Little Cats Counseling

Can you believe we are in the last nine weeks of the 2011-2012 school year? Where did the year go?! I guess time flies when you're having fun!

And....fun is what we have been having in large group guidance!  From Random Acts of Kindness Week activities to listening games galore, students are learning that kindness and hard work reaps eternal rewards. We are focusing on behavior and its impact on others as we finish up guidance lessons for the school year. Several fun activities will engage your children and inspire them to be examples in both their behavior and attitudes.

Pre-Kindergartners through second graders are learning the importance of good manners. Pre-Kindergarten and kindergartners are practicing manners and learning to recognize the difference between good manners and bad manners, while first and second graders are delving a little deeper as they learn about using specific manners. From table manners to writing thank you notes, we are focusing on proper etiquette in a variety of situations. Students are even learning about manners by  studying others who do not use their nicest behavior. Funny stories such as Perfect Pigs, An Introduction to Manners, by Marc Brown and Tacky the Penguin, by Helen Lester help students do just that!! There are some great interactive websites and iPod Apps will entertain students as we study manners. One site, http://www.fekids.com/img/kln/flash/DontGrossOutTheWorld.swf, even teaches children more about table manners around the world! For fun, have your children check out http://disney.go.com/disneyjunior/can-you-teach-my-alligator-manners on the web for more activities regarding manners.

Third through fifth graders are focusing on responsible behavior. From looking at our school responsibilities to the personal responsibility we have for how we treat one another - responsibility is all about choices! Third and fourth graders are learning about sportsmanship - using kind words and thoughtful attitudes on and off the field. We are focusing on being positive examples for others. For more information on teaching your child sportsmanship, check out http://life.familyeducation.com/sports/parenting/36484.html. Fifth graders are learning to make responsible choices by considering the consequences. A responsible person tries to consider what might happen before making a choice. Students are learning the importance of thinking before acting - at school and with friends. For a fun way to learn more about this concept, have your child check out http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/games/index.html. It's a PBS site for adolescents with interactive games that teach the concept of considering choices and thinking before acting. Check out Rumor Patrol and You're In Charge - students LOVE these!