Family Time

The holiday rush is in the air. Christmas parties, shopping, family dinners, and who knows what else we will have to do in the upcoming weeks. With this is mind take a deep breath and take a few moments to spend time enjoying your family. It often seems that we forget the importance of being with each other during this special time of year and then we miss all the important events that are happening. Try to schedule a few moments every day to talk with your child(ren) about what is happening in their lives and laugh with them.

Bullying

Bully or Victim?

If you have a problem with bullying, TELL SOMEONE.

Talk to your parents, teachers, counselor, or principals. Often times, students are afraid to tell because they don't want others to think they are tattletales. You are NOT a tattletale when you ask for help in dealing with a bully.

Learn all you can about how to deal with bullies. Below are several websites to get you started. Be sure to ask helping adults how to deal with bullies.

If your bully problem is that you are the bully, TELL SOMEONE so you can learn how to be a friend and not a bully.

Bully Quiz

1. Do you like to hurt other people or animals?
2. Do you feel good when another person is crying or hurting?
3. Do you laugh when others make mistakes or get hurt?
4. Do you get angry a lot?
5. Do you want to get revenge when someone hurts your feelings?
6. Do you always lie or blame others for your mistakes?
7. Do you destroy or steal others property?
8. Do you enjoy calling names, hitting, punching, teasing, scaring, insulting, threatening, kicking, or gossiping about others?
9. Do you always have to be a tough kid?
10. Do you feel happy when others feel bad?

If you answered yes to these questions, there is help for you too. Tell an adult about the problem and check out the following web sites.

Internet Links

http://www.pbskids.org/itsmylife/friends/bullies/

http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/friends/bullies/print_books.html

http://www.bullying.org/

Other Resources

Bullies Are a Pain in the Brain by Trevor Romain, Illustrator and Elizabeth Verdick, Editor

Cliques, Phonies, & Other Baloney by Trevor Romain

How to Handle Bullies, Teasers, and Other Meanies: A Book That Takes the Nuisance Out of Name Calling and Other Nonsense by Kate Cohen-Posey and Betsy A. Lampe, Illustrator

Why is Everyone Always Picking on Me?: A guide to Handling Bullies by Terrence Webster- Doyle

Cooperation Everywhere!

The past two weeks our students have been learning the skills that are required when cooperating others. We have made butter, created bubble wands, had a bubble blowing brigade challenge, created pumpkins, built towers out of spaghetti and marshmellows, and last but not created animals that would only come out on Halloween. Even though we have had loads of fun the students have learned that cooperation is a lot of hard work. They now realize that there are a lot of skills such as; listening, sharing, inviting, encouraging, using good manners, giving compliments, compromising, communicating, taking turns, and problem solving. They also learned that if you don't use all of the skills all the time that they will run into a lot of problems when trying to cooperate with others. It has been a lot of fun watching the students work their way through many diffcult issues and being successful!

Red Ribbon Week is Coming

We will begin on Oct. 25th and have our final event on Oct. 29th. Below are theme days that our students should have fun with and learn at the same time!
Monday – Team Up Against Drugs Day
Students can wear jerseys to show their team effort for our school’s drug free environment.
Tuesday – My day is brighter without Drugs
Students wear yellow
Wednesday – Drugs Give Me the Blues
Students wear blue
Thursday – Inside out Day
Students can wear their shirts inside out for a “Don’t let drugs turn you day. Students will also have educational activities that will teach them how drugs can affect their bodies and brain.
Friday – Red Ribbon Day/ Color My World Drug Free
Students should wear red ribbon to reinforce the key message of our drug abuse prevention program and wear brightly colored clothing or rainbow designs.

Different Learning Styles

Recently your child found out what type of learning style they have. Below you will find descriptors of each style and some pointers on things that they can do that will help them study:

Visual learners are those who learn through seeing things. Look over the characteristics below to see if they sound familiar. A visual learner:
•Is good at spelling but forgets names.

•Needs quiet study time.

•Has to think awhile before understanding lecture.

•Is good at spelling.

•Likes colors & fashion.

•Dreams in color.

•Understands/likes charts.

•Is good with sign language.

Study Tips for Visual Learners
• use visual materials such as pictures, charts, maps, graphs, etc.
• have a clear view of your teachers when they are speaking so you can see their
body language and facial expression
• use colour to highlight important points in text
• take notes or ask your teacher to provide handouts
• illustrate your ideas as a picture or brainstorming bubble before writing them down
• write a story and illustrate it
• use multi-media (e.g. computers, videos, and filmstrips)
• study in a quiet place away from verbal disturbances
• read illustrated books
• visualize information as a picture to aid memorization

.Auditory Learners are those who learn best through hearing things. Look over these traits to see if they sound familiar to you. You may be an auditory learner if you are someone who:
•Likes to read to self out loud.

•Is not afraid to speak in class.

•Likes oral reports.

•Is good at explaining.

•Remembers names.

•Notices sound effects in movies.

•Enjoys music.

•Is good at grammar and foreign language.

•Reads slowly.

•Follows spoken directions well.

•Can't keep quiet for long periods.

•Enjoys acting, being on stage.

•Is good in study groups.

Study Tips for Auditory Learners:

• participate in class discussions/debates
• make speeches and presentations
• use a tape recorder during lectures instead of taking notes
• read text out aloud
• create musical jingles to aid memorization
• create mnemonics to aid memorization
• discuss your ideas verbally
• dictate to someone while they write down your thoughts
• use verbal analogies, and story telling to demonstrate your point


Kinesthetic learners are those who learn through experiencing/doing things. Look over these traits to see if they sound familiar to you. You may be a kinesthetic learner if you are someone who:
•Is good at sports.

•Can't sit still for long.

