November 2012
In guidance classes this month...
Each class is learning about study habits, career exploration, character education and life skills such as....
* Respect
* Kindness
* Responsibility
* Fairness
* Being a good Citizen
* Showing Trustworthiness
In KINDERGARTEN Each class visits my classroom twice a week for "Guidance" class. We learn about being Trustworthy, Respectful, Responsible, Caring, Fair and Citizenship. Students have a grade level appropriate lesson relating to academic achievement, careers, and social/ personal skills. Right now, we are practicing how to be good listeners, pay attention, and complete our work. To help us accomplish this, the kindergarteners and I are studying how the owl, as a bird in nature, survives by using some of the same skills that students need in order to make the most out of their school experience. The class is even being visited by a puppet named Quiet Earhart Listening Owl. She brings relevent lessons about her work habits in nature. For example, as the kindergarteners learn why owls must listen very carefully to hunt in their habitat, we also discuss why they need to be good listeners in school and at home.
1st grade 
In first grade classes, Paying Attention Penguin is helping us review ways to work quietly, stay on task and finish on time. Also, some of our lessons will focus on the best way to get things done without disturbing others. Real penguins, we learn, must stay on task and work quietly in order to finish their feeding and family season. The students easily transfer the idea to getting their own work done.
2nd grade
In second grade classes, we will be emphasizing goal setting, listing priorities, checking work, and asking questions. Some students have not thought about writing a goal down on paper. Therefore, this is a great opportunity to let them name something simple they want to achieve and list three or four basic steps to reach that goal. Our helper in this study is Checking Chipmunk. As a forest creature facing cold winters, he must set goals to plan for the changing season or risk freezing and starvation. Transferring this idea about his goals for the winter to their own goal setting works very well and the kids enjoy setting a goal and thinking about how to prioritize.
3rd grade
In third grade we will emphasize completing tasks on time, following directions, paying attention, and doing one’s best. The animal to help the third graders is the honeybee. These creatures are some of the hardest working in nature. Ideas are transferred from lessons enhanced by our puppet Helen the Hardworking Honeybee.
4th grade
Fourth graders will be learning about homework habits, study skills, ways to keep an organized desk, and memorization techniques. Helping them along the journey will be Wilma the Hardworking Humpback Whale. Whales are notorious for their migration patterns and staying on track. We will be studying memorization techniques that appeal to all learning styles, but in a fun way using Wilma as our guide. Keeping a neat and organized desk or study area at home and school is very important. Some of these lessons will give students visual reminders, allowing them to draw out a neat area that could work for their space.
Kids love animals. Students will hopefully be intrigued by using animal puppets with these study skill lessons!
Counselor's Pearl of Wisdom.......
Be thankful for the small things.
***3rd grade musical "Bullies Anonymous" November 13, 7:00 p.m. Little Theater, Cherokee Elementary School****
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