are going to do the do the same thing afterwards to review how to be a good friend especially asking a friend to play. So happy you are back.
We are going to do the do the same thing afterwards to review how to be a good friend especially asking a friend to play. So happy you are back.
My Kindergarten friends have been working hard at whole body listening and our group plan. We became more aware of how we can listen with our heart, brain and eyes which is super difficult to do. We are working on saying to ourselves "hmmm... am I following the group plan?" The next part of whole body listening is our HANDS... we are going to learn over the next two weeks 10 things to do besides hitting. You are probably wondering why I have a picture of pizza?? Well we watch a video of a pizza man making pizza and he goes over the 10 ideas. The kids love pizza and the video so it sticks in their brains a little better the next time they are mad! They will be setting a goal which one they are going to do next time they are mad or in the red zone. We will have 10 more zone tools to help us be ready to learn.
We will watch the 2nd half in class and talk about what worked for them.
We will watch the 2nd half in class and talk about what worked for them.
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 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 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.
Kindergarten team will continue to explore personal space by going to camp. We will read the book to the left however have some fun with Shubert (lightening bug) flashlight to point at the book when we see space invaders or respecters. Space Invaders try 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. Hopefully, this will continue to support our number one goal this year to decrease physical aggression/contact at Howard elementary. We will continue to discuss strategies in the Safe Zone to help someone regroup and calm down.
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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.
Welcome Back to 2016-17 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!".
Kindergarten students will work on healthy choices. They sent really good healthy messages about attendance, homework, sleeping, brushing teeth, and exercise. We will start with Kindergarten exploring what a drug is and how to make good choices. They will spend time "leaping" up to the lily pad. The whole idea behind Freddie the frog is to introduce healthy choices with respect to knowing what a drug is and asking a trusted adult before using any of the drugs.
2ND week of Healthy Choices...We will spend time on where there are poisons in our houses and when to call 911… only in emergencies! Then we will practice their phone numbers, addresses and their full name just in case they ever need to know those important details. Again, the message is healthy choices.
2ND week of Healthy Choices...We will spend time on where there are poisons in our houses and when to call 911… only in emergencies! Then we will practice their phone numbers, addresses and their full name just in case they ever need to know those important details. Again, the message is healthy choices.
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 will need to review our Howard Husky Way and what better way to do that... we are going to go on an adventure. Louis is a student with a ton of energy... People say he has a problem with personal space but he feels he is a space expert. Louis is MIXED UP... he loves outer space and it a total expert with that. However, people are talking about his personal space and he struggles with understanding the concept. The Kindergarten students will become Personal Space Camp Experts and learn how to defeat the unthinkable Space Invader with Space Respecter Superflex powers. The K students will understand Personal space and learn how to give each other enough room all around our building especially lining up and moving around . We will enjoy the book to the left to help our "Space Adventure". We didn't do... we had fun with Ned's head and reviewing our Howard Husky Way!
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.
Kindergarten are going to read the book called "The Little Engine that Could" and really focus on something they "think they can" so they will work on it and think they will be able to get there with hard work.
Click on the train for the worksheet we are filling out in K & 1st grade.
Kindergarten are going to read the book called "The Little Engine that Could" and really focus on something they "think they can" so they will work on it and think they will be able to get there with hard work.
Click on the train for the worksheet we are filling out in K & 1st grade.
My Kindergarten friends have been working hard at whole body listening and our group plan. We became more aware of how we can listen with our heart, brain and eyes which is super difficult to do. We are working on saying to ourselves "hmmm... am I following the group plan?" The next part of whole body listening is our HANDS... we are going to learn over the next couple of weeks 10 things to do besides hitting. You are probably wondering why I have a picture of pizza?? Well we watch a video of a pizza man making pizza and he goes over the 10 ideas. The kids love pizza and the video so it sticks in their brains a little better the next time they are mad! They will be setting a goal which one they are going to do next time they are mad.
We will watch the 2nd half in class and talk about what worked for them.
We will watch the 2nd half in class and talk about what worked for them.
Shubert's Big Voice... I can solve my own problems!!
