January 2021 Goal Setting

 Happy New Year!

We will be learning about how to set goals.  I will read the story A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams.  Here is a link to the story:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEoEEWEnooI

In this story a girl and her family set a goal to save money for something very important, a chair. The family's house caught on fire and they lost everything. The mother, grandmother and little girl work hard to fill a jar by saving all the money they can. When the jar gets full, they go look for the perfect chair! Other family members and friends help them with a lot of other things they need for their new home. Finally, they find the perfect chair, they buy it with the money they saved and they enjoy taking turns sitting in it once they get it home.

A goal is something you want to work hard for. What was the goal in this story? What kind of goals do you have? What do you want that you will work hard for? At school? At home? A sport? A game? A toy? Reading? Math?

Let's set some goals!

Mrs, Daniel, PRES Counselor

shelia.daniel@pikeroadschools.org

December 2020 Conflict Resolution

 Greetings!

This month we are continuing to learn how to problem solve.  I am reading the book Enemy Pie by Derek Munson.  Do you know what an enemy is?  An enemy can be someone you don't like...maybe because they were mean to you, did not invite you somewhere, called you a name other than your name, lied to you, wouldn't let you play with them, etc. 

Here is the link to the book:  https://www.storylineonline.net/books/enemy-pie/

In this story, Jeremy Ross was the enemy.  He laughed at me when he struck me out in the baseball game and did not invite the boy to his trampoline party.  The boy's dad told him to spend the whole day with his enemy and be nice to him.  The boy's dad made a pie for his enemy so at the end of the day, Jeremy ate dinner with the boy and his father.  The boy did not know what enemy pie did to enemies. But, after spending the whole day with Jeremy Ross, he was no longer the boys enemy.  When the dad served up enemy pie to the boys, the boy tried to stop Jeremy from eating the bad pie.  Then after seeing his dad and Jeremy eating the pie and nothing happening, he realized it was just plain old pie!  The boy learned to be friends with his enemy after spending the whole day with him and being nice!  

Golden Rule:  Treat others the way you want to be treated...just be nice no matter what!

Other problem solving strategies:

• talk it out (tell them what you do not like and ask them to PLEASE STOP)
• take a break (balloon breathing, listen to music, play a game, read a book, put a puzzle together, color, paint, etc.)
• ignore (don't look, don't talk, and don't listen)
• walk away (find someone else to play with, something else to do or play  by yourself)
• apologize (say I'm sorry even if it is an accident)
•  take turns or share

Best, 

Mrs. Daniel, PRES Counselor

shelia.daniel@pikeroadschools.org