Character Education

 Hello and welcome to the St. Lawrence School Counseling page! I am looking forward to offering support to your children in a variety of ways. I will be teaching Character Education Lessons in grades Kindergarten through Fifth Grade each week. These include topics such as Respect, Kindness, Responsibility, Caring, Honesty, Good Citizenship, and Anti-Bullying.

Additionally, I provide brief individual counseling sessions and group friendship sessions when needed, as well as movement breaks. These sessions are scheduled and coordinated through communication and collaboration with you and your child’s classroom teacher and are typically arranged during a break time in the classroom so that any course instruction is not missed. Movement breaks are also popular with students to break up a student’s day with stretching, music, or a game, in a safe and relaxing environment under my guidance.The Lunch Bunch Program is another way for your child to participate in a learning experience under my direction. This program typically involves a small group of two or three children who will be eating lunch together with me in my office, and we focus on a behavior or topic area. These could include things such as sharing, communication, being kind to one another, etc.

If you think your child could benefit from any of these groups (Lunch Bunch, Friendship Group, Movement Breaks, or Individual Counseling Sessions) please sign the form that was sent home the week of September 9, 2020 and return it to your child's classroom teacher. If you didn't receive this form, or need another copy, please contact me, and I will send another one home along with your child. Please feel free to contact me directly, should you have any additional questions. I look forward to meeting and working with your child/children! 

Kelley.Bennett@dor.org

                                                                                                 
                                          
                                                             

                                     
                           Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade Character Education

Week of:    September 9, 2020

Topic:          Meet Your School Counselor/What Does Your School Counselor Do?

Activity:      Counselor Toolkit
                     Draw Your Own Matching Cards Game

Week of:     September 14, 2020

Topic:           Appreciating Diversity and Differences

Activities:    Read All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman                                
                     Watch Video "The Number 1 Way to Teach Kids about Inclusion"
                     Strength in Community Worksheet                             

Week of:     September 21, 2020

Topic:          Continuation of Appreciating Diversity and Differences
 
Activities:   Complete Strength in Community Worksheet and Share with Class   


Week of:    September 28, 2020

Topic:          Kindness Goes a Long Way 

Activities:   Read: Be Kind: A Children's Story about all things that matter 
                    by Pat Zietlow Miller
                    Complete Random Acts of Kindness Worksheet and Drawing

Week of:    October 5, 2020
 
Topic:         Making Healthy Choices

Activities:  Read The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neil and Laura Huliska-Beith
                    Complete Buddy or Bully Worksheet 

Week of:    October 12, 2020

Topic:         Emotions

Activities:  Read the book No, David!  by David Shannon and complete the 
                   Understanding Your Feelings Worksheet and Emotions Flashcards

Week of:    October 19, 2020

Topic:          Seeing the Good in Myself

Activities:  Read the book I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont
                    Complete Love Ourselves Worksheet and Guided Practice

Week of:    October 26, 2020

Topic:          Learning Character Traits

Activities:   Read the book Boris and Bella by Carolyn Crimi                                                               
                    Character Trait Review and Trick or Treat Coloring  

Week of:   November 2, 2020

Topic:         Red Ribbon Week 

Activities:  Weeklong

Week of:    Novermber 9, 2020

Topic:         Empathy

Activities:  Watch the video read along Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall. 
                    Complete Being True to Ourselves Worksheet

Week of:   November 16, 2020

Topic:         Gratitude

Activities:  Make Gratitude Cards and Letters to people we care about/Gratitude                       
                    Nature Walk

Week of:     Novemer 23, 2020

Topic:          Continuation of Gratitude

Activities:    Turkey Gobble Wobble Dance and Gratitude Worksheet 

Week of:    November 30, 2020

Topic:         Determination

Activity:     Read the book Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman and complete Activity

Week of:     December 7, 2020

Topic:          Body/Mindy

Activity:       Cosmic Yoga

Week of:     December 14, 2020 

Topic:          The Act of Kindness/Giving

Activity:     Holiday Card Making for the Assisted Living Memory Care Unit 
                    Residents at the Villages at Unity

Week of:     December 21, 2020

Topic:          Continuation of Act of Kindness/Giving

Activity:      Holiday Card Making for the Assisted Living Memory Care Unity
                    Residents at the Villages at Unity

Week of:    December 28, 2020  SCHOOL CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY BREAK

Week of:    January 4, 2021

Topic:         Prayers for 2021/Highlights of 2020

Activity:    Saying a special prayer for 2021, remember the highlights of 2020 and going                                     into the New Year with a positive attitude. Classes will read Oh the Places
                   You'll Go by Dr. Seuss followed by a class discussion and a word search. 

Week of:   January 11, 2021

Topic:      Google Classroom & Kahoot

Activity:  Students will practice using Google Classroom & Kahoot for     
                 Assignments

Week of:  January 18, 2021

Topic:      Character Traits

Activity:   Read A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon, a class discussion and a           
                  worksheet.

Week of: January 25, 2021

Topic:      Gratefulness

Activity:  Creating Thank You Cards for First Responders 

Week of: February 1, 2021

Topic:      Catholic Schools Week

Activity:   Catholic Schools Week Worksheets on "My Community and Helping Others in          
                 the Community."

Week of: February 8, 2021

Topic:     Kindness/Valentine's Day

Activity:  Read Amellia Bedelia's First Valentine by Herman Parish followed by
                 class discussion, worksheets and Valentine card making. 

Spring Break Week February 15-19, 2021

Week of: February 22, 2021

Topic:      Self-Regulation

Activity:   Movement Breaks, Guided Meditation and Breathing Techniques will be       
                 learned.

