Counselor's Corner
I am sure that you have heard your children talking about receiving "Peace Paws" and earning "Peace Days" at school. We are excited to be implementing the Peace Program this year in order to help our students learn and play in a peaceful learning environment.
Each afternoon before dismissal, the students are asked to reflect on the following:
1-Did we solve our conflicts without hitting, shoving or kicking?
2- Did we solve our conflicts using Debug or Win/Win Strategies?
3- Did we use our No Put-Down Strategies even if someone gave us a put-down?
If the students are able to resolve their conflicts peacefully, each class will earn a Peace Day. Individual peace data is kept for each classroom. Each Monday morning the students will receive information on how successful they have been doing the previous week. We will also be recording school-wide Peace Days. If every class has been successful at not giving put-downs and at resolving their conflicts in a thoughtful manner, the school will earn a Peace Day.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION STRATEGIES:
We are working very hard to encourage our students to use the strategies that they have been taught in order that they can become good problem solvers and apt at resolving conflicts (AND EARN A PEACE DAY). This year, our emphasis is SKILL BUILDING and we are expecting our students to apply what they have learned. Although we know that there will be conflicts, we want our students to react to them in an appropriate manner.
Please review the strategies with your child at home!
DEBUG: (K-2)
| Ignore |
| Move Away |
| Give an “I Message” |
| Get adult help |
WIN/WIN GUIDELINES: (3-5)
| Cool off |
| Give an "I Message” |
| Brainstorm solutions |
| Affirm, forgive, and/or thank |
An “I Message” is an excellent tool for younger and older students. The “I Message” always begins with the student talking about his/her own feelings. This starts off the conversation in an appropriate manner – the student talks about himself rather than accusing the other person who is involved in the conflict. In order words, the problem is being attacked and not the other student involved. The correct way to give an “I Message” is:
I FEEL… (mad, sad, angry, embarrassed) WHEN YOU… ( give me a put-down) WOULD YOU PLEASE STOP IT!
In addition to problem solving strategies, the students also use No Put- Down Strategies. The students are instructed to use these strategies when others are giving them put-downs. Put-downs can be verbal (teasing, name-calling) and non verbal (laughing when someone makes a mistake, rolling eyes at someone).
The No Put-Down Strategies are:
| Think About Why |
| Stay Cool |
| Shield Myself |
| Choose a Response |
| Build Up |
WAVE VALUES
Our Wood Acres’ WAVE values support all the above strategies. Each month, a new character education trait will be emphasized in all classes. They will hear daily messages on the morning announcements and two lessons will be taught on each trait during my visits to all classrooms.
MONTHLY THEMES:
| September | - Respect & Think About Why |
| October | - Responsibility & Think About Why |
| November | - Honesty & Stay Cool |
| December | - Pride & Stay Cool |
| January | - Cooperation & Shield Myself |
| February | - Acceptance & Shield Myself |
| March | - Caring & Choose a Response |
| April | - Perseverance & Choose A Response |
| May | - Self-Control & Build Up |
| June | - Review all WAVE Values & Build Up |
*Because Moral courage is such an important value, it is emphasized upon the entire school year.
I look forward to another fun and successful year with the students at Wood Acres!
Mrs. Terry King