March Guidance

In Kindergarten at Jefferson Elementary we are learning about kindness and avoiding fights.  We will watch part of a video called "How Not to Fight".  We will talk about Kindness and why it is important?  What does it look like?  What does it sound like?  What happens when we are consistently kind to others?  How does that change our life?  How does that change our school?  What does being kind look like when we get angry?  What does kindness look like when someone is bugging us?  Can we still choose kindness?  What would happen if whenever we received a kindness we passed it on to 5 other people? We will read the book Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson. We'll also watch a short video clip from Life Vest Inside.  Be sure and ask your children what they have learned. We'll read a book called 'The Crayon Box That Talked" by Shane Derolf.  We'll see how our differences are important and make us special.  We will also begin to talk about how to handle name calling in an effective way.  We'll watch a video called "Don't Call Me Names"

In Kindergarten at York  we will learn about good touches and bad touches.  Students will learn steps to say no to touches that make them feel uncomfortable. We'll watch part of a video called "My Body Belongs to Me"   Parents will be invited to preview the video ahead of time.   We will also begin to talk about how to handle name calling in an effective way.  We'll watch a video called "Don't Call Me Names"

In First Grade at Jefferson We will learn that tattling can make us lose friends.  We will see how to tell when something is a kid sized problem and when we need to get help from a grown-up.  We'll read the book Don't Squeal Unless it is a Big Deal by Jeanie Franz Ransom and take a quiz together to practice identifying which category various problems fall into.  We'll also begin some Second Step lessons that teach about effective problem solving steps.  We'll talk about managing anger and staying in control when we have strong feelings.  

In First Grade at York we will learn about good touches and bad touches.  Students will learn steps to say no to touches that make them feel uncomfortable. We'll watch part of a video called "My Body Belongs to Me"   Parents will be invited to preview the video ahead of time. 

In Second Grade at Jefferson we will learn about good touches and bad touches.  We will watch a video called "It's Your Body You're in Charge" Students will learn steps to say no to touches that make them feel uncomfortable. 

In Second Grade at York We will talk about Kindness and why it is important?  What does it look like?  What does it sound like?  What happens when we are consistently kind to others?  How does that change our life?  How does that change our school?  What does being kind look like when we get angry?  What does kindness look like when someone is bugging us?  Can we still choose kindness?  What would happen if whenever we received a kindness we passed it on to 5 other people? We will read the book Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson. We'll also watch a short video clip from Life Vest Inside.  Be sure and ask your children what they have learned. 

In Third Grade at Jefferson we will hear the story of The Zax by Dr. Seuss and learn more effective ways to resolve and manage conflict.  We'll also talk about how to handle anxiety.  We will watch part of a video called, "When Things Seem Scary"  We'll talk about the transition next year to Heritage and take a virtual tour.  

In Third Grade at York we will learn how to be a Hero in the Hallway by standing up for others when we see people being teased, picked on, or bullied.  We will begin learning about taking the perspective of someone one else.  We will explore how people can see the same thing different ways and we will begin to read "The Weird Series "  and learn more about dealing with bullying.

February Guidance

In Kindergarten we are learning about kindness and avoiding fights.  We will watch part of a video called "How Not to Fight".  We will talk about Kindness and why it is important?  What does it look like?  What does it sound like?  What happens when we are consistently kind to others?  How does that change our life?  How does that change our school?  What does being kind look like when we get angry?  What does kindness look like when someone is bugging us?  Can we still choose kindness?  What would happen if whenever we received a kindness we passed it on to 5 other people? We will read the book Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson. We'll also watch a short video clip from Life Vest Inside.  Be sure and ask your children what they have learned.

In First Grade at York we will also learn about how to make our world better by spreading kindness.  We will read the book Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson. We'll also watch a short video clip from Life Vest Inside.  Be sure and ask your children what they have learned.

In First Grade at Jefferson We will learn that tattling can make us lose friends.  We will see how to tell when something is a kid sized problem and when we need to get help from a grown-up.  We'll read the book Don't Squeal Unless it is a Big Deal by Jeanie Franz Ransom and take a quiz together to practice identifying which category various problems fall into.  We'll also begin some Second Step lessons that teach about problem solving steps.

In Second Grade at York we will learn about good touches and bad touches.  We will watch a video called "It's Your Body You're in Charge" Students will learn steps to say no to touches that make them feel uncomfortable.

In Second Grade at Jefferson We are revisiting the topic of bullying.  We are reviewing where the bully gets power from, how to take power back from the bully, what bystanders can do to help targets, and how we all play an important role in bully prevention.  We will read the books One by Kathryn Otoshi, and Say Something by Peggy Moss.

In Third Grade at York: We will learn about conflicts and conflict resolution skills. What makes conflicts bigger and what makes them smaller? What can I do to stay in control when I have a conflict with my friends?  We will also talk about good touches and bad touches.  We will watch a video called Yes You Can Say No.

In Third Grade at Jefferson: We will learn about 6 common thinking errors and how to avoid them. This is from the Strong Kids Curriculum.  We'll also discuss how to be a person you can be proud of.   

January Classroom Guidance

In Kindergarten we are learning how to apply what we have learned about calming down.  We are learning about ways to calm down when we are waiting for something, or when we are disappointed and don't get our way.  We are seeing that staying calm helps you have more fun, more friends, and avoid problems.

In First Grade at York we learned that being a tattletale is no fun.  We learned that tattling can make us lose friends.  We also learned how to tell when something is a kid sized problem and when we need to get help from a grown-up.  We read the book Don't Squeal Unless it is a Big Deal by Jeanie Franz Ransom.  We also took a quiz together to practice identifying which category various problems fall into.

