Counselor’s Corner

Outlining our comprehensive counseling program at Wood Acres Elementary.

THE MARYLAND CENTER OF CHARACTER EDUCATION OF STEVENSON

UNIVERSITY HAS AWARDED WOOD ACRES AS THE SCHOOL OF THE YEAR!

2010-2011

Wood Acres WAVE Values:

October: Respect & Moral Courage	March: Acceptance & Moral Courage
November: Responsibility & Moral Courage	April: Perseverance & Moral Courage
December: Honesty & Moral Courage	May: Pride & Moral Courage
January: Caring & Moral Courage	June: Fairness & Moral Courage
February: Self-Control & Moral Courage

Because Moral courage is such an important value, it is emphasized the entire school year!

Wood Acres PEACE Program:
Our goal for our 2010-2011 is to obtain 75 days of school-wide Peace. Last year we successfully reached and surpassed our goal of 70 days (we earned 78)! The Peace Program enables all our students to learn how to solve conflicts.

The ways that they can do this are by:

Debug Strategies (K-2) Ignore Move Away Give an “I Message” Get Adult Help

Win/Win Guideline (3-5) Cool Down Give an “I Message” Brainstorm Solution 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!

NO PUT-DOWNS

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 (think before we act or speak)

· Cool Down (count to 10, take deep breaths)

· Shield Myself (think about your strengths)

· Choose the Right Response (you have the power to choose the right way or the wrong way)

· Build Up (build yourself and others up by giving sincere put-ups)

To encourage students to give “put-ups”, each classroom (all classroom teachers and every specialist) has been given a book for their classroom library.

K-1: Fill A Bucket 2-5:  Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

Both books are written by Carol McCloud and illustrated by David Messing. These books encourage positive behavior by teaching children the rewards of filling each others’ invisible bucket. By expressing kindness, appreciation or simply by saying thank-you, the children will understand the importance of being bucket filler. To strengthen the concept of giving put-ups and being a “bucket filler” (vs. “bucket dipper”), each classroom has also been given a bucket. Each week students will be writing down how someone in their class has helped them to feel positive and comfortable while in learning in the classroom.