November

            November   

       While we should always be thankful, the month of the November is a time to reflect on all our blessings and show our gratitude.  This thankfulness works well with the respect and responsibility concepts being taught this month.  At the K-3 Campus, we will be focusing on respect.  I teach the kids that showing respect is like treating someone as the prized possession God made them to be.  I ask the students to think about one of their prized possessions.  Undoubtedly, the kids will tell me about various items.  Some prized possessions are things they have had from a very young age, that have little if any monetary value.  Some prized possessions are very expensive items that they recently received as gifts.  Either way, we talk about how we treat prized possessions.  We take special care of them.  Sometimes we are very protective of it and sometimes we are very proud of it.  Then we talk about how all people are God's prized possessions.  This reason alone is reason enough to treat others with respect.  Then we go on to talk about following the golden rule and how doing this is also showing respect.  As always, I teach the kids that they should be following their guidelines at home just like the do at school.  Here is an article from Focus on the Family that discusses respect at various ages.  www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/spiritual-growth-for-kids/respect-starts-now

     The 4th grade will focus on responsibility.  I discovered a wonderful new book by Julia Cook, titled, It's Not My Fault.  I read it to the 3rd grade last month.  The teachers and I absolutely loved it!  The kids seemed to enjoy it as well.  The 4th graders have realized that they have more freedom.  And with that freedom comes more responsibility.  As I mentioned last month, responsibility can be so difficult to teach and learn.  The biggest obstacle seems to be balancing extra curricular activities and school work.  Many times the staff at the 4-6 Campus hears excuses such as, "I didn't get my homework done because I had practice last night."  And the students always hear that that particular reason is not an acceptable excuse.  Now is the best time to teach students how to be responsible with their time.  Academics need to come first.  If they can learn this now, this skill will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

     The 5th graders will begin reading the Weird series.  This set of books looks at bullying through three different viewpoints: the victim, the bystander and the bully.  Author Erin Frankel tackles the situation from the standpoint of a girl who is frequently called weird by one particular peer.  She tries to change to fit in but ends up learning some better coping skills.  These books should be good for this age group.  At this point, kids begin to be more concerned about fitting in with peers.  I am hoping that the students can really relate to these books and learn from them!

     After our field trip to Brescia University, the 6th graders are ready to begin developing their Individual Learning Plans.  I will be meeting with the 6th graders during one of their computer classes.  The goal of this class is to complete a survey called "Matchmaker and My Skills."  In this survey, they will answer questions about skills that they would and would not be interested in doing in a career.  Based on their responses, each student will be given a list of 40 careers to review.  This class will teach them how to navigate the KHEAA and Career Cruising website.  Ask them to show you their list of careers.  If they have trouble signing into the website, remind them that their username and passwords are very case sensitive.  If they continue to struggle, please let me know by emailing me. 

      On a side note, I want to let everyone know that Glenn Funeral Home is sponsoring a grief camp for children who have suffered a loss.  The camp is for children ages 6 to 16 and will be held November 19th.  Please contact Betty Medley, Continuing Care Coordinator, at 270-683-1505 for further information.

     I hope everyone enjoys their November and has a blessed Thanksgiving!  Please let me know if I can help in any way.  I can be reached at the K-3 Campus (270-684-7583) or the 4-6 Campus (270-683-6989) or by email: kim.bennett@owensborocatholic.org. 

  