We hopefully will discuss some ideas of how to solve problems together so we have a group plan in mind for our K students. This week, Shubert will be back. A friend in his class was being mean to him. He struggled how to solve this problem. He tried to say stop and talk it out but his friend was not listening. So he tried his Big Voice! We will also spend time during the book to stop and see what thoughts Shubert is having and what could be some group plan ideas if this is going on. We all have different ideas but need to be able to solve our problems together. I can;t wait until they discover what this means. Kindergartners are on their way to be Howard Husky on the roll!
We hopefully will discuss some ideas of how to solve problems together so we have a group plan in mind for our K students. This week, Shubert will be back. A friend in his class was being mean to him. He struggled how to solve this problem. He tried to say stop and talk it out but his friend was not listening. So he tried his Big Voice! We will also spend time during the book to stop and see what thoughts Shubert is having and what could be some group plan ideas if this is going on. We all have different ideas but need to be able to solve our problems together. I can;t wait until they discover what this means. Kindergartners are on their way to be Howard Husky on the roll!
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!
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.
This has to be one of my favorite books to read and have our Friend Shubert come alive. Shubert will be one of our friends that helps teaches us how to solve small problems. If we can start solving small problems, then we will be better friends. Also, then the small problems will not become BIG problems. We will be exploring small vs. big problems over the next couple weeks. A good friend is figuring out ways to stay calm and not hurt our friends when we are upset. Please click on the book to the right and you will see the four calming tricks that we can use to remain calm and get back to the best part of our brain. We will show them how to listen with their brain this week. Ask them what Mrs. Zimmerman had on her head this week.
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 Kindergartener. 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!
Well... our first time we spend getting to know each other and starting to explore the song we will do. This week we will finish the song and reading the book. We just had so much fun snaking around getting to know each other that we ran out of time.
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!
Well... our first time we spend getting to know each other and starting to explore the song we will do. This week we will finish the song and reading the book. We just had so much fun snaking around getting to know each other that we ran out of time.
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!!
It is that time of year... the Kindergarteners are getting ready to be 1st graders. We are going to spend time together talking a little about the gifts they bring to 1st grade or what they need to work on to get ready for 1st grade. Then we will take a field trip... we will explore how they will get to their rooms next year: show them how to come in from the front door, the bus entry and the breakfast area. Then we will show them their BLUE stop sign where they meet their teachers every morning. If we have time, we will explore the where the classrooms are... can't wait to hear their questions they may have. They are already acting like 1st graders.
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.
Kindergarten students will work on healthy choices. We had five Senior Bay port Basketball players come over and talk about healthy choices. They sent really good healthy messages about attendance, homework, sleeping, brushing teeth, and exercise. We will start with Kindergarten exploring what a drug is and how to make good choices. They will spend time "leaping" up to the lily pad. The whole idea behind Freddie the frog is to introduce healthy choices with respect to knowing what a drug is and asking a trusted adult before using any of the drugs. Click on the picture to the left to see the seniors.
2ND week of Healthy Choices...We will spend time on where there are poisons in our houses and when to call 911… only in emergencies! Then we will practice their phone numbers, addresses and their full name just in case they ever need to know those important details. Again, the message is healthy choices.
2ND week of Healthy Choices...We will spend time on where there are poisons in our houses and when to call 911… only in emergencies! Then we will practice their phone numbers, addresses and their full name just in case they ever need to know those important details. Again, the message is healthy choices.
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.
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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.
K and 1st graders will learn about bullies and how they can use self control when people are being mean and bullying you. Click on the book to the left to see the book we will be watching. We will emphasize how we need to get to big people if it is a big problem. We will also touch base on if it is not a big issues but still bothers us, how do we show self control and deal with the issue by ourselves in a respectful way. Enjoy the tips to the right and review with your child.
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.
Shubert's Big Voice... I can solve my own problems!!
Well the Kindergarten Friends were excited... they found out that they can solve their own small problems, have an I can attitude and not give up while solving a small problem. This week, Shubert will be back. A friend in his class was being mean to him. He struggled how to solve this problem. He tried to say stop and talk it out but his friend was not listening. So he tried his Big Voice! We will also spend time during the book to stop and see what thoughts Shubert was having... green, yellow or red and how he was able to change them. I can;t wait until they discover what this means. Kindergartners are on their way to be Howard Husky on the roll!
