The Giving Tree

Students in TK, kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade participated in a guidance lesson on The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HWNWnm3IX2M).  The story is about a little boy who loves the tree.  The tree provides the boy numerous things throughout his life: branches for swinging on, shade for resting in, apples to eat, apples to sell, branches for building a house, a trunk for building a boat, and a stump for resting on.  Whenever the tree is able to help out the boy, the tree is happy. 

As a group we discussed that whenever they boy is happy, the tree was happy.  We related that to our own lives: when our friends and family are happy, we are happy.  Students were given the opportunity to draw one way they can give to someone else in order to make them happy.  It was encouraged that students thought in non-materialistic ways.  Some examples were: giving Mom or Dad a hug, holding the door open for someone, holding hands with a friend, washing the dishes, and helping to do laundry.  Students drew or wrote their examples on a hand shape and then it was displayed on our 'giving tree.'  This fit very well for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday -- thinking about what we can give to others.



Stone Soup

Third through fifth grade students participated in a Thanksgiving themed lesson over the past week.  The guidance lesson began by them viewing the book Stone Soup by Marcia Brown -- Liz, the story reader, read it to them via the internet.  If you, too, would like to hear the story, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fimOE5_Tm2w&feature=player_embedded.

In Stone Soup, three soldiers are traveling.  The villagers in the village they were soon approaching noticed that they were coming.  Assuming that the soldiers would ask for something to eat, the villagers hid their food.  After going from door to door, and getting denied food at each home, the soldiers asked for simple supplies: a large cooking pot, water, and some stones ... to make stone soup.  Several villagers contributed supplies for the soup and the entire village feasted on a delicious meal. 

While discussing the story with students, we concluded that any amount of food the villagers contributed helped to make a meal for the entire village -- that we don't always have to give a lot in order to make a difference.  Therefore, our theme for our guidance lesson (in the spirit of Thanksgiving) was to 'give a little to help a lot.' 

Students brainstormed ways they help a little (at home, at school, within a club/team/organization they belong to) to make a difference.  Some examples include: stacking chairs in their classroom so the teachers and custodians have time to do other things, setting the dinner table at home so the family can easily enjoy a meal together, reading a story to a younger sibling. 



Spookley's Pumpkin Patch

The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin is a great children's book to support anti-bullying and help students recognize that being different is okay -- in fact, what makes us different is what makes us special.  Since October is National Anti-bullying Month, reading a book about a pumpkin fits right in with the autumnal time of year.  Spookley is unlike the average pumpkin since he is shaped like a square.  However, during a rough storm he is the one who saves the day!  This book reinforces the fact that we cannot judge a book, or a pumpkin, by it's cover.

Students in 1st grade and one section of 2nd grade (one class was ahead of the other), were given the opportunity to design their own unique pumpkin after hearing the tale of Spookley.  Pumpkins were then displayed in Spookley's Pumpkin Patch. 

 

 

 

If you want to learn more about Spookley and his adventures, feel free to visit the Holiday Hill Farm website: http://www.spookley.com/.  There you will find videos, mazes, coloring pages, and more!





Be a BUDDY not a BULLY

October is National Anti-Bullying Month.  Therefore, all grade levels learned about the effects of bullying.  The kindergarten classes watched a short video about bullying in the classroom and at recess.  We discussed that it is important to be nice to others rather than be mean to them, hence our motto: "Be a BUDDY not a BULLY."

Each student decorated a 'helping hand' to represent being a buddy instead of a bully.



Respect Rap

First graders enjoyed shaking maracas and tapping sticks to the beat of this respect rap!  See if you, too, can identify examples of respect and disrespect in the video.  Click on the link below to view the respect rap.

http://youtu.be/iGuT9-_Y5J4

RESPECT

The pillar of character Prairie Valley is focusing on currently is respect.  Last week both 3rd grade classes brainstormed ways to be respectful.  They took turns writing their examples on the letters of RESPECT, correlating the first letter of their example with a chosen letter of RESPECT.  For example, 'raise your hand' was written on the letter 'R.'  'Exercise' shows respect for ourselves and was written on the letter 'E.'  Third graders waited patiently while their classmates wrote down their examples, thus showing respect to others :)

Today We Remember and Act Accordingly

Values.com features a Quote Of The Day.  Today's chosen quote is very fitting for the 11th anniversary of September 11th.  May we "cultivate our personal life" and "set our hearts right."


“To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.”

                                    Confucius  (551-479); philosopher

Unity Puzzle

During the first 6-day cycle of school classes were able to visit the guidance room.  I shared with them various features of the room and explained that this time is called 'Classroom Guidance' (since the whole class is present).

We all participated in an ice breaker activity.  This was a great way for me to begin putting names with faces and also learn a small bit of information about each student.  At the conclusion of the ice breaker activity we discovered that even though we are all part of the same school, we are each different.  This discovery was made into an analogy regarding a jigsaw puzzle.  Each piece of the puzzle is different, yet we need every piece in order for our puzzle to be complete -- just like each individual at school is different, yet we need all of us in order for our school to be complete.

Each student was given a giant blank puzzle piece.  After they each decorated their puzzle piece in a way that represented their self, they were able to place it on the Chill Zone wall, connecting themselves to others in the school.  Below is a picture of our puzzle as it looks today.  Students who have returned to the guidance room have enjoyed finding their piece within the puzzle and were amazed at how much it has grown in size!

Enjoy!

Our completed puzzle!

A Tour Of The Guidance Room

Welcome to a new school year!  I'm excited to share the guidance room with you.  You are all invited to visit in person but until then you can enjoy a virtual tour!



 

Chill Zone

This is my favorite area of the guidance room!  Just like at home when you hang out with your friends, the Chill Zone is a great area to have open and honest discussions.

Classroom Curriculum

Each classroom will visit the guidance room one time per 6-day cycle.  Together we will learn about various topics throughout the year.  Some topics may include: the Character Counts pillars, social skills, teamwork, getting along with others, bullying, communicating feelings, and test preparation.  Topics will be determined by the needs present in the school and events occuring in the community.  The Prairie Valley Elementary team wants our youth to be prepared for life and succeed!



The front of Mrs. Deal's desk:

"What you say in here, stays in here."

Confidentiality allows students to share their thoughts and feelings with the confidence that it will not leave this room.  This primarily is for individual and small group counseling sessions. 

In order ensure safety, there are three circumstances in which confidentiality may be broken.  Those exceptions include:

1.  Someone is hurting you.

2.  You want to hurt someone.

3.  You want to hurt yourself.

Meet The Counselor

Hello!  My name is Mrs. Deal.  I am thrilled to be joining Prairie Valley Elementary this fall as the guidance counselor!

Currently I live in Ames with my husband, Rob, and our two furry friends, Grady and Oakley.  It is perfect that we live in Cyclone Nation because I am so proud to be a fan of the Iowa State Cyclones.  This spring we planted a vegetable garden in our backyard.  It has been fun watching the tomatoes and cucumbers grow quickly.  We may even have a few watermelons ready for picking this fall.  Recently we used our cabbage to make cole slaw and began a batch of sauerkraut.  It is rewarding to see our hardwork being made into delicious food we can enjoy!  I also enjoy home improvement projects and photographing nature.

The school year is quickly approaching.  It is fun for me to begin preparing the guidance counseling office for the upcoming year.  I look forward to meeting your smiling faces and learning each of your names!

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions, comments, or concerns. My email address is dealk@prairievalley.k12.ia.us. The elementary office can be reached at (515)467-5700. 

Mrs. Deal