Counselor's Corner
Counselor’s Corner: Happy Holiday Season! It’s that time of year when life for adults can become very hectic and stressful. And children definitely pick up on this. Although there are many happy times throughout this period, it’s helpful to remind yourselves that life isn’t always like the commercials on TV, where everything and everyone is perfect! Try to have realistic expectations, pace yourself, and look for the many blessings, or people and things to be thankful for, that truly have meaning for you. The children here have been talking about what they are thankful for on morning announcements. It’s not the Wii , or the Xbox or the latest gadget….It’s their friends and their families! An investment in time together is the greatest gift you can give your family!
On another note, in classroom guidance 3rd graders have been setting academic goals and working to identify and improve various study skills. Ask your third grader how they learn best? Are they an auditory learner (learning through what they hear), or more visual (through what is seen) or kinesthetic (learning by touching and doing?) By knowing their current style and strengths, students can tailor learning and studying to the method that best suits them.
Kindergarteners continue to practice DEBUG for problem solving and have also spent time learning about safety and stranger danger. Ask them to act out what they would do if they lost a parent in the mall, or test their knowledge of who a stranger is! Hopefully they have been reenacting many of these lessons for you.
Additionally, in grades 2 through 5, students engage in classroom meetings. We use “I-messages” or what I refer to as the “Feedback Formula” to non-threateningly communicate about problems and to give compliments. The recipe for these statements is as follows: Name, when you ________(describe action) I feel/felt _________(Feeling) I would like you to____________(new action.) For instance, Troy, when you take things from my desk, I feel angry and unsafe. I would like you to ask me for what you need. The child or children then respond with I’m sorry, I’ll try, Thank-you (for a compliment) or “let’s talk later.” This has been an effective way of addressing many of the day to day problems that can come up in the classroom, although I believe the kids favorite party of the meeting may be in the beginning when they give their ”emotional temperatures!”
When recently asked by a 5th grader why we did this, I explained that this was a skill that could be used throughout life, not just in classroom meetings. The” I-message” lessens defensiveness when speaking to a friend, or colleague. It provides a safe structure to talk about what can be a difficult or emotionally charged subject. Try this little experiment at home! Give your child or your partner some Feedback! See if your child recognizes what you are doing or saying. This is a great way to increase communication.
Have a happy holiday, stay well, and enjoy your time together…………Mrs. Valenta