•Is not great at spelling.

•Does not have great handwriting.

•Likes science lab.

•Studies with loud music on.

•Likes adventure books, movies.

•Likes role playing.

•Takes breaks when studying.

•Builds models.

•Is involved in martial arts, dance.

•Is fidgety during lectures.

Study Skills Tip for Kinesthetic Learners:
• take frequent study breaks
• move around to learn new things (e.g. read while on an exercise bike, mold a
piece of clay to learn a new concept)
• work at a standing position
• chew gum while studying
• use bright colors to highlight reading material
• dress up your work space with posters
• if you wish, listen to music while you study
• skim through reading material to get a rough idea what it is about before settling down to read it in detail.

How Does My Child Learn

This week in guidance classes we have been learning what type of learner students are. Are they visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners? It has been quite in teresting and fun for the students to find out about themselves and for them to develop an understanding for why they make some of the choices they do in the classroom. Students in 4th and 5th graders have received tip sheets that will help them study based on what type of learner they are. Second and third graders will be bringing tip sheet home so please be watching for it. Our kindergarten and first graders are learning what it takes to be a champion student. We are working hard at practicing being responsible learners.

Assigning Chores Will Help Your Child Learn How To Be Responsible

Assigning chores will help your child learn how to be responsible. The steps that will make this challenge easier are listed below:

1. Hold a family meeting - Rather than just handing out chores to your child, involve them in the selection of the chores. Call the family together and have them brainstorm jobs that need to be completed around the house. Make sure that the jobs are age appropriate for them. If your child resists choosing jobs put the list in a hat and have them draw. Ask your children to establish consequences if they do not follow through and complete their assigned jobs.

2. Develop a chore chart as a reminder of who is suppose to do what (go to http://www.schoolfamily.com/)

3. Set a responsible example - As with most things children learn from the examples that their parents set. If you want your child to act responsibly you have to show them what being responsible looks like. That means you have to do your jobs at home when your are supposed to rather than putting them off. In other words live up to what you say! You can't expect your child(ren) to do it if you don't do it yourself. You can also model being responsibile in your community by volunteering and allowing your child to join you when you volunteer. They will enjoy doing this with you and will follow in your footsteps. This also teaches your child(ren) to think of others.

4. Don't nag - Before a child(ren) can learn to be responsible, they have to be allowed to take responsibility and accept the consequences when they aren't. Providing them with a gentle reminder and then allowing them to experience the consequences when they don't follow through by completing their job is a life lesson. It will also prevent many battles and in the end you will have a responsible and independent child.

Guidance in the clasroom

This week has been my first week in classrooms with students and we have really had fun. We have played games, learned what responsible behavior and irresponsible behavior is, and talked about why we should be responsible. The students have really been great listeners and are working hard at filling up their character buckets in their room. Next week will be Aims Web testing so no guidance classes, but I will be visiting with new students inbetween testing times. It has been a great week and I can't wait to see what is around the corner.

Welcome Back!

Summer has flown by and we are now back in full swing at school. I am looking forward to working with you and your child(ren). I will be visiting classes once a week and covering many topics this year. Throughout the year off we will be learning about many different character traits. Remember students can be recognized for demonstrating those traits in the classroom and be recognized at a 9 week celebration and receive tags to add to there lanyards. If they have never received a tag or lanyard this is the year to start their collection.



Our first trait that we will cover is responsibility. Responsibility is a life skill that students will use at school, home and in the community. There are many ways at home you can help your child develop this skill. Some things you can do are give the chores to do such as making their bed, helping with the dishes, caring for a pet and doing their homework when it is assigned. Teaching these skills now will prepare them for the future.

Summer is Here!

Summer is finally here and when your child(ren) start with "I'm bored" and you arel looking for some fun ideas click on the link below and it will have 25 fun ideas to do with them. Enjoy our short break and I will see you this fall!
Education World ® Professional Development Center: Twenty-five Activities to Keep Kids' Brains Active in the Hot Summer Sun

Celebrate testing

This year we are taking a new approach to testing. We are going to celebrate it. We have a spirit week and assembly planned the week prior to testing and primary students are doing encouraging notes and posters during testing.

Here are some ideas that you can do to help them with this endeavor

• Encourage your child to do well but don't pressure him/her. You may stress him/her out. It is important for your child to stay relaxed on the test.


• Keep a positive attitude about tests.


• Mark down test days on your calendar so you and your child are both aware of testing dates.


• Make sure that your child gets enough sleep on the night before the test.


• Ensure that your child eats a healthy breakfast and avoid heavy foods that may make him/her groggy and avoid high sugar foods that may make him/her hyper.


• Make sure that your child gets up early enough so that he/she will be on time to school.


• Let your child relax for a few hours before bedtime, it can be stressful for a child to study all night.


• Talking about the test with your child can relieve stress about test taking.

I know our students will do their very best. Happy testing!

What is a School Counselor?

A school counselor is a type of helper in the school. The primary focus of a school counselor at the elementary level is prevention. My main objective is to help all students learn basic life skills and help your child have a successful school year. Often times, non-academic issues can get in the way of a student’s learning (especially during these early developmental years). Addressing these issues can help your child to succeed in school!

Some of the things counselors address with students, parents, and staff are:
Feelings, self esteem, behavior, death/loss, safety, friendship, homework, bullying, conflicts, listening and following directions, transitions, healthy behaviors, honesty, accepting others, separation/divorce, and much more!

School Counseling is a short term resource. If there are greater issues that need extensive attention, I will be glad to assist you in finding an outside counselor to work with your child.

Welcome

I am looking so forward to sharing all the fun things we are learning. This blog will allow you to keep informed about all that your child learns through the guidance program at Stamping Ground Elementary. Look for more updates!