The Corner On Character

Everything's Coming Up Roses

2012-03-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

From time to time, books cross my desk that publishers hope I will like and subsequently review. That happened last week, when my friend Amanda sent me this book called The Little Rose by Sheri Fink. The idea of a Rose book intrigued me because roses are difficult flowers to grow but oh, so worth it when they flourish. This book endeared itself to me and its powerful message resonated with me, so I emailed the author, who graciously agreed to an interview. Today I'm grateful to this budding author for taking time out of her busy schedule to introduce herself, answer a few questions and talk about her newest book. Isn't her smile contagious?

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I grew up in a small town in Virginia and moved to California following grad school. After 12 years in the online marketing world, I decided to pursue my dream of inspiring children and adults to live their best lives. I started writing when I was 7 years old. I loved creating my own worlds and enjoyed doing the artwork for my little homemade books. I reconnected with that joy a few years ago when I started writing inspirational children's books. I love it! Today, I write books that inspire and delight children ages 5-10 while planting seeds of self-esteem that can have lifelong benefit. My books help kids with their self-esteem while they have fun reading the stories and enjoying the beautiful illustrations.

My first book, The Little Rose, is about a little rose who grows up in a weedbed and believes that she’s the weed. The story empowers kids to overcome bullying and to embrace their differences as gifts. The Little Rose has been a #1 best-seller on Amazon for over 35 weeks and is being adapted into a play. My second book will be released on March 22. It's called The Little Gnome and it's about a garden gnome and his first year in the garden. The story helps kids look for the good in change while learning about the four seasons.

What gave you the idea for The Little Rose story?

The story idea for The Little Rose came during a time when I was bullied. It was extremely difficult for me. I learned that everyone should just be themselves instead of trying to be like everyone else. From that experience, I got the idea for a story about a rose that everyone else thinks is the weed. She learns to accept and appreciate herself for the beautiful rose she is. I'm delighted to be able to use my negative experience to bring positivity to the lives of others, especially children.

Why was it so important to you that children hear the message beneath the words?

I want children to know how precious they are and to love themselves no matter what is going on in their lives and no matter what anyone else says. There's so much pressure to fit in. My hope is that we'll plant seeds of self-esteem that will make kids stronger, more self-confident, and more authentically themselves as they're growing up.

What did it take to get it published?

I did a lot of research and interviewed authors on traditional publishing and self-publishing. I'm an entrepreneur at heart and I really wanted to get the message of The Little Rose into the world quickly. I decided to independently publish The Little Rose as my first children's book. In order to do so, I had a huge learning curve. My passion for my book and its message really helped me focus and ultimately create and publish my book.

What's next for you?

I'm really focused on building my brand, 'The Whimsical World of Sheri Fink,' which includes books, toys, and experiences that inspire and delight children while planting seeds of self-esteem. My second children's book, The Little Gnome, debuts later this month. I'm really excited about it! I'm already writing my next book in the series, The Little Firefly, for Spring 2013. The play based on The Little Rose will be released this year. And, I'm speaking to kids throughout the world spreading the message of The Little Rose and encouraging them to believe in themselves. I'm so grateful for these wonderful opportunities!

When A Pet Dies

2012-03-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

Dear friends at BanfieldHospital,

As I sit down to writethis long over-due note of thanks, I find I’m still fighting back the tearsfrom the loss of my sweet friend, Caramel. I am still sorting through the tornado-like mess of feelingsthat her death caused, and words alone cannot express the gratitude I feel forthe compassionate care that we received during that very difficult time forCaramel and our family. Despitethe fact that we were spending ridiculous amounts of time, energy, and money ona little rodent, we were treated throughout her illness with dignity andrespect. We appreciated the warmth and concern from your staff whichguided us through every step of this incredibly painful journey.

Nothing could haveprepared me for that emotionally-charged afternoon when we made our last visitto your office and finally realized that we had no other choice but to say “goodbye.” I thought my heart would break in twowhen we brought Caramel in to ask you to put her to sleep. It felt like I was killing her, whichwasn’t making sense at all because I wanted to keep her forever, to never lether go, to never say goodbye. Ifelt so stupid crying like I did, carrying on like that, in front of my kidsand your nurse, whom I’ll call Jennifer because I was so distraught that I never didget her name. My daughter evenasked me if this was my first time to ever lose a pet. Can you imagine? But Jennifer never saida word. She just waited until wewere ready and, with a soothingly-calm reassurance, she let us know that yousupported our decision about what’s best for our furry friend. Since Caramel’s health had deterioratedso badly, it was the kindest thing we could do, the only thing we had left togive to her. But that “gift” ofpeace for her translated into unimaginable pain for us.

We aren’t really even petpeople, or at least we weren’t until Caramel came along. Having grown up on a dairy farm, Ialways believed that animals belong in the barn. And since we live in the suburbs and don’t have a barn, Ifigured we wouldn’t ever be pet owners. But things changed so quickly that fateful day, right around the timewhen our fifth-grade daughter, Kaitlyn, found out the truth about Santa, TheTooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny all at once. She was sobbing sohysterically that when she came up for air and asked to have a pet, I said “absolutely!”just to de-escalate, appease, and calm her. I guess I’m lucky she didn’t have a horse in mind! Anyway, we were headed to PetCo beforewe knew it and she picked out the cutest little teddy bear hamster she couldfind. We didn’t know a thing abouthamsters so it was with extreme caution that we even decided to give her atry. The trip home was funny,really, because that little rascal tried so desperately to scratch her way outof that little paper carrier that we were all so nervously-aware, okay,frightened, of her every move. Wewere scared about what Dad would say, too. The kids wanted to farkle (you know, paper, rock, scissors)to see who had to tell him that we were now proud pet owners of a new littlefriend, basically a mouse without a tail. And so Caramel came to live in our family and in our hearts. For almost two years.

She was such a cute littlefriend who developed an interestingly-playfulpersonality, really. It wasespecially “fun” on those occasions when she escaped (did I mention that hermiddle name was Houdini?) and was on an adventure in the house somewhere. We’d hear her scratching in an attemptto make a jail break into the great outdoors. Those hamsters really can find and fit into small, remotespots. And when you want them toplay, it’s more like they play on you than with you. Still, she endeared herself to us in no time and the twoshort years we had with her went all too quickly. We don’t know how, but she got sick last summer while wewere away on vacation and she wasn’t ever the same. In the months that followed, she was so miserable as shescratched and itched and fought whatever it was that was making her souncomfortable. We tried shots andvinegar baths and lots of TLC, but the illness, coupled with aging I suppose,got the best of her. It wasmid-November, almost Thanksgiving, when we had to decide what would be best forour sweet little girl. She didn't deserve to suffer like that any more.

