Each of us are unique or different from one another in some ways. We also are all alike in many ways. Valuing our differences and respecting them helps us get along with others and learn new things.The younger grades listened to a book about people's differences and similarities, and talked about why differences are important. They then did an activity with classmates where they discovered some things they had in common with each other, and some things that were different. The older grades also talked about differences and similarities, and what feelings they had when they felt different than the people around them. We talked about how sometimes people automatically equate different with "bad" or "weird" when in reality, it is likely just different. We talked about the importance of being able to agree to disagree with others, and treat each other with respect no matter what our differences are. We learned that empathy means understanding and sharing what someone else is feeling and caring enough to do something about it.We started off November learning about empathy. The younger grades watched a fun video and practiced the first step of empathy, noticing how other people are feeling. The older grades watched a different video on empathy and then practiced thinking of how they would show empathy in different situations. They also learned some tips on empathetic things to say when you don't know what to say: "I am here for you." "That must be hard." "I am sorry that happened." "You must be feeling _______." During Red Ribbon Week at the end of October we learned about what it means to be drug-free. The younger grades also shared their future goals and why they would be much easier to achieve if they kept themselves drug-free. The older grades focused on peer pressure and worked together to see that the cost of giving in to peer pressure to do drugs is much greater than that of saying, "NO".
We learned that "college" means any training or schooling beyond high school, not just a traditional 4-year university education.In October we also learned about what college is and why it is important. The younger grades read the book, "Monte Goes to College," which was specifically written for them (elementary school students in Utah). They also thought about, discussed, and shared ideas on what they might like to study more about in college. The older grades watched a series of short videos about different colleges in Utah and learned more about what college is like.
At the elementary school level, we start learning about the world of work and how it relates to our interests.During the first week of October, all grades learned more about careers. The Kindergarten classes listened to a book about careers and played career bingo. The 1st and 2nd graders learned about several different careers and how each career helps the community. The 3rd and 4th graders learned about several different careers and discussed what people in each career were likely interested in. They also thought of a few careers related to some of their own interests. The 5th and 6th graders completed a career exploration booklet, where they used careeronestop.org to learn more about a career they found interesting. A few classes got to watch Ms. Gardner's favorite funny video about "Career Day": We learned about 4 important ways to keep our bodies strong and healthy.Keeping our bodies clean through practicing good hygiene habits (showering/bathing regularly, brushing teeth daily, wearing clean clothes, etc.), helps prevent us from getting sick and also helps us make friends. Exercise keeps our bodies strong and our brains happy. Getting enough sleep is crucial for our brain to function properly. Eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables is necessary for us to grow and have energy. The following are a few videos that were included in this lesson: Growth mindset means we know that our brain is like a muscle. We can get smarter as we work at learning new things and challenging ourselves. As we keep trying, we exercise our brain. Grades 1-3 watched and discussed the following video: Grades 4-6 watched the following videos about Growth Mindset: Knowing your interests and strengths can help you deal with life’s challenges.In September, 1-6 grades made their own "Personal Flags of Awesome" representing their interests and strengths. Many students also shared their flags with their classmates. Students were encouraged to identify at least one thing they are interested in and one thing they are good at. These interests and strengths give us a place to start when we are struggling with challenges. Grades 1-3 completed the following personal flag worksheet: Grades 4-6 used the following brainstorming pages, answering as few or as many questions as they wished, and then designed their own personal flag.
We kicked the year off talking about how we can make this the best year yet, even with all the challenges. We all thought of something we could do to make this the best year yet. We can do this! |
AuthorSchool Counselor Intern Archives
May 2021
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