    It seems as though fall may finally be here.  Map testing is finished at both the K-3 and 4-6 Campuses.  Fall break is just around the corner as are parent teacher conferences.  The time is going by fast, indeed!
Guidance lessons are in full swing at both schools.  The K-3 Campus will focus on "Have Responsible Actions."  The 4th grade will focus on "Cooperate With Everyone."  The 5th grade will begin new guidance lessons that will focus on bullying and building self esteem.  The 6th grade guidance classes are kicking off with a field trip to Brescia University.
     As a parent, I have realized that teaching kids responsibility can be very rewarding at times.  At other times, I feel like I am at my wits end!  I love seeing a child show responsibility.  For me, it is a reassuring feeling.  On the flip side, it is very difficult when a child does not show responsibility, especially when it is one of my own.  There are some situations where my child may have to go without something they forgot.  Needless to say, this does not go over well.  I let them know that I understand that they are not happy about the situation, but also let them know that they have to be responsible for their belongings, whether that be their laundry making it to the laundry room or the folder containing school work that is left at home.  I probably fall short in this area more often than not.  If possible, my husband or I will get that "needed" item to them.  But am I really turning the situation into a teachable moment when I "come to the rescue"?  What am I teaching them?  The very difficult lesson I learn is that i am teaching them that their will be someone there to pick up after them, to get them all of their supplies, that they will be spared the consequences of their lack of responsibility.  Are those true, real life lessons?  I think you and I will both agree that the answer is no.  And when children learn these fallacies, the outcome is not always positive.  In my former job, I witnessed this first hand too many times to remember.  In the most severe case, it was a teen standing in front of a judge, who was holding the teen accountable for their choices and actions.  The parents were sitting behind them unable to "come to the rescue".  I attribute those memories for making me a big advocate for small steps instilling responsibility.  And  by small steps, I mean something as trivial as having your child unpack their backpack when they get out of school.  Teach them a good routine for doing this and then let them do it.   Teach them to make sure their library book is in their backpack for library day.  Little responsibilities like this lay the foundation for larger, more important responsibilities.
    Cooperation is the focus of discussion in the 4th grade classes.  With the classes doing more STEM projects, cooperation is vital for success.  Students may get their feelings hurt because they can't do the particular role they want or their idea is not used.  I try to encourage them to realize that all the roles are important.  Just because their idea may not be used doesn't mean that it didn't help develop the idea that was used.   Cooperation can teach many lessons, when discussing it with older students.  Humility, grace and patience are just a few attributes that, that are pleasing to God, that can be learned when teaching cooperation.
     The 5th grade is starting something new.  I have searched and searched for a bullying curriculum that I like.  I have not been happy with any one curriculum that I have found so I am putting together one that best fits 5th grade students.  We will focus on defining bullying during this month.  Sometimes a student may think that a peer calling them a name is bullying.  I explain the difference between bullying and peer conflicts.  If a peer calls them a name, in a one-time situation, it is not bullying.  Is it wrong?  Absolutely!  Does it need to be addressed?  Yep!  But it is not bullying.  It would be bullying if it were a repeated action and their was an imbalance of power.  Either way, whether it is bullying or a peer conflict, my goal is to teach the students ways to address the situation that show self esteem and integrity.  That is a very tall order for that age group.  I hope the students will be better prepared for those tough situations, after their guidance classes.
     6th grade students-welcome to your Individual Learning Plans and your KHEAA accounts!  These accounts will be with them until they graduate from high school.  We are kicking off their classes with a field trip to Brescia University.  My goal is to expose students to what can follow high school and how some of the choices they make now can effect them later in their academic endeavors.  Does that mean that they need to make straight As on every assignment?  While that would be great, it does not meant that As are required now to be successful later.  Students this age struggle with organizing, prioritizing and  completing their work.  This seems to be the school year where students who never had a problem completing work before suddenly have issues in this area.   As the students begin looking at colleges and careers, I stress the importance of being responsible for their class work.  Developing those basic study skills are critical for success.  Hopefully, after touring a college campus, the students will be encouraged to stay on top of their school work.  And while not all students go on to a four year college, being responsible for their work is still a vital skill needed for any job.  (There's one of those Guidelines for Success they have learned about since kindergarten!)
     So there is the summary of your child's guidance program, for the month of October.  I think it is going to go by fast!  As always, I am always here if ever you need me!  I can be reached at the K-3 Campus or the 4-6 Campus.  The fasted way to reach me is through email:                                                                                                            kim.bennett@owensborocatholic.org

Have a blessed month of October!