I won’t ever forgetdialing your phone number and choking back the tears just to ask the questionno one should ever have to ask, “do you euthanize hamsters?” I was holding her up so that she couldhave a drink, knowing that soon she wouldn’t ever be thirsty again. I remember driving to your hospital andsoftly asking through misty eyes if we could see the exotic-animalsdoctor. I remember Jennifer explainingthat our choices were cremation or a burial and I remember exactly how big my son’s eyes gotwhen she defined the word cremation. I remember my little Joshua in your office asking, “if you put her tosleep, how long does she sleep?” That six-year-old innocence was about to be shaken a bit as Jenniferwent on to explain that Caramel would be going to sleep forever. I remember him saying that that’s avery long time to never see or play with Caramel again. Jennifer gave us ample time to thankCaramel and bid her farewell before she returned to take Caramel to the back. After what seemed like an eternity,Jennifer came back in to our room and gave us Caramel’s little body so we couldhead home to bury her. Beforeleaving, I went to pay and it was then that I noticed that Jennifer had decidednot to charge us for an office visit since we’d already spent so much moneytrying to save our little friend’s life before facing her inevitable death.

I called my sister rightafter we buried Caramel and tried to explain how silly I felt grieving so hardfor a hamster, but she put it sobeautifully when she said, “yeah, but love is love.” She was right. I’d let myself love that little rascal and now I was paying for it withincredible pain. If pain measureslove, then I must have loved her like crazy, because I hurt like crazy thatnight. And the next day. And the next. And a few more after that.

Things are betternow. We have a new sweet thingwhom we call Candy. She’s notCaramel, and at first I secretly didn’t even like her, but she’s growing onme. I take comfort in knowingthat, should we ever need help for our little Candy-girl, the staff at Banfieldwill be there to meet not only her physical needs but our emotional needs aswell.

Thanks again for beingthere in our time of need.

Sincerely,

Barbara

One Lovely Blog Award

2012-03-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

Happy March! Lori from Cachey Mama's Classroom is at it again, filling buckets by passing along fun awards. Just this week she sent the One Lovely Blog Award my way; thanks, Lori, for being such a faithful reader and great encourager.

Here are the rules:

Link back to the one who gave you this award.
Pass the award on to 15 other lovely bloggers.
Follow the person who sent it to you.

Here are the 15 blogs I'm passing it on to:

*The Picture Book Teacher's Edition

*Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits

*Following Optimism

*Learning With Mrs. Parker

*Yearn To Learn

*Runde's Room
*My Life As A Fifth Grade Teacher

*Literacy Minute

*Made In The Shade In Second Grade

*Grade ONEderful

*4th Grade Frolics

*A Teacher's Treasure

*Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade

*First Grade Magic

*Primary Graffiti

Don't sweat it if you're too busy to pass the award along, just know that you're appreciated and loved.

I have SO many blogs that I stalk, creep, follow, visit, and peruse so it's difficult to stop at fifteen, but if you're new to the blogosphere, these would be a great place to start! I send gratitude along with this award to these AmAzInG educators for working so hard to positively inspire and influence me and my work.

Really Good Stuff

2012-02-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

As if I needed another addiction, I got hooked on Really Good Stuff about a year ago when I stumbled on a really good blog post at The Teachers' Lounge. The words made so. much. sense. and really resonated with me. So I started to navigate through their site, stumbled on a Really Good Giveaway (that I actually won!), and sent an idea for Earth Day their way. I read through the cute Classroom Capers and checked out their character education resources. So much to do on one site. Oh, and it didn't hurt that their stuff is so colorful, creative and fun!

In June as I was being bitten by the blogging bug, RGS ran a contest for the Best Classroom Blog. That's when I knew I wanted to be aligned with a Really Good Company like this. So I wrote an email offering that if they ever needed a guest post, I'd be happy to write for them and Brandi wrote back and asked if I'd like to be a monthly guest columnist. I felt SO blessed that day and have been writing for them since August. A couple of other TBA authors like Erin Klein from Kleinspiration and Cheryl Saoud from Primary Graffiti also write for them.

Today I'm excited because this afternoon at 4 pm (CST), I got to meet Brandi and hear her voice for the first time when we visited on Blog Talk Radio. Tune in to listen using the radio widget below or on the right; the radio is always on at the Corner.

Listen to internet radio with TeachingBlogAddict on Blog Talk Radio

Mirror Neurons

2012-02-28T05:30:00.000-06:00

So we had an introductory taste of Conscious Discipline training on Presidents' Day and the concept of mirror neurons totally intrigued me. Do you know about these? Think of it like this: Someone smiles at you and you mirror it back (You've heard it said that someone has an infectious smile!) or someone nods his head and you find yourself nodding back. Your child cuts herself and YOU feel it, like the time I almost passed out when they were removing Kaitlyn's stitches it hurt so bad. It's sounding SO much like empathy that I wanted to know more, so I started to look more deeply into this so-called system in our brain.

Reflecting on our feelings and our charACTer.

Turns out it's kind of controversial because scientists still don't know enough about this mirror neuron, but what we do know fascinates me. The short You Tube video that our trainer showed us makes a compelling case for mirror neurons. This cool clip speaks volumes about the ability of someone SO young to mirror back a feelings face SO perfectly; equally impressive is that he's SO engaged in mirroring that he doesn't even care about his ice cream cone.

What are the implications of mirror neurons on our role as character educators? Will we approach anything differently as we learn more? What, if anything, would you need to adjust? I'm so eager to learn more and I promise keep you posted on my research.

A Slice Of Happiness

2012-02-27T06:00:00.001-06:00

Life served up several slices of happiness this past Saturday and Sunday. Our collegegirl spent a few hours with us because her band came into town tomarch in the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show parade and play a gig at the UTCoop. Check out at how much fun these Longhorn Band musicians are having!

We got to celebrate Joshua’s birthday together and attend Jacob’s finalSaturday night Pit Band performance for The Pajama Game, this year’s FHSMusical. We enjoyed a pancake breakfast before taking off for our three-hourtour to get her back to Austin. About 25 minutes into the trip, she inquiresabout her backpack. Turns out she mistook Joshua’s black backpack for hers andwe had to make a U-turn to come back toward home to get it (Jacob agreed to meet us half way with it). So this is a double-edgedsword because we were understandably irritated by that extra hour this situation just tacked ontoour Sunday drive, but we were equally elated that she remembered it when shedid instead of three hours later as we were unloading her stuff in Austin. Canyou imagine? Seriously!