In First, Second, and Third Grades at Jefferson we are learning about how to make our world better by spreading kindness.  We saw how kindness can make a big difference and how we each have an important part in making our world a better place.  We read the book Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson.

In Second Grade at York we are revisiting the topic of bullying.  We are reviewing where the bully gets power from, how to take power back from the bully, what bystanders can do to help targets, and how we all play an important role in bully prevention.  We read the books One by Kathryn Otoshi, and Say Something by Peggy Moss.

In Third Grade at York we are learning about 6 thinking errors our brains can make that make us feel like giving up, getting upset, or feeling bad.  With the help of the Strong Kids Curriculum, we are understanding how we can change our thinking to produce a better attitude and have a better life.

December 2014 Classroom Guidance

Jefferson and York Kindergarten: 

We are learning ways to calm down from strong feelings
(deep breaths, counting, safe place and self talk)  We are seeing why we need these strategies, how they help us, and practicing them.  This helps us to be more likely to use them when we need to stay in control.  We are also learning that staying in control helps you have more friends and do better in school.

Jefferson and York First Grade:

We are learning effective ways students can respond to bullies.

Jefferson and York Second Grade:

We will read Simon's Hook and learn 5 effective ways to handle teasing. Each student will make a specific plan to handle teasing in an effective way.  We will also go to Fish School and get a "Fish School Diploma"  http://www.grandmarose.com/neighborhood.htm  

Jefferson and York 
Third Grade:

We are playing the game "Make Your Plan" and learning effective ways to calm our brains and our bodies down in stressful situations.  At York we will also read the book "Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed" by Emily Pearson.  We will learn about the power of kindness.

November Guidance

In Kindergarten at both York and Jefferson we continue to learn about feelings and how to show others we care.  We are learning other people can have different feelings about the same thing.  We are practicing reading emotions and social situations.  In November we are learning about intentions. We will learn how to tell if something was done by accident or on purpose, and what to do if you accidentally hurt someone. 

In First grade we are learning how to calm down from strong feelings.  We are learning 10 ways to calm down and practicing at least 4 effective strategies to manage anger.  

In Second Grade we are learning and practicing steps to solve problems.

In Third Grade we are learning more ways to stay in control when we get angry and upset.  

October 2014 Guidance

In Kindergarten at both schools we will be learning about feelings and why they are important. We will be practicing "reading" other people’s feelings. Research shows if children can "read" other children's emotions in various social situations they are more likely to make good social choices.  They will also be more successful at making friends. We will learn and practice other ways to show people we care as well. We already know if you don't show people you care .....many people think you don't care.....and those people don't have as many friends.

In First Grade at Jefferson we have been learning about feelings. We have focused on how what we say and do make other people feel certain ways. We have learned every day you make yourself look friendly or mean by what you say and do. This month we are learning how to predict the feelings of others. We are thinking about how to know how people will feel about certain things.  We are learning what to do when you and your friend are playing and their feelings change to be different than yours. How can you be a good friend and keep your friends? How do you make new friends? What can you do when someone rejects you?

At York in First Grade We will be learning all about anger.  We will learn about managing our anger and why it helps you to stay in control even when you don't want to. We will learn it is possible to stay in control even when it feels like you can't.  We will read the book When I Feel Angry by Cornelia Maude Spelman.  We will also learn and practice ways to calm down  by using self-talk, deep breaths, counting, and a safe place.  Be sure and ask your children which strategy works best for them.

In Second Grade at both schools Will be talking about managing our angry feelings.  We'll see that even when hard things happen you can do things that help you stay in control.  The students will see that if you learn to stay in control you will usually have a happier life.  We will read the gook: The Very Angry Day Amy Didn't Have by Lawrence E. Shapiro and Charles Brenna.  We'll also talk a little bit about attitude and how it can help us or hurt us.  We will be learning about staying in control when our feelings get really strong. We will learn 4 strategies that students can use to calm down

In Third Grade at both schools we will learn about bulling. We will watch the video But Names Will Never Hurt Me by Thomas Brown.  We will learn where bullies get their power from, how to safely take power away from bullies, 6 strategies to use with bullies, and when to get help. Students will also make a commitment to do their best to help make our school bully free.

August / September Guidance 2014

It is great to be back! Summers seem to go by quicker every year! 

We will start the year by learning what to do when someone starts bugging you. We will talk about how to handle conflict and other problems in a way that helps you keep your friends and have more fun in school.

In Grades 1, 2 and 3 we will be learning how to stay in control and react appropriately when someone is bugging us. We will talk about about how using the 5 steps of ignore, walk away, talk friendly, talk firmly, and get help keep us in control. We will learn how and why each step works so well and talk about the real value of not giving the other person power over your own emotions. We will also learn about times when you do need to get help right away.

Also in Grade 1 at Jefferson we will be learning how to identify how other people are feeling. We will practice ways to recognize certain key feelings in other people and how to respond to various feelings. This empathy training builds a foundation that enables children to understand each other better and helps them become more sucessful at making and keeping friends.

In Kindergarten at both schools: We will learn what a school counselor does and why listening is important. Listening always shows other people you care about them. If you do that you will have more friends. Listening also helps you learn a lot more! We are also learning that a counselor is a person you can talk to who will help you find ways to make problems smaller.

We will read the books "Hands are Not for Hitting" and "Words are Not for Hurting". Each class will sign a promise paper which will be posted as a reminder that we promise not to use our hands or words to hurt each other.

We will also begin empathy training using the Second Step Curriculum. This will help children learn how to understand and manage their feelings. Research shows if children can "read" the emotions of other children in various social situations they are more likely to make good choices and be successful at making friends.