December Guidance

In Kindergarten at both schools we will be learning and practicing strategies to calm down from strong feelings.  We will learn the most effective ways to use: deep breaths, counting, safe place, and self-talk. We will also learn how we can solve problems easier if we calm down first.

In First Grade at both schools we are learning about bullying.  We are learning how bullies get more power and how to safely take it away.  We are learning 6 strategies to help students handle bullying effectively.  We are also learning that some kids do things that make themselves a big target for bullies, while other kids do things that make themselves a very small target.

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

In Third Grade  we will be continuing to learn creative ways to catch ourselves when we are making thinking errors.  We will learn things we can do to overcome thinking errors that interefere with our lives.  We will read the books:  Superflex Takes on Rockbrain and the Team of Unthinkables by Stephanie Madrigal, and Superflex Takes on Glassman and the Team of Unthinkables by Stephanie Madrigal and Michelle Garcia Winner. 

November Classroom Guidance

Be Thankful...

In Kindergarten  we will be learning about why apologies are important and how to make them effectively.

In First grade I will be teaching strategies that have been proven effective in helping students calm down from strong feelings.  We will learn a lot about anger and managing many other strong feelings.  At Jefferson, we will also be learning about predicting the feelings of others, and why it is important to understand how other people feel.  This is another important step in building empathy.

Second grade will be learning about managing anger appropriately and how your attitude will have a huge impact on your day.....and your life.  We will read the book : The Very Angry Day That Amy Didn't Have by Lawrence Shapiro. 

Third graders will be learning creative ways to catch themselves when they are making thinking errors and how to overcome them.  We will read the books:  Superflex Takes on Rockbrain and the Team of Unthinkables by Stephanie Madrigal, and Superflex Takes on Glassman and the Team of Unthinkables by Stephanie Madrigal and Michelle Garcia Winner. 

October Guidance

Fall is here!

This month in Kindergarten at York and Jefferson we are learning why feelings are important.  We are also learning that people can have different feelings about the same situation.  Students are learning to read each others facial cues to determine how another student is feeling.  This skill lays the foundation for empathy and enables students to make choices that help them better relate to each other.  

In Kindergarten at Jefferson we are also learning to be a social detective.  We are learning about the power of flexible thinking and opposed to inflexible thinking.  The students are learning to defeat Rock Brain and Glassman with their Superflex thinking strategies.  We have read a number of books together including:  Superflex Takes on Rock Brain and the Team of Unthinkables and Superflex Takes on Glassman and the Team of Unthinkables 

In First Grade at York we are learning how to handle anger more effectively.  Students will learn 5 or 6 strategies that are proven effective if they choose to use them.  At Jefferson First Grade will be learning about reading social situations and predicting the feelings of other people.  

In Second Grade at York and Jefferson we will be thinking about what kind of person we want to be.  We will watch part of The Power of One video called Diego's Lesson.  We will learn about how to stand up for other people.  We'll see how one boy chose to do the right thing when everyone else was doing the wrong thing.  We will learn that the choices we make can have a powerful effect on others as well as ourselves. 

In Third Grade e will be working through the books You Are A Social Detective by:Michelle Garcia Winner and Pamela Crooke, PhD and What is a Thought? by Amy Kahofer and Jack Pransky. We'll learn about the concepts of social thinking and how our own thinking can create opportunities or problems. We'll learn how our own thoughts have a powerful effect on our lives. 

August / September 2015 Guidance

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.

We will also 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 successful at making and keeping friends. 

We will be working through the books You Are A Social Detective by:Michelle Garcia Winner and Pamela Crooke, PhD and What is a Thought? by Amy Kahofer and Jack Pransky. We'll learn about the concepts of social thinking and how our own thinking can create opportunities or problems. We'll learn how our own thoughts have a powerful effect on our lives. 

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.

April Classroom Guidance

Jefferson Kindergarten will be learning about fair ways to play.  Sharing, trading, and taking turns will help you make and keep your friends.  We will also learn about when we can solve our own problems and when we need help from a teacher.  We will read the book Tattlin' Madeline by Carol Cummings PhD. We will see why tattletales don't have many friends.  Students will also learn to differentiate between good and bad touches. 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.   Students will learn that he or she can say “NO” to bad touches, and to talk to a trusted adult in case he or she has this problem.

York Kindergarten will be learning about ways to solve problems with materials from the Second Step Curriculum.  We will learn some steps that help us make the best choices when solving a problem.  We will read the book Tattlin' Madeline by Carol Cummings PhD. We will see why tattletales don't have many friends. 

Jefferson First Grade will be learning about ways to solve problems with materials from the Second Step Curriculum.   We will also learn about the importance of honesty and how it affects our friends, lives, and future.  We will learn that out self-talk plays an important role in in our choices and actions.  

York First Grade and Second Grade We will learn about the importance of honesty and how it affects our friends, lives, and future.  We will learn that out self-talk plays an important role in in our choices and actions.  

Jefferson Second Grade We will learn about the importance of honesty and how it affects our friends, lives, and future.  We will learn that out self-talk plays an important role in in our choices and actions.  

Jefferson and York Third Grade will talk about anxiety and how to handle it in light of going to Heritage Intermediate School next year.  Students will get to see a video 4th grade students made on how to get ready for their new school.  We will also finish reading The Weird Series and learn more about putting a stop to bullying.  

Third grade at Jefferson will also learn to differentiate between good and bad touches. Your child will learn that he or she can say “NO” to bad touches, and to talk to a trusted adult in case he or she has this problem.  We will watch a video called Yes, You Can Say No.

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.