Ourfrustration at her forgetfulness melted away in a flash when we lost the radio station frequency and had to pop in a CD. In an unpremeditated genius move, John had packed our Disney Collection, so for the last hour of the trip, we got to listen to our little girl belt out themost beautiful ballads (Think Jasime, Ariel, Simba, Pocahontas and Belle) and sing the silly songs from the Disney movies we'd watched with her during her formative years. Traveling back in time = A sweet slice of happiness.

On the way home, we drove through McDonald's to grab a bite to eat for dinner. Joshua was unpacking his Happy Meal when I heard this: I have to admit that this little container is pretty cute, but I would have liked more than 10 fries!
Seriously, he counted them. There were ten.

Note the new skimpy-sized container next to

my value-meal-sized holder below.

Seems the reason they've downsized the kid-portion fries is that they've added four "slices of happiness" (aka apples). A healthy addition is a promising practice, I suppose, but an unhappy change to a weary traveler after eight hours on the road. I shared some of my fries so that my happy teen didn't go hungry, and we enjoyed a rich slice of happiness (aka chocolate eclair torte) to celebrate his birthday one more time when we got home.

Life is best served with a slice or two of happiness!

Salute To Heroes

2012-02-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

The email came this week, a reminder from Michael about this year's Salute To Heroes celebration in honor and loving memory of his son, Specialist Ray Joseph Hutchinson. I bought this canvas entitled My Daddy at last year's event. His mom finds great comfort and release in painting these auction donations.

My Daddy by Deborah Hutchinson

A former student of mine, this soldier was a special young man. I told his story here on my fourth of July blog last year; I wrote this poem about Ray Joseph shortly after his life on earth was cut short in combat as he fought for our freedom.

Our Ray Of Light

His light shined brightly through his life,
Ray Joseph was his name.
Our earthly lives without him here
won't ever be the same.

There was a cause, he had to go
to try to make things right.
He said, "It's for the children
that I have to go and fight."

Ray Joseph joined the Army
and soon he went off to war.
He knew Iraqi Freedom
was what he'd be fighting for.

He served his country proudly
in the desert from the start.
In the end, 'cause of his courage
he received the Purple Heart.

Ray gave his all in everything;
he sacrificed his life,
so that people he didn't even know
wouldn't have to live in strife.

Ray Joseph died a hero,
he gave freely out of love.
And now his light shines brightly
with the stars in heaven above.

Each year, his family and friends put on the Salute to Heroes banquet in his honor to raise funds so that students like Ray Joseph can earn a college scholarship to further his vision of making the world a better place. We salute soldiers everywhere on Ray Joseph's behalf. We will n.e.v.e.r. forget!

Celebrity Pizza Night

2012-02-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

What fun to watch her open that door!

So I'm really tired today and I'm pretty sure it has something to do with that moonlighting I did Thursday night with Papa John's. You see, it was Celebrity Pizza Night so guess who spent four hours delivering pizzas after school and into the evening? Yep, yours truly along with 22 other staff members from Westwood-Bales. Volunteers from the PTO drive the cars and faculty from the school deliver the hot and fresh pizzas to our school families. To entertain our supporters, we might have a song, cheer, or poem. As an added bonus, our first graders made these AdOrAbLe thank-you cards that we attached to the top of the pizza boxes. And what's in it for us? Papa John's donates all of the tip money plus 20% of their sales during that block of time directly back to the school, so it's a nice little FUNdraiser for us.

Wanna try this with your school?
Click the image to see how!

In fact, the first time we did this, we earned four thousand dollars. The second time around, the novelty had worn off a bit and the net wasn't quite that substantial, but it was significant enough to warrant giving it a third shot. So I'm not sure yet just how much money we made, but there were kids waiting at their window as if they were expecting Santa to show up with their pizza, so this I know for sure: we made a few special someones smile and that made my investment totally worth it!

This just in - our school earned $3082 and some odd cents from this FUNdraiser - yay!

Spring Into Seuss

2012-02-24T06:00:00.001-06:00

As we get closer to March 2nd and the Read Across America Birthday bash, we remember and celebrate Dr. Seuss' unparalleled contribution to children's literature.

Here's a Spring Into Seuss board I created using my sneetches:

The Seuss titles that I use most often in my counseling are What Was I Scared Of?, My Many Colored Days, Yertle The Turtle, and The Sneetches. There's nothing like a little star-bellied controversy to get kids thinking! Ask questions with emotive force: Are Stars a good thing? To whom? How could Stars be a bad thing? Find out from the your students what the equivalent of the Star Belly would be today. What are some of the issues that kids use to exclude others? Who are the fast-talking salesmen who want to capitalize on those differences? What issues unite or bring them back together?

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Fire Your Dendrites

2012-02-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

These books on my night stand are the ones I'm working on right now.

The other day when I bumped into a friend, I was greeted with this inquiry: “What are you reading?” As I was wondering how she knew I was reading anything, it occurred to me that a lifelong learner is always reading something. It just so happened that I was carrying around a novel that was recommended to me but just not doing anything for me, so we lodged into a spirited debate about whether or not I ought to feel compelled to finish a novel once I’ve started it. I learn by leaps and bounds when I engage people in discussions about dilemmas that don’t necessarily have a right or a wrong answer! What else besides reading, discussing, and questioning can a lifelong learner do? Here are a Dozen Do's from an article I originally wrote for Change Magazine:

