January 2019: K & 1 - Follow Your Heart

 Kindergarten and 1st graders are listening to the story Howard Wigglebottom Listens to His Heart four our January lesson. Acceptance of self and others are integral parts of being part of a school community. We discussed how people are different in many ways on the outside - hair, skin and eye color, tall or short, the way we dress, the sound of our voice, etc.

 As individuals, we all have different things that make us happy, and it can be difficult if peers do not understand or accept these differences. Children need to understand that there will be times when what friends are doing does not match their own expectations. 

Students are learning to develop a positive attitude towards self and others as unique and worthy individuals. We can encourage this development by helping them self-reflect: what do I appreciate about myself? What am I good at? Do I have to be the same as my friends? 

You can help your child to consider the feelings and opinions of others - to put him or herself in the other person's shoes. Encourage them to see that differences are to be appreciated and celebrated. You can do this by exposing them to other cultures and people through watching television programs or reading books about other people and places and participating in local community cultural events and festivals.

January 2019 - Grade 2: Acts of Kindness

Our topic in 2nd grade this month is Acts of Kindness.

Again this year Florence Roche donated a variety of much needed supplies to Transitions Homeless Shelter in Devens. This shelter specializes in helping strictly women and children stabilize their lives and move into permanent housing eventually.

To expand our range of ways to be kind, 2nd grade is viewing several short clips from the RandomActsofKindness.org website. Many students have welled up during one or more of these clips that show average people performing acts of kindness for the greater good.

Below are the links to the clips we're viewing:
https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-videos/5-a-book-drive

https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-videos/2-kind-kids-club

https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-videos/1-an-animal-sanctuary-that-promotes

The kids loved watching ways in which adults and children can make a difference to other people  

It's important that we "practice" kindness like we do any other skill! It can be difficult to see beyond our individual needs and wants in a hectic, fast-paced world. Sometimes a friendly smile is just enough to boost someone's mood and turn their day around.

January 2019 - Grade 3: Enemy Pie

Dear Family,

As part of our ongoing pursuit of developing healthy relationships and keeping things in perspective, third grade classes listened to the story Enemy Pie, by Derek Munson. This is a book that teaches about conflict resolution and seeing ‘enemies’ in a new light, using common sense and a bit of humor. The dad in this story provides his son with a valuable lesson without lecturing to him, and instead arranges matters so that his son can learn on his own. Class discussions focused keeping an open mind when getting to know people, and not judging somebody based on what you "think" they are like. Usually we need to spend some time with a person to truly get to know them.

Developing kindness and compassion for others is a critical part of your child's growth. The ability to accept others, even if they are different, and feel compassion for them is an essential element of social competency and an important part of every child’s education. Socially competent children are more successful in life. The ability to relate to and accept others is not just a desired trait — it's a necessity for living in a diverse society.  Children's social lives are complex and varied and there are many ways to be "successful" socially. Some children feel most comfortable with one or two close friends, whereas others prefer to be part of a large social network.

Most children eventually find their niche and are able to achieve their social goals. With the right mixture of empathy and involvement, parents can aid greatly in this process. To assist your child, explore a variety of social settings. Trouble connecting with schoolmates may be due to a mismatch of personalities or interests. Interests evolve and become more specific, and friendships often wane as children mature at different rates. Introducing your child to new and varied social circles like team sports, clubs, or youth groups may provide for a better social "fit."

Keeping oneself open to developing new friendships, even with ‘old’ classmates is a healthy approach.  By exploring relationships with classmates who may be new to them this year, your child may develop a great friendship!

Sincerely,

Ms. Cahill

School Counselor

January 2019 - Grade 4: Gifts from the Enemy

I have a few favorite authors whose work I use for social-emotional lessons. One is Trudy Ludwig, a former school counselor turned writer. Her most recent work is titled "Gifts from the Enemy", pictured  and described by the publisher here:

Gifts from the Enemy is the powerful and moving story based on From a Name to a Number: A Holocaust Survivor's Autobiography by Alter Wiener, in which Alter recalls his loss of family at the hands of the Nazis and his internment in five prison camps during World War II. This picture book tells one moving episode during Alter's imprisonment, when an unexpected person demonstrates moral courage in repeated acts of kindness to young Alter during his imprisonment. Written by acclaimed children's writer Trudy Ludwig, author of Better Than You and Confessions of a Former Bully, and illustrated by award-winning children's book illustrator Craig Orback, Gifts from the Enemy teaches children in age-appropriate language about the dangers of hatred, prejudice, and stereotyping and that there are good and bad in every group of people. The accompanying questions and activities for readers provide teachers and parents with helpful direction in presenting this history and the valuable story. Gifts from the Enemy highlights how acts of social justice and kindness can change lives.

4th graders have been captivated by this true story of a boy not much older than they are presently. Many were curious about Alter - "is he still alive?" Yes. "How did he survive?" Good question, let's discuss! Students had many theories about the impact of hope vs despair (tying in with our SPaRK character trait Perseverance), and the practicality of relying on 1 sandwich a day for your very survival. We also addressed power of compassion for one another and the willingness to take risks to do the right thing.

This story also raises awareness of a very painful time in human history. Students are encouraged to read age appropriate literature on the topic of WWII such as the following books recommended for grades 3-6 by Scholastic: The Story of the Holocaust by Clive Lawton; Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine; The Girl Who Survived by Bronia Brandman and Carol Bierman; Elly - My True Story of the Holocaust by Elly Berkovits Gross; Jacob's Rescue by Malka Drucker and Michael Halperin among many others. Fourth graders often have many questions, but I do try to keep the lesson focused on foundation of kindness and compassion that many people demonstrate during even the most difficult circumstances.

Perhaps most importantly, we discussed gratitude. How fortunate we are to have homes, food, clothing and to be living in a country where people are free to express themselves. Gratitude that every child is entitled to an education and that we are here to provide it to them.