Counseling
by Tricia Pinneo
November 20, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!! It is hard to believe we are already in the holiday season. The time sure goes fast.
This year in guidance I have used different lessons than in previous years. In Kindergarten through 3rd grade we are really focusing on character traits. I believe that good character is the foundation for a successful future. When I talk to kids about character, we talk about it being our beliefs, the way we act, and what we say. These are choices we make for ourselves that can either bring about benefits or consequences. It is fun for me to hear the students already making connections with their own lives. They talk about their mistakes and how they have tried to rectify them, along with the times they have done the right thing and felt great about it. Ask them each week about what they learn in guidance to see how you can apply these traits at home.
The 4th graders are learning how to make and keep friends. This came about because in the four years I have been here, 4th graders seem to have the most issues with friends. Whatever the reason, I thought being proactive and teaching kids the skills of not only making but keeping friends, would alleviate some of the problems. The students seem to enjoy the lessons and take them to heart. Whether it is the lessons or the group of kids, I have not had nearly as many 4th graders in my office this year.
Fifth grade is learning about themselves. They have learned whether they are an optimist or pessimist, introvert or extrovert, have “mind power”, and thought about all of their different personas. These lessons are very different from what I have done in the past and has taken us all a little time to get used to, but are really starting to get fun. Some students have been keeping all of their PSI’s (Personal Style Inventories) in a folder to look at later in the year. My hope is by the end of the year they have a picture of who they are and how to make it work in their life.
The 6th graders are also doing lessons different from the past. They are doing people experiments. Sound scary? Well, it is not as bad as it sounds. These experiments look at how people react in different situations, and how people have varied beliefs. My hope for these lessons are that students become more aware of other people and ideals they will face in the world. I want to encourage them to consider other perspectives, but also be conscientious of people attempting to fool them.
While change can be hard, it is great to see the student taking to these lessons. As with anything, I am sure I will tweak them to try and make them better but am happy with how they are going so far. Please call if you ever have questions, concerns or suggestions with guidance lessons.