Enroll in a Continuing Education Course: If you’d like to sharpen a skill you already have or gain a new skill, why not look at your community education program. In a recent brochure that came in the mail, opportunities to learn about calligraphy or cooking, painting or photography, guitar or gardening abound. These enrichment courses open the door to your brain to stretch and grow while creative juices flow and produce cool stuff like, in some classes, produce.
Join a Book Club or PLC: You’re likely to be really challenged if you’re spending time with people who like to think. Find five other readers and agree on what novel or self-help book you’ll read next. Get together to discuss, then enjoy the new perspective. Based on the work of Richard DuFour, Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) allow for colleagues to collaborate and learn from one another while they build trust and put action plans in place to maximize their students’ learning. Thinkers sharing what they think with other thinkers generate palpable brainpower.
Collect Stuff: My seventh-grade teacher charged us to “hoard words like a coin collector,” to learn new words, discover their origins, and to figure out their orthography. So why not enrich your vocabulary by collecting a new word every day. Or start a coin collection. Find out where the coins originated, where they were minted, and what they’re worth. Or collect stamps. Sorting and cataloguing them will keep you thinking.
Seek out Teaching Opportunities: You don’t have to have a degree in education to teach. Learning is solidified as you teach skills to others. I became a better knitter, for example, as I taught people to knit. What skill would you like to share? Start in your church, at a community center, or in a school. Be a mentor and see what you learn!
Blog: Reading and writing online through blogs can be a great way to stay up on the latest research in and observations specific topics of interest to you. Journal your thoughts and chew on the reflections of others.
Take an Online Course: Consider getting an advanced degree, license, or certification through an online program like the University of Utah online that offers “one-evening get-aways, Friday evening date nights, and Sunday field trips.” The ever-popular University of Phoenix, a pioneer in online degrees “offers online and on-campus degree programs at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level — each is a balanced combination of academic theory and practical application.” If you don’t have the time or money for an entire course, sign up for a webinar that piques your interest.
Puzzle Yourself: Lifelong learners don’t necessarily need textbooks. Research suggests that puzzles will also keep your brain waves rippling. Traditional table-top or 3D jigsaws provide hands-on, kinesthetic learning while Sudoku, crosswords, and word search puzzles offer a more abstract, academic task. Better yet, create a puzzle of your own for a family member or friend to solve.
Travel: Traveling allows your brain to experience new territory as you cross over boundaries that normally keep you protected, safe and secure. Research places to visit, either foreign or domestic. Calculate the cost to get there and back. Explore learning opportunities while you’re there, like visiting the Art Museum or taking in a play at a local theater. Experience the culture by taking a back-roads tour and trying some traditional cuisine. Ask questions about the history and traditions. Can’t afford a real trip? Planning a virtual trip is just a click away. Or host a foreign exchange student and bring the cultural experience into your home.
Learn another Language: Think you’re too old to acquire another language? Think again. There are a myriad of ways to get exposure to a second language. Sign up for a conversational course first to see if you like it. You can use audio CDs to listen to and learn the language in your vehicle. Try acquiring vocabulary by watching television in another language. Find a teenager who’s also learning that course and become study buddies. Or use an online translator to make post-it notes for common areas like on the bathroom mirror or the refrigerator door. Not too interested in a spoken language? Give Latin or Sign Language a shot.
Pursue Music Lessons: Playing a musical instrument or simply taking voice lessons might strike a chord with some of you. A University of California research team has shown in experiments with adults that music — either performing it or listening to it – has the power to enhance some kinds of higher brain function. Start small with a recorder or ukulele and watch your dendrites crescendo to new heights.
Start a Dinner Club: Gather some friends to join you for a monthly gathering around the dinner table. But don’t settle for just the ordinary – make it extraordinary. Agree to research ethnic dishes and try new recipes. Explore the traditions of the region to share with your guests. Dress in customary garb for more authenticity. Serve the meal as they would in the country that you’re highlighting.
Do Charitable Work: Never underestimate the power of giving back. Find a charity that sparks your interest. I love to knit for charity to help Save the Children; my daughter enjoys her volunteer work with her Longhorn Band Service Sorority at school. Research a cause and find out how you can help, then enJOY the power of the Pay It Forward experience.

What do you do to fire your dendrites?

Just One More

2012-02-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

My baby is turning 13 this week; here's a poem I wrote that was inspired by his tuck-in-time stall tactics. Happy Birthday, Joshua!

Just One More

It’s bedtime soon forJoshua, time to start winding down.

“But Mommy, I’m notready yet,” he tells her with a frown.

She warms his favoritep.j.s (he likes his Snoopy ones best!).

Then runs warm water inhis bath and helps him get undressed.

He soaps up well andlathers every inch of his smooth skin,

Then he dries off, all ready for his tuck-in to begin.

“Let’s talkabout my school day now, I'll tell you ‘bout my friends.

There’sShelby, Claire, and Dillon. . .” It's a list that never ends.

“I need asip,” Mom hears him say, “Just one more thing to do.”

They headoff to the kitchen for a glass of milk for two.

He says “good night” again and then, off to his room they go.

“Can we please tell some knock knock jokes?” is what he wants to know.

So Mom gives in just one more time; his jokes are so much fun.

Another day has comeand gone, but this tike's not quite done.

Before Mom knows it, he’sback up, and running for the door.

“I didn’t pick my carsup, they’re still on the living room floor.”

Her little boy isstalling; it’s so cute she can’t believe

he’s got so manyclever tricks up his pajama sleeve.

He finds his specialblankey before Jacob comes to read.

After they finish three whole books, “Just one more, bud?” he’ll plead.

So one more book, thenoff to brush those little pearly whites.

He’s almost ready tocrawl in and turn off all the lights.

“I need to kiss mysister and my dad and mommy, too.

I need to say I loveyou. It’s the last thing that I’lldo.”

He goes with mom back tohis room and hugs her, oh so tight.

“Do you have time tocuddle before I fall sleep tonight?”

She crawls beneath hiscovers and she snuggles him awhile.

And when he’s almostfast asleep, he sneaks just one more smile.

Heart and Sole

2012-02-21T05:00:00.000-06:00

It's coming, the annual One Day Without Shoes to raise awareness for the millions of kids around the world who don't have shoes. Are you planning to join the movement April 10th?

It sounds like such a good cause, sponsored by Toms. They're kind of pricey, those shoes, but for every pair sold, the company donates a pair to a child in need. One for One, so it's worth it, to me. Says owner Blake Mycoskie, "Giving is what fuels us. Giving is our future."

Kind of reminds me of a book on my shelf by Maribeth Boelts called Those Shoes. It speaks to me because there's a well-intentioned counselor in the story who gives Jeremy, a little boy in need, some shoes. But unlike the ones he's got his eye on, they're actually pretty dorky, with a Bob-the-Builder type character on them. In a stroke-of-luck moment, however, Jeremy does find those shoes at a resale shop, but they aren't quite his size. What he does with them after he realizes that they aren't ever going to fit is what endears me to this book, that and the fact that it's got two important lessons woven in, one that addresses wants v. needs and the other that has to do with empathy, putting yourself in another's shoes.

