April: Perseverance
The monthly character trait was tied in with attendance to inform students the importance of coming to school each day. Life has a lot of unexpected obstacles; however, we must persevere through to achieve our goals. We read a story called "Tough Times," where Jon learns from Carlos some ways to regain his confidence. Carlos suggests Jon to
Unexcused absences:
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March: Sportsmanship
K-1 students watched an episode of Howard B. Wigglebottom to learn about sportsmanship. A student made a connection saying, "I am not a good sport because sometimes I pout when I lose." Howard's story teaches students that it is more about teammates and friendship rather than being the winner of the game. Students also participated in a role play to demonstrate their understanding of sportsmanship.
February: Compassion
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We hear the word compassion a lot but it is hard to witness true compassion in action. In order to learn different ways to show compassion in action, K-2 students listened to the story of The Giving Tree and came up with their own examples.
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January: Self-Discipline
I started this lesson with a webpage of Chick-fil-a and Apple where they ask their customers for FEEDBACK. The reason behind this was to help students understand the importance of feedback and how it is readily used all around us. This book teaches students that feedback is information that help us grow and improve. When we receive feedback from our friends, teachers, and families, we need to STAY CALM and THINK about the feedback which takes some degree of self-discipline. Here are some phrases that students used to respond to the feedback.
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Feedback helps us to grow |
December: Caring
My Fingers are Sticky! |
I was led to this book because we have been seeing a need to address stealing at our school. The incident could be as small as taking a cookie from the cafeteria, but we still want to teach students about how we need to be considerate and caring about the belongs of others.
Ricky has sticky fingers in the book, taking stuff from others as he comes up with different excuses to justify his actions. One day, Ricky finds out that someone has stolen his bike. Of course, he is sad and through this opportunity, he realizes that he has been making wrong decisions making others feel sad. Ricky finally makes up his mind to tell the truth and this is what Ricky's mom says. "You've made some mistakes, but I still love you Ricky. I know it seems hard when your fingers are sticky. Now is the time to make these things right. The good inside you needs to put up a fight!" |
We Have Characters!
As you can see, Salem students have been working hard to develop their cahracter and learning a lot about different character traits. To front-load our students with more character traits that will be taught in the future, we read a book called The Way I Act, and the book lists these character traits.
- Curious "I wonder why"
- Responsible "I do what is right"
- Compassionate "I show that I care"
- Trustworthy "I tell the truth when I'd rather lie"
- Brave "I try although I am afraid"
- Friendly "I play with others"
- Persistent "I keep on trying"
- Respectful "I use my manners"
- Cooperative "I share with others"
- Capable "I am able"
- Active "I move my body"
- Considerate "I care about the feelings of others"
- Imaginative "I use my imagination"
November: Gratitude
Ms. Nesbit, our school psychologist visited the Town Meetings to discuss with students about gratitude and how small steps change lives. By someone's kind act, no matter how small or big, we are able to make changes in the world which can impact someone's life. Students wrote one small thing that they are grateful for on a footprint and Ms. Nesbit will display them in the hallway.
October: Assertiveness
2nd grade students reviewed the definition of Assertiveness and the times when we have to be assertive to express our stands. For example, when someone is being unkind to you and bothers you repeatedly, you must be assertive to protect your feelings and emotions. Here is what the book suggests to have in our toolbox.
1. Turn an insult into a compliment
2. Walk away
3. Agree
4. Act Silly or goofy
5. Change the subject
6. So, whatever, huh
7. Stop
8. Why? Why? Why?
Students practiced these skills with one another and many of them were able to pick their favorite tool (Change the subject was the most popular one).
1. Turn an insult into a compliment
2. Walk away
3. Agree
4. Act Silly or goofy
5. Change the subject
6. So, whatever, huh
7. Stop
8. Why? Why? Why?
Students practiced these skills with one another and many of them were able to pick their favorite tool (Change the subject was the most popular one).
September: Responsibility
Ms. Becky from Feed the Bin came out to educate Salem students about recycling. Taking a good care of our environment is a good example of responsibility and the students enjoyed the presentation and the activities where some of them won prizes!
August: Respect
Salem Salamanders begin this year to develop strong character and this book has been a joy to both the children and the adults in the school building. After defining the word RESPECT, we read Have You Filled a Bucket Today? to build a common vocabulary from Kindergarten students to 5th grade students.
The author explains that we all carry an invisible bucket and the buckets can be filled by kind words and actions of others. According to the book, when our bucket is full, we feel happy and joyful. When our bucket is empty, we feel sad and lonely. In summary, the author encourages us to be a bucket filler instead of being a bucket dipper. When we become a bucket filler, we make others happy and that also fills our own bucket!
We can fill someone's bucket by
The author explains that we all carry an invisible bucket and the buckets can be filled by kind words and actions of others. According to the book, when our bucket is full, we feel happy and joyful. When our bucket is empty, we feel sad and lonely. In summary, the author encourages us to be a bucket filler instead of being a bucket dipper. When we become a bucket filler, we make others happy and that also fills our own bucket!
We can fill someone's bucket by
- saying "Hi"
- giving a compliment
- saying "Thank you"
- helping someone when they fall
- smiling
- giving a gift
- giving a special note
- sharing
- calling names
- leaving someone out while playing
- being mean
- being selfish
- ignoring
- pushing or shoving
Tentative schedule for 2016-17 school year
Please take a look to see our monthly character trait. First month (July) will be all about SPOT expectations. We will watch example movies that have been made by the past 5th grade students and read a book titled Have you filled a bucket today.
