Hello February! We are moving along in this school year and the kids are doing great! It has really been a blessing to be working with the younger students. The kids at the K-3 Campus (for the most part) are still so happy to be in person, in school! I can't help but wonder how this entire pandemic situation is affecting our students. While I am sure there will be some negative effects, I am hoping that the positive effects will outway any of the challenges. We can choose to focus on the great strengths and strides we make or we can wallow in the difficulties. Let's just say nothing good comes from the later! I frequently tell the students that there is strength in the struggle. Their happiness about being at school is one of those positive effects. Let's hope it stays that way for a little while longer!
For the month of February, guidance lessons are focusing on kindness. In a world where you can be anything, be kind! Mr. Tinius talks to the students about kindness frequently. With the Valentines Day holiday, it seems only fitting to be focusing on this characteristic. The kindergarten class, kindergarten transition class, K/1 class and the first grade classes will be reading two different books. The first is Recess Queen, by Alexis O'Neill. This is a story about a young lady who dominates the playground. She gives us a great role model of how NOT to be when we play with others. While reading the book, we will be folding and wrinkling a large paper heart to show how being unkind hurts others. The next book, Be Kind, by Pat Zietlow, gives us wonderful examples of how to be kind to others. The students will then make heart band aides to put on the wrinkled heart to make it feel better. I have done a similar activities with classes in previous years. It was a powerful and meaningful activity that students remembered.
The second grade class will be watching a "Kid President" video called "How to Change the World." I will include the link to the video below. Head on over to Youtube and watch it. You won't be disappointed! The students will then be making a snow man craft that will help them think of ways that they can be kind to others. Hopefully, they will get inspiration from "Kid President!"
The third grade students will watch the same "Kid President" video. They will be working on a 3-Way Agamograph Collaboration Poster. Each student will have a "tile" to color. When all the "tiles" are colored, they will be pieced together to make a large poster. It will be 3 different images spliced together. From one direction it will read "In a world," while the center view will say ""where you can be anything." Finally, the other side will say"be kind." I can't wait to see them all pieced together making these awesome pictures. We might just talk about cooperation during the process!
Here is the link to the Kid President video. These videos are so cute and inspirational. https://youtu.be/4z7gDsSKUmU
As always, please let me know if there is anything that I can do to help you or your family. I can be reachers through email at Kim.bennett@owensborocatholic.org or by calling (270)-684-7583.
