Your Sope Creek Counselors visit every classroom to teach standards driven developmental guidance lessons on a regular basis. These lessons fall under the domains of academic, career, and personal/social development. We have been very busy in classroom guidance this year, so we thought we’d share a few things that we’ve covered with your children.
In Kindergarten, Ms. Lombardi and Ms. Murphy have been teaching the I Care Rules using the I Care Kitty puppet. The children have sung songs, played games, read books, and pantomimed “body talk” (nonverbal communication) while discussing listening and helping hands.
First grade students have practiced how to make a new friend and have begun to learn the I Care Rules with Ms. Frederick. Please ask your children to share 4 steps for being active listeners wherever they are, have them demonstrate ways to use their hands for helping out at home, and brainstorm as a family acceptable ways for handling anger.
If you have a second grader, talk to him or her about the life skills of effort and pride. Second graders should be able to tell you what the words mean and what they look like in practice. Ms. Lombardi can't wait for each classroom lesson to roll around!
Fourth grade students have reviewed the STAR problem solving model with an emphasis on the importance of evaluating ideas in the “THINK” step. Ms. Lombardi introduced this model last year and is continuing to expand the topic during the current school year.
Third and Fifth grade students have had lessons with Ms. Murphy on goal setting, conflict resolution, appreciating differences and different points of view, as well as the benefits of being positive with ourselves and others.
Our classroom guidance action plan involves reducing serious behavior infractions by teaching peacemaking skills, so please ask your children to share what they have learned about solving problems peacefully.