Well the Kindergarten Friends were excited... they found out that they can solve their own small problems, have an I can attitude and not give up while solving a small problem. This week, Shubert will be back. A friend in his class was being mean to him. He struggled how to solve this problem. He tried to say stop and talk it out but his friend was not listening. So he tried his Big Voice! We will also spend time during the book to stop and see what thoughts Shubert was having... green, yellow or red and how he was able to change them. I can;t wait until they discover what this means. Kindergartners are on their way to be Howard Husky on the roll!
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.
Welcome back... we hope you had a peaceful Thanksgiving break. We 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.
My Kindergarten friends have been working hard at whole body listening. We became more aware of how we can listen with our heart and brain which is super difficult to do. We are working on saying to ourselves "hmmm... would that hurt someone's feelings if I did that?" The next part of whole body listening is our HANDS... we are going to learn over the next couple of weeks 10 things to do besides hitting. You are probably wondering why I have a picture of pizza?? Well we watch a video of a pizza man making pizza and he goes over the 10 ideas. The kids love pizza and the video so it sticks in their brains a little better the next time they are mad! They will be setting a goal which one they are going to do next time they are mad.
Watching the second part this week... we will start off with a song to remind us to stop, take a deep breathe and relax! Enjoy the long weekend with your children.
Watching the second part this week... we will start off with a song to remind us to stop, take a deep breathe and relax! Enjoy the long weekend with your children.
So excited to introduce the Kindergarteners to our Buddy Bench. Last year, 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. 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.
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. 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. We will review Howard Husky Ways to solve problems. Then we will pick some friends that can be our "Go To Group" at recess to help solve our problems at recess. |
Super excited to see all the kinds acts they have spied on throughout the week. Hopefully we have many names on our Kind Heart poster in the classrooms. Unfortunately in Kindergarten, we are starting to see when friends are NOT so nice to us, instead of calming ourselves down and using our words, there is pushing and hitting going on. We will review many ways to calm ourselves down and they will receive a book to put in their book boxes to remind them every day how to handle when someone upsets them. If you would like one at home to review with your child, please let me know. Also, if you want a good resource at home, the book to the right is a good review.
Well we ran out of time... so we will be continuing to work on figuring out ways to prevent others from being mean or bully us. We will do a hands on activity to show what happens to our hearts when mean words are stated OR being left out. Then we will practice what words we should state. The picture to the right will be left with the class to SPY on kind acts and be able to write down names of our classmates who are showing kindness!
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. So we will watch a little clip from McGruff the Crime dog and learn ways to STOMP out bullying... STOP< TALK>WALK. Click the piture to the right and you can see what the K friends watched. Enjoy
If we have time, we will do a activity with the pictured heart. If not, stay tuned to next week when we can finish it.
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
Kindergarteners were a little surprised when I walked in with HUGE star glasses on (See them below). I was using them as SPY glasses to see what they already knew about the Howard Husky Way. We went over expectations especially attentive listening that are very important in life skills class so all can learn and be safe. This week, we will go over ways to be apart of our "School Family". They will have fun connecting with a friend and being safe. One of the other important places to be safe is the playground. We read the book to the left and each of them have a Playground Rules in their book box to review throughout the year. Check it out at Parent Teacher Conference if you want.
Click on the picture to view videos we will be reviewing throughout the month.
Click on the picture to view videos we will be reviewing throughout the month.
Welcome to life skills Kindergarten friends
Kindergarten students were introduced to my class called "Life Skills". As the School Counselor, I come into each classroom mostly every week during the school year to work with the Kindergarten students. During the first lesson, Kindergartners reviewed how to be a my buddy cart, being a good listener and how to listen with their whole body. They have been practicing with their classroom teacher for a whole week.
Kindergartners moved to the song, "From your seat," to practice listening and pulled Mr. Potato Head parts out of our "magic" bag to show we listen with more than our ears. They now know that when Mrs. Zimmerman comes into their class with the "Buddy Cart", they will be ready to listen for exciting life skills.