Week of: March 1, 2021

Topic:     Bullying

Activity: Watch the read aloud book Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell                                            and complete book related worksheets.

Week of: March 8, 2021

Topic:      Responsible Decision-Making Strategies & Stranger Safety

Activity:   Learn "No, Go, Yell, Tell!" Review Stranger Safety, and take home Emergency
                  Plan Cards

Week of: March 15, 2021

Topic:     St. Patrick's Day/ Self-Esteem

Activity:  Read How to Catch a Leprechaun by Adam Wallace and complete                                 
                Shamrock and Irish Worksheets.

Week of:  March 22, 2021

Topic:      Students will learn how to differentiate between positive and negative coping 
                 skills.
Activity:   Hunting For Positive Coping Skills Activity/Coping Skills Foldable Activity
                  with and Easter theme.

March 29, 2021 Spring Break Week/No School

Week of:  April 5, 2021 

Topic:      Mindfulness

Activity:  Cosmic Yoga

Week of: April 12, 2021

Topic:       Emotions

Activity:  Emotions in Art and Emotions Wheel Worksheets

Week of: April 19, 2021

Topic:      Good Sportsmanship

Activity:   Watch Read Aloud Sally the Sore Loser by Frank J. Sileo and complete Good
                  Sportsmanship worksheets, as well as take the Good Sportsmanship pledge.

Week of: April 26, 2021

Topic:     Perseverance

Activity: Watch the read aloud  I Won't Give Up  by Daniel Kenney followed by
                class discussion. 

Week of:   May 3, 2021

Topic:        Mother's Day

Activity:    Mother's Day crafting poems and crafting activities.

Week of:  May 10, 2021

Topic:       Team Building/Community Building

Activity:   Cup Stacking Challenge

                           3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Character Education

Week of:    September 9, 2020

Spring Break Week February 15-19, 2021

Week of: February 22, 2021

Spring Break Week of March 28, 2021/No School

Week of: April 5, 2021

Topic:     Spring Break Reflections

Activity: Spring Break Bingo and Activities/Icebreakers

Week of: April 12, 2021

Topic:     Mindfulness Practice to work with judgements about    
                oneself and others.

Activity:  Guided Practice Mindfulness and create Comic Book using
                 inquiry scenarios.

Week of: April 19, 2021

Topic:       Good Sportsmanship

Activity:   Good Sportsmanship Activities and worksheets as well as    
                  take the Good Sportsmanship pledge. 

Week of: April 26, 2021

Topic:     Perseverance

Activity:  Group activity which includes quotes on perseverance and 
                class discussion. 

Week of:  May 3, 2021

Topic:        Mother's Day

Activity:    Mother's Day poems, crafts and activities. 

Week of:  May 10, 2021

Topic:       Team Building Activity

Activity:   Paper Bag Dramatics Activity


        Parent/Caregiver Resources:

What do School Counselors do?

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/parents-public

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Careers-Roles/WhyElem.pdf

Key Educational and Counseling Resources to Support Students During the COVID-19 Outbreak:

https://covid19k12counseling.org/parent%2Fcaregiver-eleme

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/PositionStatements/PS_CharacterEducation.pdf

https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus/resources-for-learning-at-home

Character Education:

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ794833.pdf

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/PositionStatements/PS_CharacterEducation.pdf   

     
Websites for Home

Squish the Fish-A Cosmic Kids Yoga Adventure 
Join Jaime for a Cosmic Kids yoga adventure all about learning to have your own kids adventures!
https://youtu.be/LhYtcadR9nw

Be Kind:A Children's Story about all things that matter by Pat Zietlow Miler 
What exactly is kindness? What is it to be kind? Is it being helpful? Being polite? Does it have to be a big act to be more kind? Well maybe the smallest act is the most powerful. Let's have a look at this meaningful book BE KIND.
https://youtu.be/kAo4-2UzgPo

What If Everybody Did That? By Colleen M. Madden shows us what happens when everyone decides to break the rules. Think it's no big deal? The world becomes a messier, ruder, dirtier place!
https://youtu.be/811dQ_OisK0

THE RECESS QUEEN by Alexis O'Neill and Laura Huliska-Beith - An inspirational story about a school bully who has a change of heart. Thanks to a New Kid in class, Jean learns how to get along with the sweet little girl and her classmates.
https://youtu.be/Mp3bKxYtnMM

Marshmallow by Clare Turlay -this story is about Oliver a tabby cat who is always the center of attention. Marshmallow is a baby rabbit who moves into Oliver's home. At first Oliver does not welcome Marshmallow, but the little bunny's charms are impossible to resist. This is a true story of how Oliver and Marshmallow became friends. 
https://youtu.be/m6c8Fe-U6fw

Boom Chicka Boom | Fun Dance Song for Kids | Brain Breaks | Jack Hartmann
https://youtu.be/9nKq4jm4LD8

It's My Turn! By David Bedford- In this story Oscar and Tilly want to have fun at the playground. Read about how they have more fun when they play together. https://youtu.be/xJBk9mJwkeI

Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry-Cute simple story about an unusual friendship!
https://youtu.be/XTYfji4YiS0

In My Heart:A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek-Have you ever felt happiness, sadness, bravery, anger or shyness? Do you understand what it means to feel that way? Read along about a charming story of feelings and emotions.
https://youtu.be/xIfLgHBwYx4

How to Use Google Classroom

https://youtu.be/OjRHHIbxKvk

https://youtu.be/IgS-hoSIjnw