5th Grade Bullying Lesson

5th grade students listened to the book, My Secret Bully by Judy Ludwig.  Each student wrote a letter to one of the characters in the story to give her advice.  Below is the Newsletter I send home after the lesson.

iPad Apps I love!

I have listed a few of my favorite apps that I use on a regular basis.  This is by no means a complete list, just the ones I felt worth mentioning.  I will continue to add to the list as I explore more.  Please leave a comment with your favorite apps.  I am always looking for things to help me with my work with students.

I made my first iMovie tonight.  I recorded myself reading a book for a 5th grade Bully lesson.  It turned out great!  If you have not checked this app out you really should!  The kiddos really like to use it to make movie trailers, too.  I have seen teachers use it in the classrooms and it is awesome!

TeacherKit is another app that I use all the time.  I manage my groups with this app.  I am able to create a "class" for each group so I can keep track of attendance for the group and I can take notes for each student after group sessions.  You can add a picture of them which the kiddos love!  I highly recommend this one.

The Super Duper Data Tracker is great for anyone who has to take data, which is everyone in education these days.  I the goals for each of my students and I can then keep data during sessions or during a classroom observation.  This app makes it so easy to take and maintain data.  To quote one of my special education teacher friend, Jamie Peasel, "This app has changed my life!"

"You Can Handle Them" is a great one for behavior interventions.  I have one complaint about this app.  I do not like how they name the behaviors (the blabbermouth).  I understand that in their disclaimer they are just naming the behavior, not the student.  I still have a difficult time with the names.  However, they give some really great ideas about a multitude of behavior issues.

The Serenity app is great for calming students (and adults at times).  There are a variety of pictures and sounds that can be used for relaxation.  There is a timer that can be set for those kiddos (or adults) who would love to stay with you all day.

Another app I use for calming is Breath2Relax.  This takes you through a series of breathing exercises teaching you how to take deep cleansing breaths.  This is great for the kiddos who are anxious.  They are able to practice breathing techniques in a calm environment so that when they become anxious, they know how to breath through it.

"Feel Electric" is one of the many apps I use to work on feelings with my students.  I find that it is very engaging and it really helps with recognizing that body language and feelings are connected.  The kiddos really like this one.

Spaghetti Dinner Tonight

Please join us for a spaghetti dinner benefitting one of our Daniel Boone families.

Daniel Boone Elementary

201 W Hwy D

Wentzville, MO 63385

(in the heart of New Melle)

6:00 pm in the school cafeteria

Carry out dinners available

$6.00 for each meal 

This is a great opportunity to support a family in our community.  EVERYONE is welcome.  We would love to see new faces there tonight.  I hope to see you there!

Thought for the Day

I work with some incredible people!  They are so passionate about the students they work with.  I am amazed every day when I see them working tirelessly to make sure they are doing everything in their power to help their kiddos be successful with both academics and behavior.  I am truly blessed to be a part of such an amazing group of people!

My office...I love it!

Welcome to my office!  I am so excited about my room this year!  I feel like it has really come together and is working really well for all the kiddos I see.  I really do not like overhead lights so you will notice that I have many lamps throughout my room.  I like the calmer light much better! 

Thanks for taking the tour of my office!

This is the bulletin board outside my office where I display all of my classroom lesson Newsletters.

My Door:

I have a small mailbox with little notes that say, "I came to see you" so students can

leave me a note if I am not there or my door is closed.

Right outside my door I have a magnetic board that shows where I am located (if I remember to change it.)

I have a "Quiet Area" inside my door for kiddos (or adults) to come in and relax. 

I always have quiet music playing for relaxation.

A small table for the little kiddos and baskets for all of my little things from

calming items to crayons and paper.

Rules for solving conflicts with others is posted because I talk with kiddos a lot about this topic.

My room is so big that my classroom lessons are taught in my room AND I have a SMART Board! 

I am one lucky lady!

A table for my bigger student friends to work.

My desk area.

Quote on the front of my desk.

"Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken."

~Oscar Wilde

Group/individual counseling area.

Group Expectations posted right by the group area.

Get your energy out area!  I have a can of "Wiggle Sticks" that kiddos choose from when they need a break.  The activities include: trampoline time, punching bag, weighted ball, theraputty, jumping jacks and a variety of other movement activities to help with reducing extra energy.



Bullying

The Francis Howell School District has a resource page dedicated to the anti-bullying effort.  To access this page click on the following link http://fhsd.sharpschool.net/parents/bullying.

Missouri School Violence Hotline
The Missouri's School Violence Hotline accepts reports of bullying and then that information is forwarded to the District. Students and parents can call 1-866-748-7047 and receive a live voice Monday - Friday 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. with voicemail after hours. Reports can be made 24 hours a day on the following website www.schoolviolencehotline.com.

This year texts messages reports of bullying will also be accepted by texting "REPORTIT" to 84741.

Bully Prevention Week

Next week is Bully Prevention Week.  We are doing some school wide activities to support this effort.

Nov. 12-16

MONDAY: Sweats Day

Preventing bullying is no sweat!

TUESDAY: Sports clothing

Be a good sport – DON’T BE A BULLY!

WEDNESDAY: Wear jeans

Bullying is not in my “genes!” 

         

THURSDAY: Crazy outfit

It’s ok to be unique!

FRIDAY: Twin Day

Be a friend not a bully!

My Blogging Days Begin

I have decided to begin a blog to capture my exciting days as an elementary school counselor and share important information with the families and staff members at my school.  Thank you for coming along on my journey!