SweetTweets

I have been talking a lot about cyber bullying this week with my fifth graders. Yesterday we made Sweet Tweets which the kids will update each day when they come into class.


Materials - strips of paper, markers, dry erase markers, magnets

Day 1 - Discuss definition of cyberbullying (bullying using technology) and different ways cyberbullying can occur. This may include texts, emails, Facebook, video games, and Instagram to name a few. I also do an informal poll of how many students have a Facebook account to twitter account. Pass out strips of paper and have students write their names any way they would like. Explain to them the idea of a sweet tweet. Basically they can write down anything that does not hurt or offend another person, including themselves.

Laminate the students strips of papers.

Day 2 - talk about sweet tweets again. No put downs. Can say hi, say something nice to another person, make it positive. Pass out wet / dry erase markers for students to write their sweet tweets. Share the tweets with the class. The next day when students come to class they erase the previous days sweet tweet and make a new one.
*** stress that online tweets can never be 100% deleted ( the same with texts, Facebook posts, ect). Once the student posts a message online it is there forever.

Have fun!

My kids are having a lot of with their messages.

3rd Quarter - Getting down to business

With 3rd quarter under way I'm beginning to meet with the students who earned Ds and Fs on their report cards. Many of these students may also be in danger of failing for the school year. This week I will be meeting with all the students and developing 3rd quarter goals. Check back to see the weekly study tip or skill of the week.

Week #1 is pretty simple. Students will develop their goal for the 3rd grading period and list steps to reach their goal.

New Year-New Kids-New Goals

This week I got a new group of 5th graders. It was also the first week of the third grading period. I had my students complete the following activity as a kick off to the class.

Materials - colored paper & markers

• I discussed responsibility with the class and brainstorm ideas of what responsibility means (areas of discussion could include school, home, with friends, teams, or clubs)
• Divide paper into 4 sections. Students will write what they are responsible for doing in each section.

Possible discussion questions:
What would happen if you did not follow through with your responsibilities?
What would your parents think? Friends? Coaches? You?
Are there any consequences for not completing your responsibilities?

Classroom guidance

One of my go to favorites for classroom guidance. Classroom guidance from A-Z is a great resource for all sorts of lessons. From bullying to study skills to anxiety this book has a little bit of everything. In fact, I just ordered my second copy this week. It seems I lost my original copy and I just couldn't live without my Classroom guidance from A-Z.  I would recommend this book for middle school students. 

Friendship Links

Friendship Links

This activity can be used with groups or classrooms of all ages. 

Objective:  To facilitate student’s abilities to express positive feelings towards another person and to build class harmony.  

Materials: Strips of colored paper, markers, crayons

Procedure:

1.

Discuss  friendships

•

qualities to look for in friends

•

where they see their friendships in 1, 5, 10, 10 years,

•

how might friendships change when moving to a new school or school building

•

what makes them a good friend

2.

Ask students to begin thinking about the people around the classroom and to brainstorm as many positive attributes as they can about their peers.  Teacher may demonstrate by brainstorming on the board about someone whom they all know (principal).  Emphasize the importance of listing only POSITIVE characteristics.

3.

Pass out strips of paper to each student and yourself.

4.

Explain that the strips of paper will be used to make a friendship chain and stapled together (similar to ones made at Christmas and used to decorate).  

5.

Students should write their name on the strip – big enough for other students to know who the strip belongs.

6.

Students will pass the strips around the room and will write a positive statement or compliment on the strip and then sign their own initials.  Please monitor for positive statements only.

7.

Students will review the nice statements made about them.

8.

Discussion points:

•

How did you feel when the person read nice things about you?

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Did you agree with what people wrote about you?

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Why is friendship so important?

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What makes you a good friend?

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What things could you work on to become a better friend?

**It makes it easier if students only pass slips of paper when instructed to do so by the teacher

**Monitor slips to make sure the same statement is not being written over and over (i.e – smart, funny, nice)

Is it the (long) weekend yet

I went through the whole day thinking it was Wednesday. I also was ready to plan for a group which ended last week. I might be going crazy. Maybe it's because it is the end of the grading period? Maybe it's because my two year old and I were sick this weekend?  In any event this only means one thing - the rest of the week is going to go by super slow. At least I have a three day weekend in my future. Check back soon for updates to the lesson plan and games pages. And happy long weekends to everyone!

No Name Calling Week

No name calling week is fast approaching. January 21st thru the 25th is dedicated to a week without name calling. The No name calling week website will provide you with all the tools you need for a successful program. There are free posters to print, lesson plans, and activities to get you started. The lesson plan are divided into elementary, middle, and high school levels.

I am planning on having a Mix It Up Day at lunch during the week. Another activity in the works is a friendship chain. Students will have a slip of paper with their name on one side. On the other side students in the class will write positive statements or compliments (you're a great friend, thanks for helping me with my homework, ect).  After students have a chance to see all the nice things about themselves the links will be connected into a chain. Think of this as a chain made during Christmas for classroom decorations. I'm not sure what other activities I'm doing the rest of the week but will keep you posted. What are you doing for No name calling week?

Character Bulletin Board

Well 2013 is off to a great start. The kids are rested and ready to work. And so am I. Here is my latest bulletin board creation . I have to admit I am not the best at creating bulletin boards. I blame it on being short. Standing on a chair and trying to line everything up has never proved to work for me. I am afraid of one, falling off the chair, or two, stapling my finger.

Hello 2013

Well, today is the last day of winter vacation. The last two weeks have been filled with cleaning, cooking, baking, decorating, play dates, taking down decorations, and many visits with all the Grandparents. It has been a blast to hang out with my favorite girls and it is going to be tough to leave them tomorrow morning. I mean look at those adorable faces. I'm almost thinking going back to school tomorrow will be somewhat of a vacation. Happy 2013 everyone!

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Welcome to Diary of a School Counselor!  The blog for everything school counseling...oh...and maybe some Mom stories too.