Use the latter as a springboard for a writing assignment: When was the last time you put yourself in someone else's shoes? What happened? What was that experience like? What was easy about it? What was burdensome? How did it feel? If you'd like to follow it up with a service project, consider hosting a shoe drive in partnership with Soles 4 Souls. We sent gently-used shoes to Haiti and, with our help, this charitable organization has distributed over 16 million pairs of shoes.

Giving nourishes us, heart and soul!

A Penny For Your Thoughts

2012-02-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Presidents' Day! Today, in honor of our two presidents who both have prominent places on our currency, a priceless guest blog on fiscal responsibility.

3Simple Ways to Teach FinancialResponsibility to Your Kids

Knowing how to maintain and monitor one'sfinances is an important life asset to have - after all, without a proper eye forthe value of a dollar, one can easily get into debt and struggle making endsmeet and providing for the family. You don't want this person to be yourchild. While you may be a penny-wise person yourself, that doesn't necessarilymean that your child will naturally inherit these traits via genetics. You needto make sure that you start teaching your child money management skills asearly as possible so he or she can develop the skills that can help themprogress later in life. That said, below are 3 simple ways to kick-start yourmission.

1. Give a Set Allowance Early On

Even if your child is just a toddler, go aheadand give your child a "modest" allowance—maybe something has small as$5. Distribute it in singles and even some coins so your child can get familiarwith the value and touch and feel of each. Whether you issue a monthly orweekly allowance is up to you, but allow your child to use this money to buylittle odds and ends like pencils, erasers, and other small toys and candies.Whatever you do, just don't "give in" to all of your child's demands.If he or she wants something that isn't a "necessity," direct yourchild to what's left of his or her allowance. Take this time to also set up apiggy bank so that your child can learn the value of saving as well. Naturally,as your child gets older, the allowance amount can increase. And if your child wants more expensivethings like extra cell phone minutes or iTunes, direct to the allowance.

2. MasqueMoney Management Lessons Through Games

One of themore inconspicuous ways to teach your child about money management is to simplylet them have fun with various games like Pay Day and Monopoly. By providingfake money and different worst-case money scenarios, these age-appropriategames require players to distinguish between wants and needs as well asthe importance of paying bills and being employed in order to win the game.

3. MakeThem Work For "Extras"

Atsome point, your child is going to have to learn that he or she is going tohave to earn their income. If you already require your child to do chores in order toearn his or her allowance, great. But if your child complains that he or sheneeds more money (which will commonly occur in the teenage years), sendthem on their way to find a job. If they're too young to have an actual job, that doesn’t mean they can't turn into little entrepreneurs and make moneyother ways, such as babysitting, pet sitting, mowing lawns or hand-washing cars in theneighborhood. Learning how hard it is to make money will make them appreciatethe money they earn as well as yours.

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Katheryn Rivas, who writes for onlineuniversities blog. She welcomes your comments at her email: katherynrivas87@gmail.com.

Be Present

2012-02-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

Lately it's been so personal, so prevalent, so poignant, palpable even, the reminder to show up and to be present. Maybe it's because it was such a painful time when our oldest was preparing to leave the nest. Did I have any regrets? What would I like to do over? What, if anything, would I do differently? So every time I see a reminder to

Be PrEsEnT,

I can't help but wonder if I am.

PRESENT, that is.

And not just showing up, either, but really being there, in the moment. Looking Joshua in the eyes when he talks to me so I can see the sparkle and feel his joy. Sitting down with Jacob as he tells me about his German competition, about this year's musical, or about the new girl who's stolen his heart. Laying next to John on the couch, watching our favorite show, and giggling with one another during the commercials about the weird stuff that's going on in our lives and at our jobs. And falling in love all over again. Giving 100% of what I've got left at the end of the day and on the weekends to be with the people I adore.

This canvas that I found at Kohl's Department Store reminds of some other ways to be present, for myself and for others. It initially caught my eye because of the second one, create peace. I also believe that enjoying the little things, dreaming big, and showing gratitude will help me by replenishing whatever I give away. Embrace. Discover. Believe.

What are some of the things that you do to live your life in the present, today, right now? Carpe Diem.

Got Conflict? Get Kelso!

2012-02-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

It was the springof 2007 and we were moving in the right direction as a school. Our discipline referrals had droppedslightly and our State test scores were once again high enough to earn usExemplary status on our State assessment. But something was still missing. Feedback from a National School of Character application challenged usto show how we prevent peer cruelty and solve conflict peacefully, so westarted our search for such a strategy. And then it found us. Aprospective kindergarten teacher came to an interview and there it was – Kelso’sChoice – in her portfolio. As shewas explaining how she empowers her little leaders to become problem solversand discern between small problems and big problems, we knew we’d found notonly our new hire, but also the missing peace.

We have a Kelso's Choice bulletin board available to our kids in the cafeteria.

Partial to pink? Kelso is still 'hoppy' to help!

I know, I know, itshould be piece, but peace also works in our story. We met for that summer retreat day at a local restaurant forbrunch, after which we introduced Kelso’s Choices as part of our team-buildingworkday. We broke the faculty upinto groups of six and asked each team to read one of the stories and sharewith the whole group what they’d learned. There was so much excitement about Kelso and his friends on the lily padin the pond and voila, Kelso was launched. Each teacher received a poster and was encouraged to make aKelso’s Corner. We even added thecute Kelso puppet to our library collection so that our faculty and staff couldmake Kelso come alive in their classrooms.

Let's let Kelso help us work it out.

At FamilyCharacter Night that year, we showcased Kelso so that the parents could becomemore familiar with the idea and use it at home. Our principals didsome role-playing as themselves by acting out some familiar scenarios from theclassroom, the playground, and even with siblings, after which we offeredsolutions based on the Kelso’s Choices Wheel. We sent the wheels home printed on a green handout so thatparents could practice this concept with their children. We also keep extracopies available in our Parent Resource Center. We’re told over and over againthat our students even use it in their neighborhoods to resolve conflict asthey’re playing outside. This summer, a principal up in Wisconsin told methat he has the students wear the Kelso’s Choice wheel on their lanyards sothat problem-solving solutions are always at their fingertips. Isn’t that a great idea! At school, we have Kelso’s Corners inall of the classrooms, in the gym as well as in the cafeteria so students alwayshave the wheel as an option when conflict arises.

In my guidancelessons, Kelso’s Choice comes up as a possible solution to every small,annoying problem I throw their way. Time and time again, I hear students say that they could take care ofthat themselves with Kelso’s help. Now that’s empowerment! Kelso’sChoice Conflict Management system is a terrific tool that helps make for a peaceful place and acritical component in the success we’ve enjoyed in our character building.

