School Counselor Connection
January 2022
Tier I -Classroom Guidance from Second Step: Kindergarten, First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade
Dear Family Members,
Over the course of this school year kindergarten through fifth grade students at Whitney will be learning about Growth Mindset & Goal Setting, Empathy & Kindness, Emotion Management, and Problem Solving using the Second Step digital curriculum. To further the discussion at home, please take a look at the family communications below regarding the corresponding lessons. To make the most of the family communications please check with your child to make sure they have received the lesson. Please contact me if you have further questions. My phone number is (440) 268-5971. My email is eschibley@scsmustangs.org.JANUARY (First Lesson of the Month)
Empathy
I can get along better with others when I can understand their perspective.
Kindergarten: Lesson # 9-Same and Different
First Grade: Lesson # 8-Similarities and Differences
Second Grade: Lesson # 8-Respecting Differences
Third Grade: Lesson # 8-Accepting Differences
Fourth Grade: Lesson # 6-Different Perspectives
Fifth Grade: Lesson #6 Accepting Differences
JANUARY (Second Lesson of the Month)
Empathy
I can get along better with others when I can understand their perspective.
Kindergarten: Lesson #14 Kindness at School
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn different ways they can show kindness at school. The class will share ideas for kind acts they could do for one another.
Try This at Home
Ask your child to tell you about the kind acts they and their classmates have been doing for one another at school this week.
First Grade: Lesson #12 Ways to be Kind
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn and practice two ways they can be kind to others: asking, “Are you okay?” and offering to keep someone company.
Try This at Home
Help your child think of a family member or close friend who could use some company. Encourage them to ask the person, “Would you like some company?”
Second Grade: Lesson #13 Having Empathy
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will practice having empathy to come up with kind acts they could do for others in different situations.
Try This at Home
Ask your child how having empathy can help them know how to be kind.
Third Grade: Lesson #13 My Acts of Kindness
ummary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that people like to be shown kindness in different ways.
Try This at Home
Ask your child what helps them feel better when they feel sad. What helps when they feel embarrassed or angry? Tell them what helps you feel better when you feel those same emotions.
Fourth Grade: Lesson #12 Ask, Listen, Learn
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that asking questions, listening, and observing can help you learn more about someone’s point of view when you don’t understand it.
Try This at Home
Tell your child about a time when learning more about a different point of view helped you have empathy. Encourage your child to think of future situations where it might be helpful to learn more about a different point of view in order to get along and show they care.
Fifth Grade: Lesson Career Explorer
During the month of December the fifth grade students at Whitney Elementary Schools will have the opportunity to explore their strengths and interests as they work on their The Career Game Explorer booklets. The Career Game Explorer is produced by Rick Trow productions and is based on similarities to Dr. John Holland's Theory of Career Choice. According to Dr. Holland's theory most people in our culture are one of six personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional (RIASEC). Dr. Holland's theory of career choice states that people who choose to work in an environment similar to their personality type are more likely to be successful and satisfied. In addition, people search for environments where they can use their skills and abilities and express their values and attitudes. For example, Investigative types search for Investigative environments; Artistic types look for Artistic environments, and so forth.
The Career Explorer allows students to investigate their strengths and interests as they are asked a series of personality questions. These booklets will follow the fifth graders as they transition to Strongsville Middle School.
* Note: The Home Links are for the First Lesson of the Month
Please note that the link found below each grade is a compilation of Kindergarten through Fifth Grade Home Links. To find your child's corresponding lesson Home Link scroll down until you find the lesson number. In some instances there will be no Home Link for the lesson. Thank you.
Looking Forward: Say Something Week: March 14-18, 2022
Say Something is a national initiative developed through Sandy Hook Promise. This week compliments Start with Hello week that was held during September. During the month of March the elementary students will be learning to "See Something, Say Something, and Stop Something" using Second Step lessons and the book Say Something by Peggy Moss. During the national week there will be theme days (noted below) and morning announcements.
Monday: Wear Blue for Bullying Prevention Awareness
Tuesday: Wear Sunglasses/Glasses (See Something-Don’t Look Away)
Wednesday: Wear Clothing with Words on It-Speak Up for Those Who Can’t (Say Something)
Thursday: Wear Red-(Stop Something and be an “Upstander”)
Friday: Wear Strongsville or School Apparel for We Stand United against Bullying
**Note: The theme days may change.