Happy March!  The days are getting warmer (maybe?) and longer.  Spring is here and spring break is just a few weeks away.  I love this time of year!  The students continue to come to my room for guidance classes and hopefully are learning little life lessons that will help them "down the road."  The kindergarten class is focusing on ways to be courteous when playing with friends.  The students have to navigate through an obstacle course of towers without knocking any down.  The first grade students are learning to "throw kindness like confetti."  We discuss ways to be kind to our peers and how we feel when other s are kind to us.  They are learning ways to be bucket fillers. The second grade students are learning about ways to be more accepting of others.  They also are practicing finding the positive aspects of people, instead of focusing on the negative.  The third grade students are completing a friendship escape room.  They will have a total of 6 different puzzles to solve in order to "escape."  All of the puzzles focus on the good qualities of friendship.
     There has been another school shooting since my last blog.  I cannot imagine how devastating and heartbreaking this must be for parents, classmates and school communities.  Things have changed since I was in school.  We did not have school shootings.  If something tragic did happen, it was not thrusted in my face by social media.  It is heartbreaking that our children have to deal with this reality.  This topic can be very scary and difficult to discuss with children.  When we have lock down drills, students usually have a few questions.  A good rule to follow when discussing such events, is to let you child lead the discussion.  Going into great detail is not always needed and not recommended.  Children will usually continue to ask questions until they are satisfied.  Here are a few articles giving suggestions for talking with your children about tragic events, specifically school shootings.     http://www.crayonfreckles.com/2018/02/talking-with-children-about-school.html  and  https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/school-shootings?utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=realsimple  There is also a children's book titled, A Terrible Thing Happened by Margaret M. Holmes, that can be helpful in discussions with children.  This book was written shortly after 911.  The "terrible thing" is depicted as a black scribble when it is envisioned by the main character.  By doing this, the "terrible thing" can represent many different situations.   I have personally used this book with children and found it very helpful.  I hope that no one will have to call upon these resources, but they are here if they are needed.
     Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can help in any way.  I can be reached through email, at kim.bennett@owensborocatholic.org or at (270) 684-7583.