Need help explaining Conflict? Check out this cool clip, brought to us by our friends
at Sesame Street:

Compassion Fatigue

2012-02-17T05:00:00.000-06:00

Do you know about these flowers? It's a kalanchoe plant and, when it's in full bloom, its beauty is unparalleled. Kalanchoes are hearty succulents that are incredibly easy to grow. Break one off and put it in soil. That's it. Fully-flowered kalanchoes make me very happy. And their blooms last for a very long time, whereby prolonging the joy that accompanies them for me!

Every once in awhile, I have to bring them in because they prefer warmer temps and cannot withstand a freeze, even a light one. Look at what happens when I forget:

They turn all brown, pitiful and limp. And there's n.o.t.h.i.n.g. joyful or happy about that, which brings me to today's post on

compassion fatigue. Did you know that caring too much can actually hurt you? I went to a fantastic, albeit somewhat somber, breakout session at a recent conference on that very topic and learned that caregivers who don't take proper self-care are at risk for compassion fatigue. And guess what?
As Dr. Merriman described the symptoms, I realized that I'd fallen prey to compassion fatigue several times without even knowing it. I thought it might be burnout, I assumed I was just exhausted. But I now know it was probably compassion fatigue.

Now that I'm aware, I'm on a mission to take better care of myself so I don't shrivel up, weathered from the weight of what I'm giving away, like that little kalanchoe sprig. Sustainable stuff like setting boundaries
(she said to keep reminding ourselves that
NO. is a complete sentence!)

and knowing when I'm at capacity. Unlike being queen of the kalanchoe, those two goals aren't going to be easy breezy. But if, like the kalanchoe, I want to be bountiful and beautiful and bring joy to others, I've got to be properly nourished and nurtured. That leads me to today's inquiry: How do you prevent compassion fatigue? And who (or what?) brings you in from the cold when you're limp and weakened from compassion fatigue?

Guest Post by Dr. Michelle Anthony

2012-02-16T05:30:00.000-06:00

Today I am feeling overwhelmingly blessed that Dr. Michelle Anthony is in our Corner to share some nuggets of wisdom from her book. She and Dr. Reyna Lindert co-wrote this amazing guide to bully-proofing our girls (and children in general) last year that I strongly recommend. The whole time I was reading it, I kept wishing that I'd have had this book when Kaitlyn was in her formative years. I do keep on the shelves for check out in our parenting resource center.
Thank you, Dr. Anthony, for the booster shot of inspiration!

Little Girls Can Be Mean: Four Steps to Bully-proofGirls in the Early Grades
ByMichelle Anthony, MA, PhD

Almost 5 years ago, Ifound this note—written by my then 6 ½ year old daughter—stuffed between hermattress and the desk beside her bed. It sent instant alarms. That afternoon,when she got home from school, we sat together and I showed it to her. Her eyeswelled up with tears and she turned away from me. I put my arm around her tolet her know it was ok, and that we could talk about it—whatever “it” was.

The floodgates released and her story came pouring out: the months that she hadfelt confused and alone, but hid her feelings from us. The times she had turnedto her teacher for help, but instead been told to “toughen up.” Her shouldersheaved as she told me story after story about her best friend, Sherrie, and thesometimes kind, sometime cruel things she had done. How scared my daughter was,and how confused. Who could she trust? What was real?

I sat there, stunned. Shocked. Who was this person my daughter was describing?Certainly not the polite, smart, thoughtful girl who came over to our house forplay dates. Not the girl who had reached out and befriended my daughter at thebeginning of the year, when she was “the new girl.” Not the sunny, smiling facethat came to mind whenever I thought of her. Not this girl, who—even in first grade—would ask adultsquestions, say what a great time she had over, and offer to drop by homeworkwhen my daughter was sick.

The girl who I met and interacted with was clearly not the girl my child wasdescribing...and yet she was.

That day was a turning point in my life, and in my relationship with mydaughter. It was that day that girl meanness hit home, in a very real andtangible way. I had expected things like this, but not until adolescence—years away. My6-year-old wasn’t ready to manage these experiences and emotions so young...andneither was I.

I sat there, holding my daughter as she cried, realizing how helpless and aloneshe felt, and that in part, it was because of me. No, not because I had forceda friendship on her—my daughter continuedto ask for play dates right up and through when we started dealing with herconflicts with Sherrie. Not because I had ignored her complaints—she never shared them.Not because I had told her that there are just some mean girls, and she neededto learn to more carefully choose her friends—this was actually a very nice girl, who in facthad and continued to do many, many kind, thoughtful, “best friends” sorts ofthings for her.

No, it’s what I hadn’t done that had failed her. I hadn’t seen the subtle signsof her unhappiness, hadn’t noticed the level of her confusion, and hadn’trealized the importance of helping her learn how to manage her friendships, understand her rights (and role) within them, orfeel that she had a listening, knowledgeable, supportive teammate to workthings through with.

It’s what I learned that day that led, several years later, to our new book, LittleGirls Can Be Mean: Four Steps to Bully-proof Girls in the Early Grades, where we address themost common social struggles girls face in friendship pairs and groups. In the book, we reach out to parents andother caring adults—to help them understandhow and why meanness happens, and to give them the tools to help girls manageand mitigate the devastating effects of social cruelty and relationalaggression. By following the Four Step plan described in the book, parentslearn how to approach the issue of meanness, and support their daughters asthey learn to navigate the rocky waters of growing up female.

What Parents Can Do

Becausemuch of the “everyday” meanness happens between close friends, girls are oftenhesitant to talk to parents and teachers, in part because we often brush offsocial struggles, saying, “she’ll be nicer tomorrow,” or, “ignore her; playwith someone else,” or “girls are just mean sometimes.” Thus, in trying to help, we unwittinglyisolate girls from the very support network they need and deserve.

But,providing support is as simple as 1-2-3-4: Observe, Connect, Guide, and Supportto Act. The Steps are relevantwhether your child is a target, is acting meanly, or is simply a bystander to “girldrama.”

Step1: Observeyour child in new ways and with new eyes, seeking to understand who she issocially. Is she passive? Aggressive? A self-starter? Recognize when things go awry: shesuddenly stops wanting to do favorite activities, starts more fights with hersiblings, complains of headaches, etc.