April 2016
Continuing on with kindness with our actions
Often times, as we give our time and money to others in kindness, it tricks our mind to think that we are actually sacrificing so much. However, in reality, for those of you who have given some of yourself to others, you know that the gain in return is much bigger than you expected. You experience joy as you see others gain their strength to overcome hardships or finding something that they have been looking for as you share your kindness with actions. By using a piece of paper, I was able to demonstrate that point: you cut a corner from a rectangular paper making you think that you are losing a corner but when you count the number of corners AFTER you had lost one, you magically gained one. What a beautiful world it would be when everyone gives just a little bit of themselves! Check out the videos that the students watched at the end.
March 2016: National Social Worker Week
Some of you may not know, but Salem Elementary School has an amazing social worker who comes three times a week to meet the needs of our students. Her name is Mrs. Steadman and she is constantly working hard to keep our students healthy and safe at school and even while they are tracked out. To celebrate the National Social Worker Week, Mrs. Steadman visited K-5 town meetings in March to teach students about her job and why it is so important to use kind words to others. She used a story and a big heart to show that a ripped heart will never be the same even after we try to fix it. Kind Words Matters! |
February 2016: Recipe for Success
The first week of February is the National School Counseling week and this year's theme is "Recipe for Success." It made me think about what it takes for us to succeed in life. I also asked myself, 'what does it mean to succeed?' I asked K-2 students about success and many of them described success as "achieving your goals," and "working hard." For Kindergarten students, Mr. Mize read a book called "What Do You Say Dear?" to teach about manners which can be considered as a foundation of being a successful person as a whole.
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Wilma Unlimited
2nd graders focused on the word "perseverance" as one of the most important ingredients in the recipe for success. Students watched a fun demonstration with clay and water as clay balls that sank signifies hard and challenging tasks that we face everyday and when we change our attitude into a positive one, we gradually shape the clay ball into a boat which actually floats in the water! Students helped me to think of what to do to float in the water (challenging tasks, wanting to give up) and their answers were so awesome! They said that they need to work hard without giving up which is a perfect definition of perseverance. I also read a book called "Wilma Unlimited" and many students found the story to be amazing and inspiring.
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January 2016: It's Time to Review
After a long break, it is such a great time to review our SPOT expectations again to start the new year right. K-2 students reviewed their SPOT expectations for both cafeteria and restroom by watching two wonderful videos made by the PBIS team and Spotty! Ask your child about Spotty who is our school Mascot ;)
December 2015: Telling the Truth is Cool
To wrap up the year, K-2 students listened to another great story from the Howard B. Wigglebottom series. In this story, Howard learns that by telling the truth, he is able to live a life free from a burden of guilt. Students enjoyed singing a song about how telling the truth is cool at the end of the meeting.
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November 2015: National School Psychologist Week
For November Town Meetings, Ms. Nesbit, the school psychologist at Salem will join us to share her insights to help us
CONNECT DOTS AND THRIVE!
CONNECT DOTS AND THRIVE!
October 2015
Month of October has been busy with Red Ribbon Week, Book Fair Premier, and Read-A-Thon Kickoff. During our Town Meetings, we had Ms. Wagner and Ms. Bigham as guest speakers to introduce exciting events to our students. Please check out these photos from Red Ribbon Week! Also watch the video below that students watched on the first day of Red Ribbon Week. Thank you all for your support!
First graders
We have been learning valuable lessons from the Howard B. Wigglebottom series. For one of their Town Meetings, we read a story about blending in like a chameleon-matching our behaviors with others who are making good choices. Kids enjoyed the story and a song that goes along with the story! Check out the link to review the story.
August-September 2015
During this school year, Salem added a couple of classes to serve students with Autism and we have been enjoying having them over here at Salem!
Since we have new students in our Salem family, it was seen as very important to educate our students about sensitivity.
So K-2 students read a book called Leah's Voice and we brainstormed appropriate ways to respectfully react in different situations.
We always emphasize "empathy," because it is very important to understand that not everyone may have the same experience.
Since we have new students in our Salem family, it was seen as very important to educate our students about sensitivity.
So K-2 students read a book called Leah's Voice and we brainstormed appropriate ways to respectfully react in different situations.
We always emphasize "empathy," because it is very important to understand that not everyone may have the same experience.
July 2015
K-2 have been reviewing SPOT expectations during the first town meetings.
Show respect
Practice self-control
Own your actions
Think safe
Students were asked to brainstorm ways to demonstrate SPOT expectations during town meetings. Since we have a large group of students in one town hall area, it is especially important to review and revisit expectations that enhance their learning environment. For this year, I have 5 specific expectations for town meetings.
1. I will be positive
2. I will be respectful
3. I will be engaged
4. I will participate
5. My actions, my consequences
Show respect
Practice self-control
Own your actions
Think safe
Students were asked to brainstorm ways to demonstrate SPOT expectations during town meetings. Since we have a large group of students in one town hall area, it is especially important to review and revisit expectations that enhance their learning environment. For this year, I have 5 specific expectations for town meetings.
1. I will be positive
2. I will be respectful
3. I will be engaged
4. I will participate
5. My actions, my consequences
KindergartenWe read a book called "Kissing Hands" by Audrey Penn, and discussed about their experiences of being a kindergarten.
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Second GradeWe read a book called "Have you filled a bucket today" by Carol McCloud. This book is all about how we have an invisible bucket and we can either fill others' bucket or dip in others' bucket using our actions. Bucket fillers would be helping a friend who has a question or asking a friend to join when he or she has no one to play with. Bucket dippers would be calling names, ignoring friends, not sharing, or excluding others.
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