Fear In A Hat

This activity is an adaption from http://www.wilderdom.com/games/descriptions/FearInAHat.html

In some of my small emotion management groups I use this activity during a session at the beginning of the working stage.  The tone could be set by introducing the topic of fear and explaining how it is normal and natural that children are experiencing all sorts of anxieties, worries and fears about what might happen (what if thinking). I have each member write personal fears anonymously on an index card which are collected and put in a hat.  In elementary students worry that someone might recognize the handwriting but if the slips are kept in a hat then handed to counselor after being read it helps keep some privacy. Each member draws a card with someone else's fear reads them aloud to the group to  and explains how the person might think,  feel, and behave. A good way of starting to deal with these fears is have them openly acknowledged , without being subject to ridicule.  Having one's fears expressed and heard can reduce their intensity.  I also found a list of top 10 common fears of childhood and as part of processing this activity shared the list with members and observed if a group member had that one (or expressed it).  A few on the master list stimulated more discussion (especially fear of parents death or divorce).  I always get feedback from parents that members came home and discussed this activity which tells me it makes an impact and furthers discussion of fears with trusted loved ones.

Cyber Citizenship Month

This month my school is focusing on preparing our digital natives to be good cyber citizens. Citizenship is a character trait that is now being applied to use of technology. Cyber citizenship is a term that refers to being responsible when using the Internet, cell phones, and other electronic devices. What people do on-line when no one is looking tells a lot about a person’s character and morals. This is the first generation to be born into a world that already had computers. This means that you need to learn the rights and consequences of living in a digital world.

The librarian, technology coordinator, counselors and a PTA rep are coordinating our schoolwide effort to raise awareness about this important idea. Using the Internet, texting, etc. allows anonymity. We have third graders posting videos and making comments on YouTube, blogs, etc.  Sharing can be great but certain cautions and responsibilities are required. 

The counselors lessons are focused on the cyber bullying part of this puzzle.  In third grade we begin to teach the children if they receive messages, pictures, etc. that are bullying to record or document the message and share it with a trusted adult.  We use the lessons available on the Committee for Children web site that is part of the Steps to Respect program.  My fifth graders get a bullying message to respond to requiring them to write back a message to a peer who “sent” a type of chain mail attack, pass it on or you will be the next target. After they wrote and read their responses we had a great discussion.

We sent a letter home to parents with conversation started questions to discuss cyber bullying at home.  It takes some convincing to get young people to report this type of bullying because they are afraid parents will take away the technology (even if they were the target).  We emphasize to parents this generation cannot avoid technology, but they must be taught how to use it responsibly.

Happy Halloween

Fall brings with it pumpkins, apple cider, and sweater weather, and Halloween. For some, this season is full of fun and excitement. However, for others it can be a time of fear and worry.

Every child is wired differently. What is funny to one can be scary to another. What is exciting and thrilling to one can be terrifying and incapacitating to another.  Parents (and school staff if you do Halloween at school) need to know what individual children can handle.  Adults need to use caution to protect children from unnecessary fears and trauma. If a child is already prone to anxiety and expresses fear, respect their right to feel it. For more ideas check out this link
http://www.lotusgroup.biz/kids-halloween-horror-movies-and-night-terrors#ixzz2AmqgRpV0

Mix It Up at Lunch Day

My school psychologist and I had great things planned for this day.  We asked our teachers to mix it up in class today, not just in the lunch room.  However, the super storm has our school closed again today so we will be doing Mix It Up later in the school year.  For all those schools who are participating in this national event sponsored by Teaching Tolerance I hope your students make a new friend and realize including others enriches us all. See their web site http://www.tolerance.org/ for ideas about how to take these important ideas beyond one day.

CHARACTER COUNTS! Week October 22-26, 2012

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States do hereby proclaim October 21 through October 27, 2012, as National Character Counts Week. I call upon public officials, educators, parents, students, and all Americans to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

At our school , we celebrated character a different way each day this week.  We tried to make it engaging and meaningful for the students.  Each fourth and fifth grader got a lesson from the counselor reviewing the 6 character traits and an activity that was sent home to share with parents. 

In celebration of character, students were encouraged to wear the following articles of clothing in a joint school-wide effort to support character. 

22 Monday:  “Sock It To Bullying”- Students wear their most “funky or decorative” socks

 

23 Tuesday:  “Wear a smile and share one with a friend” (School picture day)

 

24 Wednesday:  “Slip Into Safety”- Students wear their slippers during the school day   

 

25 Thursday:  “Hats Off To Helping Others”- Students wear their most “favorite or funky” hat

 

26 Friday:  “Show your character colors”– Students wear a color that represents one of the six pillars of character by grade level: K (blue), Grade 1 (yellow/gold), Grade 2 (green), Grade 3 (orange), Grade 4 (red), Grade 5 (purple).

The week was a success and definitely heightened awareness of our character education program.

Bullying Foldable

We have a well established bullying program based on the Steps to Respect curriculum so students at every grade level get lessons from the counselor about this important topic.  In fifth grade one lesson is on Bystander Power.  To make the lessen more engaging and memorable while I do a Smart Board lessen on the three types of bystanders the students complete a three part foldable (This takes me 5 minutes for all classes instead of 5 minutes per child out of a thirty minute lesson).  I pre-fold and cut the paper so all they have to do is label, draw, and explain.  As we learn about each type they write 2 bullets about that type of bystander and do a quick illustration to show understanding of the concepts.  For example a Passive Bystander - watches and does nothing and - provides an audience.  The drawing is a silent face of a person.  I want them to draw the bystander not the student who is bullying to focus on the bystander response. We do the passive and Harmful Bystander then talk about how these tow are the same and different, then move to the Helpful Bystander.  The students like creating their own booklet and were eager to take them home to share with families.  They are told to discuss how 2 of the categories are part of the problem, but one is part of the solution.

We had our first Career Cafe today for fifth graders during lunch.  Our first parent guest was Aerospace Physiologist who trains aircrews on the physiological hazards of flight. Our presenter was a female Air Force Corporal who got her college degree via an ROTC scholarship. We had 22 students sign up and attend which was good although we could have handled up to 30.  The preparation was not time consuming and those who elected to attend were very interested.  Six of the boys gave up almost their entire recess asking questions and trying on gear.  Next month our guest will be our school resource officer.  We took the advice from other blogs to start small.  This year we are doing Career Cafe at only two grade levels, third and fifth.