Step2: Connectwith her, withouttaking over. Ask questions;empathize. Let her know you are onher side beforeswitching into problem-solving mode or advising her to be kinder. This is especially hard (and especiallyimportant!) if your child has been mean.

Step3: Guideher, as a teammate. Work together to try out possiblesolutions, whittling down the list to choices doable to you both (e.g., if shedecides she wants more play dates, you need to support her follow through).

Step4: Support Her to Acton one or two of the solutions. Remember, she chooses her actions and follows through, not you. Because you will not control how peersrespond, follow up with the four Steps again, observing how things unfold, reconnecting over how she nowfeels, and working together as you guide her to new choices she can then act on.

While notevery social situation warrants all Four Steps, Observing and Connecting oftenwill allow you to see patterns, or notice your child is unhappy. In applying the Four Steps, caring parents,teachers, and counselors learn a variety of tools and strategies that give thegirls they love a simple productive way to respond to the inevitable strugglesevery girl faces as she enters (and sometimes gets excluded by) the world ofgroups, clubs, and best friends.

Dream BIG

2012-02-15T06:00:00.000-06:00

The new Scholastic book order came in last week and I scored some new titles. My favorite has to be this Kristi Yamaguchi (Olympic Medalist turned Author) book called Dream Big Little Pig! Just look at the cover and you'll fall in love with this persistent little pig in pursuit of her passion. But after several dreams melt away, will she find one that suits her?

It reminded me of an article I read last spring at Inside the School about not being afraid to ~~fall~~ fail, and it sparked a bulletin board idea to get kids thinking about their goals and dreams:

Finally, it's this time of year every year when I'm reminded of one of the greatest love stories on ice E.V.E.R. I will forever be in awe of the graceful elegance of Olympic gold-medalist Figure Skaters Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov and, though it's been 13 years since he passed away, I still cannot watch this beautiful duo without being sad for Katia and their daughter.

Experience Our Energy

2012-02-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentines Day. How are you celebrating today? We had our class parties on Friday; we read stories about friendship and love, like Eileen Spinelli's Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, we exchanged Valentines, we did some fun activities, and we ate delicious goodies.

If you don't already have this book, do yourself a favor and check it out; it is such a touching story about the difference a kind word or deed can make. Click the graphic to hear Hector Elizondo read it aloud.

We got together as a school family while our awesome volunteers prepared for the parties to move to the Cupid Shuffle and The Friday Dance (Glee Cast Version!), choreographed by our rockin' PE teachers. Click the video below to experience our pre-party energy.

Oh, and feel free to turn it up and dance along!

Empathy And A Snowblower

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

So I'm in Galveston today (where it's, relatively speaking, freezing cold!), attending and speaking at our Texas Counseling Association conference. My session is called Elevating Empathy and Creating A Climate of CAREacter. This is a relatively new topic for me, one that I got interested in after hearing Michele Borba's From Compassion To Cruelty keynote last summer in Wisconsin; her Empathy Crisis blog post is an eye-opener. If you EVER get a chance to hear her speak, you simply MUST do it! Her research suggests that it's critical that we nurture empathy so that our children aren't emotionally empty, because people with vacuous emotional reserves simply have nothing to give away. So I'm sharing some strategies to help character educators elevate empathy. I'm super excited about this opportunity (though lyrics to a bunny-hop ditty bounding in my head woke me up at 3 a.m.)!

Click here if you would like a copy of my Power Point presentation from the session on Google Docs.

I have a brother who puts empathy into action, especially after a heavy snow hits Milwaukee. You see, he's become the resident snow blower on his street. I'm not sure howhe happened into that job, but I don't think he's always had it. I vaguelyremember a time, actually, when he used a good old-fashioned shovel and it wasall he could do to clear his own drive. Maybe it was when he got this monstermachine that allows him to throw snow like it's sand. Or quite possibly it's because he himself cannot stand the thought of being snow-bound so he wants to help keep them from being snowed in as well. Regardless of his motivation, like a good neighbor,my brother's there. Around this time last year, they got twenty inches of the powdery white stuff, and he spent five hours behind his blower. Onefor his driveway, four on the neighboring sidewalks and drives.

I'm guessingit's kind of fun, in a weird sort of way, or he wouldn't have braved the frozentundra temps to give such a gift. He puts himself in their ~~shoes~~ boots and layerson his orange reflective hunting clothes, then he fires up his 30" Craftsman and blazes the trail to move thefrozen flakes out of the way so that life can go on for his neighbors andfriends. And with an interesting twist, it seems Mark benefits as much from providing this severe-weather service as the recipients of his kindness do. It's not likely that we'll EVER get that kind of snow in Texas, but if wedo, I'd happily welcome a neighbor with empathy and a snowblower!

ALL Things!

2012-02-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

I totally LOVE this picture. There's just something SO serene about it. My brother took it a few years back at the parochial school where I spent my formative years, so that's probably part of it. I kind of miss winter now that I live in the south, that's another part. I've always loved softball, another draw. But the best part, to me, is the verse that's been weathered but is legible nonetheless. I can do all things . . .

How Are You Feeling?

2012-02-11T06:00:00.000-06:00

I really enjoy helping children get in touch with their feelings by identifying them and learning to manage them. This Today I Feel magnet from my friend Audrey hangs on my filing cabinet in my office. After a visit from Mrs. Quigley's class on Thursday, one little sprout gladly changed it to HAPPY for me!

An M&M Magnet Manipulative

Here's a song I wrote to help us with feelings identification; it's set to the tune of Old MacDonald:

My feelings are unique to me,

That's just the way I feel.

They change from day to day, you see.

They're mine and that's the deal.

Sometimes I'm happy, sometimes sad;

Sometimes scared and sometimes mad!

My feelings are unique to me,

That's just the way I feel.

I popped into a kinder class last week for an impromptu song session:

We use the feeling tiles that my daughter drew on my office ceiling to make connections to our experiences all. the. time!

Here are a few of our favorite books with a feelings focus:

How are YOU feeling today?

That Mower

2012-02-10T05:30:00.000-06:00

John asked me quite awhile ago if we could please, pLeAsE, PLEASE get a new lawnmower. It's not like I really care if he buys himself a new mower, but I do appreciate being part of big-dollar decisions. Then he got a small merit pay bonus, and he asked again. Both times I said, "Go for it!" and yet, he's still pushing that mower. I think it's because our daughter won it in an essay contest when she was a freshman in high school. The assignment was to write about how baseball or softball made you better (or something like that . . .); we were so proud of her Attitude - The Power Within essay. I recently came across the Fox 26 News Coverage clip; it's posted here so you can hear her tell about it.