Kindergartners moved to the song, "From your seat," to practice listening and pulled Mr. Potato Head parts out of our "magic" bag to show we listen with more than our ears. They now know that when Mrs. Zimmerman comes into their class with the "Buddy Cart", they will be ready to listen for exciting life skills.
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
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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.
Mrs. Steavpacks class will be helping make some recess videos for next year. I can't wait to learn from them.
Mrs. Steavpacks class will be helping make some recess videos for next year. I can't wait to learn from them.
Shubert is back and getting us ready for 1st grade. During the last quarter, we will venture into areas that Kindergarteners can start practicing for next year. We will explore how to make and keep friends by reading Shubert's New Friend. In the book, they are truly excited about their new friend coming ito their classroom but discover he is different. We will explore ways of how to be helpful to make new friends and reivew ways that are hurtful. Over the next quarter, we will encourage them to explore new friends from the other classes they have not meet yet because they may be in class next year.
To follow up with is a good friend... we will hopefully go outside this week and take pictures of what is a good friend and make a book for them to read and maybe even a imovie with 4th graders help. They are masters at them.
To follow up with is a good friend... we will hopefully go outside this week and take pictures of what is a good friend and make a book for them to read and maybe even a imovie with 4th graders help. They are masters at them.
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??!!
The steps for self control. I am going to teach the "stoplight method" in life skills this week. We are entering mid March and some of our friends are struggling with keeping hands to themselves when they are angry especially at recess. So we are going to use a stop light to show them how to stay in control. 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...slow down, and go. I tell them that the traffic light "controls" 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 control 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.
Kindergarten students will continue to work on healthy choices. They will learn what a drug is and how to make good choices. They will spend time "leaping" up to the lily pad. The whole idea behind Freddie the frog is to introduce healthy choices with respect to knowing what a drug is and asking a trusted adult before using any of the drugs. We will venture in healthy choices for two weeks. We will also spend time on where there are poisons in our houses and when to call 911… only in emergencies! Then we will practice their phone numbers, addresses and their full name just in case they ever need to know those important details. We will do the second lesson of Freddie after the stop light self control activity.
Kindergarteners will be live savers this week by by seeing how many heartprints they will leave over the week. We will read the book Heartprints and give them ideas of what to spy for? Then when they see someone doing something kind, they can give them a heart with their name on it (if they want they can write what they did) They will practice noticing others using their good space expert abilities. We will put the hearts on a big poster in the Kindergarten wing. (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) We continued with the theme of leaving heart prints for a second week due to many hearts being left over.. we couldn't have that. So each student received another friend's heart and when they spy them doing a kind act, they are going to give it to them.
Our K friends are on their way to becoming a "Space Expert"... at school one of the things we are working on is helping them be responsible for their own space and how to move around respectfully. This week we review the first part of the book with bubbles showing that we have different space for each person we meet. Then we will review with paper cut outs of K students space when they lay down and how much space that takes up. We will finish with red and green papers to show others in the class how to walk around carefully.., ask your child what we did!!
Louis is a student with a ton of energy... People say he has a problem with personal space but he feels he is a space expert. Louis is MIXED UP... he loves outer space and it a total expert with that. However, people are talking about his personal space and he struggles with understanding the concept. "What's the difference between personal space and outer space"... he is mixed up. The Kindergarten students will share mixed up adventure gold fish to get their brains engaged about how things can seem mixed up. However with Personal Space Camp, the K students will understand Personal space. Hopefully that will help them moving around the classroom a little bit more carefully. We will enjoy the book to the left to help our "Space Adventure"
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 roll the dice. The number on the dice will be linked to a story for the students 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.
One week before Winter Break... yikes???
We did well with the first 5 things to do with our anger besides hitting. Our last week of life skills before break, we will do a cute song to remind us to Stop Take a deep breathe and relax and review the first five ways to deal with our anger. Then we will finish the last 5. Your child will come home with both sheets so they have a relaxing, calm break. Enjoy!
