Too Good for Drugs

     4th graders at both schools have just started a unit called Too Good for Drugs (TGFD).  All schools are required to have some sort of Drug Education program.  TGFD is the program that ACPS has adopted for our 4th graders.  This unit covers both Guidance (EP8, EP9, EP10, EP11) and Health (4.2, 4.3) SOLs for 4^th grade.
      The goals of this program are 1. to develop some safety skills that help them make smart choices in uncomfortable or tempting situations; and 2. to have some background on what a drug is and why they can be dangerous.

     This can be an uncomfortable topic for both parents and students (giggling not uncommon).  I try hard to make the lessons engaging and enjoyable without undermining the seriousness of the topic. Here is an outline of the lessons and some notes on my "spin" on them.  I invite you to contact me at ANY time if you are unclear or unsure about any of these lessons.

1. Goal setting (having goals and things that matter to you give you reasons to make good choices)
2. Goal boosters/busters (make good choices about who you choose to spend time with)
3. I-messages (problem solving conversation starters good for ALL situations)
4. Peer Pressure (what it is - why is effective and then 6 strategies to stand up to it)
5.  Tobacco
6. Over the Counter Medicines & Prescriptions (I focus on safety rules for using them)
7. Alcohol
8. Marijuana/Cocaine ( I don't always get to these and when I do I don't spend a great deal of time on the specifics of each as I do more talking about how there are some drugs that are illegal)

 

Bucket Filling

Have You Filled A Bucket Today? 

The last couple of years every class has spent some time focusing on one or more of the Bucket Filling books during Guidance: Fill A Bucket, by Tom Rath, or Have You Filled A Bucket Today?, Will You Fill My Bucket?, Bucket filling A-Z, and Growing Up With A Bucket Full of Happiness by Carol McCloud. This year we will continue to practice our bucket-filling expertise. And Red Hill kids will be encouraged to fill lots of buckets on our Kindness Day Sept. 24!

In a new twist on the Golden Rule, the books explain to children that we all carry an invisible bucket in which we keep our feelings about ourselves. When our buckets are full, we are happy; when they are empty, we are sad. It's important to know that we can fill our own bucket and so can others. We can also dip into it.

A BUCKET FILLER is someone who says or does nice things for other people. By doing this, they are filling other people's buckets and filling their own bucket at the same time. The metaphor of a bucket helps all children understand the importance of consideration and empathy.

On the other hand, a BUCKET DIPPER says or does things to cause other people to feel bad. A bucket dipper empties their bucket when they say and do mean things. Students are also reminded to use their lid to take personal responsibility for their buckets and remember they do not have to allow others to "dip" in their bucket.

This is a wonderful way to ignite children's desire to do loving things for others as well as assist them on their journey toward being self-aware individuals. You may even wish to use this idea in your home by identifying "bucket filling" acts within your family. As part of our Climate goal on our School Improvement Plan, it is our goal to encourage positive social skills, foster friendships, increase self-esteem, and help to make our school an even better place to be.

Always remember that everyone carries an invisible bucket.

What little thing can you do to fill someone's bucket today?

 We fill buckets...

​	NO DIPPING ALLOWED!  ​

What Does a School Counselor Do?

So the first 2 weeks every year my time in the classrooms is spent reviewing who I am and what I do in the building.  I have several kid-given titles including the Guidance teacher, the lady that reads us stories, the lady that teaches us about friends and tells us not to bully, the helper person, the one you talk to, and my personal favorite: Our Friend.

In a nutshell, I want the kids to know that, as their School Counselor, I:
... am there to help support them to be the best learner they can be
... am there to help them solve problems that may come up during the year (Peer Conflicts, Study Skill difficulties, Emotional concerns that might be occupying their mind)
... will visit their classroom a couple times a month to teach life skills that help us all
...can work with kids individually or in small groups
...will keep their business private unless someone is getting hurt or I have permission to share

Presenting this information looks different in all the grades, but I aim to keep it fun.  For many kids they've heard it before and its also my first impression every year.
Kindergarteners at Murray will hear it for the first time so we'll play some name games to help me learn who they are and then I'll share a coloring book story with them.  The story is aimed to help them understand the difference between a teacher and a counselor (a new idea for sure).  We'll discuss it together and then I'll ask them to share it with the adults at home.  2nd graders will get an older version of the coloring book.
K/1 students at Red Hill and 1st graders at Murray will meet Ms. Potato Head Counselor.  As we put her together we discuss how each part of her is also part of my job: Eyes: Keeping my eyes on them, Feet: walking to their classroom, Taped Mouth: Keeping their privacy, Ears: Listening to what they need to tell me, Purse: Using my bag of tricks to help them learn new skills, Phone: to talk to parents and teachers, Book: To read them awesome stories.
2/3 students at Red Hill and 3rd graders at Murray will get to play Who Wants to Be the Counselor's Millionaire? and 4th and 5th graders at both schools will get to play Counselor Jeopardy.
Whatever they call me is fine, as long as they feel like they can trust me and they know I am there to help, then we're good to go!