3rd Grade Self Esteem

3rd Grade is discussing self esteem.  Self esteem is how you feel about yourself.  We read this book together and talk about the importance of having good thoughts.  We also discuss how it's easy to think negative thoughts (which is what the monster represents in the book) and how to change those thoughts around.  Ask your 3rd grader about self esteem!

2nd Grade Conflict Resolution

2nd Grade is learning about steps to help solve problems, using the DEBUG method.  DEBUG is strategies to help when a conflict arises.  We read through a powerpoint together about a little girl who is struggling with her cousin bothering her.  The girl goes through all of the steps to try and solve the problem by herself but ends up needing help from an adult.  

The steps are:

1. Ignore

2. Walk away

3. Use kind words

4. Use firm words

5. Ask for help

We talk about the difference between kind and firm words and practice.  The kids are left with an easy way to remember how to solve problems on their own.  We also discuss how to ignore, if you cannot move away.  We talk about using "blinders."  Ask your 2nd grader how they use their blinders!

3rd Grade Conflict Resolution

3rd Grade is discussing how to effectively solve problems.  We talk about this STAR process.  We role play some examples and work through some real life problems that have happened.  I emphasize the importance of stopping and thinking before acting.  I go into detail about why this is important and relate it back to the brain.  When you are having big emotions, it's hard to make a good decision which is why people react and regret later.  It's important to stop and think to slow the brain down to help make better decisions.

4th Grade Coping Unit

4th Grade is starting a unit on coping.  We talk about the definition of coping and how it applies to us.  Coping is dealing with difficult things in an ok way.  I start the lesson by giving a volunteer a rock and asking him/her to change the rock.  After watching him/her throw it down, stomp on it, scratch it, etc. they start to realize they cannot change the rock.  I then give another volunteer some playdoh and ask him/her to change it.  Of course it is easily changed.  I relate this experiment back to our coping definition and expand- sometimes in life, problems happen.  These problems can be easy to deal with or not; they can be in our control or not.  The problems that are easy for us to deal with and we can change I label as "clay problems."  The problems that are not easy to deal with and we cannot change I label as "rock problems."  We discuss about the rock problems- we cannot do anything about it, and so we must cope.  We talk about problems we must cope with.  I ask the kids to reflect on their experiences- what in their life has been a rock problem and what has been a clay problem.  We will continue to coping next lesson!

5th Grade Decision Making Unit

5th Grade is starting a new unit about decision making.  We start the unit talking about the types of decisions there are to be made.  There are 3 types- I decisions, We decisions and They decisions.  We talk about each of these and I have them give me examples of each.  I decisions are those that they can make on their own.  We decisions are those that they are involved in making.  They decisions are those that others make for us, we do not have a choice in what it is.  We talk about how "they" decisions are harder to accept because someone else is telling us what to do.  We talk about how everyone has "they" decisions they have to accept- kids and adults, and I give examples.  We then turn our discussion about how the decisions they are making right now might effect their ability to make good "I" decisions in the future.  The adults are watching to see if they can handle making good decisions, if so- they are given the opportunity to make more "I" decisions as they get older.  This is a fun discussion for me to watch- the kids start to understand that as they get older, they will get more chances to be more independent, but that all depends on their ability to make good choices now.  We will continue our discussion about decision making next time we get together.

1st Grade Feelings

1st Grade is working through this book.  We are learning new feeling words, and expanding our vocabulary.  The kids identify what feelings the know- happy, sad, mad, scared, etc.  We then go into other feelings such as frustrated, angry, zany, brave, courageous, delightful, impatient, etc.  It's fun to watch their reactions when I teach them what these feelings are.  They seem to have experienced them, but do not know the name to the feeling.  After reading the book, we play feelings charades.  It is a fun time!