My Kindergarten friends have been working hard at whole body listening. We became more aware of how we can listen with our heart and brain which is super difficult to do. We are working on saying to ourselves "hmmm... would that hurt someone's feelings if I did that?" The next part of whole body listening is our HANDS... we are going to learn over the next couple of weeks 10 things to do besides hitting. You are probably wondering why I have a picture of pizza?? Well we watch a video of a pizza man making pizza and he goes over the 10 ideas. The kids love pizza and the video so it sticks in their brains a little better the next time they are mad! They will be setting a goal which one they are going to do next time they are mad.
Welcome back from Thanksgiving break. Hope it went well. This week we will continue to work on whole body listening. Two of our body parts, brain and heart, are difficult to learn. So this week we will read "Thinking Thoughts and Feeling Feelings" by Michelle Garcia WInner. We will begin to explore social learning which is the ability to think about others, play collaboratively and establish friendships. This process involves thoughts(brain) and feelings(hearts): Knowing our own, sharing them with others appropriately and taking others' thoughts/feelings into account helps us act and react positively. This process is a life long learning concept but we will have fun exploring social learning with thought bubbles and cut out hearts.
With our short week, we will be working with the Kindergarten friends on Whole Body Listening again. We will practice by doing a video called "If you're a kid"... it is a fun way of practicing listening with their whole body. Then we will using bubbles to continue to practice whole body listening with self control. Enjoy your child during Thanksgiving Break. We are so thankful that you have shared your child with us every day.
WElcome Back... after State testing
During the first couple months of school, students in Kindergarten continue to get to know each other. One of the areas we continue to support the Kindergarten teachers is to learn whole body listening. Most individuals believe you need to listen with only your ears. However, this week we will all learn that there are several parts of our body we need to listen with. They will learn to be a "Whole Body Listener" by reading the book "Whole Body Listening Larry at School".
Hannah Rose Knows... how to let it go!
Kindergartners are working hard at solving their own problems. We have introduced Dylan Monkey with "thinking and thinking and thinking of a plan". Then Shubert came back and taught us how to be brave and stand up straight and tall and use our big voice. This week Hannah Rose taught us how to let upset, sadness, frustrations, and other situations that we can not change and be able to let it go and not let it ruin our day. Then we finally looked over our Howard Husky Hints booklet with many other ideas. They will stay at school so they can review them but they will be coming home with a sheet to help you continue to talk about small vs. BIG problems.
Kindergartners are working hard at solving their own problems. We have introduced Dylan Monkey with "thinking and thinking and thinking of a plan". Then Shubert came back and taught us how to be brave and stand up straight and tall and use our big voice. This week Hannah Rose taught us how to let upset, sadness, frustrations, and other situations that we can not change and be able to let it go and not let it ruin our day. Then we finally looked over our Howard Husky Hints booklet with many other ideas. They will stay at school so they can review them but they will be coming home with a sheet to help you continue to talk about small vs. BIG problems.
Dylan Monkey & squishy face... I need to be to be thinking and thinking and thinking of a plan!!
Kindergartners are starting to settle into a nice routine. Many of showing 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 know that it is a tough concept for K 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. We will review what a small problem vs. big problems are and if we have time, 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.
Kindergartners are starting to settle into a nice routine. Many of showing 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 know that it is a tough concept for K 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. We will review what a small problem vs. big problems are and if we have time, 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.
Finally, shubert is excited to show them to be a star
Shubert was so excited to finally introduce himself to the Kindergarten(K) 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 K 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!
2nd week... we are getting to know each other & the brain
Well... I have forgotten how I overplan for Kindergarten friends. We did do the most important part though... we shared each other names, reviewed expectations and had fun greeting each other with the Howard Husky 4 ways to greet each other. Ask them!! WE will this week finish with Mr. Potato head and add in the ultimate part of our body we need to be in charge of... our BRAIN!!! They will love it. Stay tuned for next week's fun. Shubert will be introduced.
Welcome to life skills Kindergarten friends
Kindergarten 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, Kindergartners learned how to be a good listener and listen with their whole body. We used Mr. Potato Head to demonstrate listening with your eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet.
Kindergartners 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.
Kindergartners 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.