Here's the essay she wrote:

Attitude– The Power Within

ByKaitlyn Gruener, age 14

Iam the pitcher on my junior varsity fastpitch softball team. My pitching coachgives me weekly tests. If I don’t pass the task, I retake it the next lessonuntil I master that skill. The Distractions Test was designed to see how well Icould block out distracting noises while on the pitching mound. My coach wouldtalk to me, sneeze, cough, jump up and down to distract me from throwing strikes.It took me 52 weeks, a whole year, to pass this task, longer than it had evertaken anyone else. I repeatedly failed week after week, until I finallyrealized something. I was going into the lessons saying, “There’s no way I’mgoing to pass.” My attitude toward the test was negative and pessimistic, and Ibelieved I couldn’t pass it. I had been limiting myself to failure. When Idecided to approach the test with the belief that I could achieve this goal, Ifinally passed. I know it sounds unbelievable, but I passed. Because of tellingmyself, “I can do it,” instead of, “I can’t,” I was able to overcome anobstacle that troubled me for a long time. An attitude does not just influencehow you do on tests. It helps you make decisions in everyday life. Playingsoftball has inspired me to keep a positive attitude toward life. If you setyour sights high, whatever you believe, you can achieve. With this funding, Icould help my team by eliminating the candy hop on the grass line of our field.I would obtain a better drainage system for our field, since our field stayswet weeks after it rains. I’d also buy new uniforms for our JV team, because wewear the old hand-me-downs from the varsity team.

My brother Mark commissioned a congratulatory billboard on I-45!!

It was a big deal, the Diamonds in the Rough essay contest, because as the Houston Regional Winner, Kaitlyn also won $5,000.00 cash for the softball field of her choice. She picked the high school fields - she was pitching for the junior varsity team at the time - and they purchased a big tarp to cover the fields when it rains. Plus they got the mower. Well, that lawn mower sat around in a box for most of the season and, when the team realized that the maintenance crew didn't really need a push mower, it was donated to our school auction and, you guessed it, John cast the winning bid and it came home with us.
It's been almost five years now, and, with spring just around the corner down here, he really needs a new one.

But there's just something so darn special about that mower.

When I Get Mad

2012-02-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

School counselors have the unique opportunity to help teach students how to process their feelings and how to manage them. One of my favorite tools to target mad feelings is the book Mouse was Mad by Linda Urban. Here's a slightly-edited version of a guest blog post I wrote for Books That Heal Kids.

From the moment you open this book, you get that the adorable little Mouse is clearly very angry, but you never really know why. I love that about this tale,because the author leaves it opened to possibilities. Start this read-aloud outby showing the cute illustrations of the Mad little Mouse on the inside of thefront cover and pose the question, "What do you think Mouse is SO madabout?" I think you'll be surprised at how your little listeners respond while you gain insight into what kinds of things make them mad. Be ready for somecrazy responses; I was shocked when one of my kiddos said, "Someone hasprobably called him an idiot again." Ouch!

But what's the best way to be mad? Bear stomps. Hare hops.Bobcat screams. And Hedgehog rolls himself into a sphere (yay for math integration!). But Mouse? When he attempts to take his friends' lead, he justcan't get it right, or so they say. His rage grows as he tries to ridhimself of his anger. When he finds the way that works best for him - gettingperfectly still - he discovers he might be pretty good at managing anger afterall.

Mouse's story is so incredibly cute and full of theentertaining playfulness that kids (and adults like me!) enjoy. Your studentsare likely to catch on quickly to the repetition as the enraged rodentattempts to mimic the bear by stomping or be like the bobcat and get it outwith a good scream. Students may even get a good laugh when he lands, over andover again, in a "mucky mud puddle." But that's not my favorite part.What grabbed me about this gem is the built in anger-management skills ourlittle learners can use long after the read-aloud is over.

Mad lasts until it's done, right? I used this book in smallgroup as a springboard for a "What-works-for-you?" discussion abouthow to get over being mad. How each friend advises Mouse that he manage hisanger makes for a wonderful discussion about what strategy might work best foreach student. In the end, Mouse gets still, breathes deeply, then craves abubble bath, so we talk about the calming effects of deep breathing and warmwater.

Activity:
I give each student a small bottle of dollar-store bubblesthat we blow as we practice taking deep breaths. The deeper and more controlledthe breath, the bigger the bubble, a simply way to perfect an effectiveanger-management strategy. You could also get some bubble wrap and encouragestudents to pop each bubble individually to help their "angries"disappear. Click here for some additional ideas and visit the ANGRIES Out website for more tools.

Finally, talk with your students about otheranger-management strategies they've tried. What works, how does it help, andwhy? Expect answers like exercise, talking it out, writing it down, punching apillow, taking a time-out, screaming. Validate these healthy choices for whenanger chooses them. Teach them how to take square breaths – breathe in deeply through your nose as you draw the first leg of a square with your pointer finger, hold it as youdraw the line across the square, exhale through your mouth completely as youdraw the 2^nd leg, then hold it as you complete the square. Do three of these in a row with your students and ask themto describe how their brains feel.

The kids LOVE it when I wear my crabby hat!

Put on your crabby hat if you have one and follow up with this little ditty using themusic from The Adamms' Family:

When I get mad (snap, snap),

When I get mad (snap, snap) -

Here's what I do, to get me through,

when I get mad (snap, snap).

I practice my square breathing,

I slowly count from one to ten.

I talk it out or exercise,

'til I am glad again!

As a writing extension, encourage students toinsert other ideas into the two "strategy" lines and write anotherverse.

NOTE: Wanna see what happens to the brain when you get mad? Click here for a HANDY explanation!

Making The World Smile

2012-02-08T06:30:00.000-06:00

Let's Talk Character! Don't miss my interview with author Jodi Moore (When A Dragon Moves In) at noon (CST) today! Can't listen live? Look for this widget on the sidebar; the radio is always on at the Corner.

And when I'm not blogging . . . What does Mrs. Gruener do? That was the question that our music teacher posed to these firsties so that she could play it at our Wednesday Warbles community gathering. What a gift! Their answers totally melted my heart; I've got the BEST job in the whole world.

My family celebrated Counseling Week with a bouquet of Character Cookies -- six more reasons to sMiLe!

For the record, these taste even yummier than they look!

It's my turn to share over at PreK and K Sharing today, so head that way next to see how I'm celebrating my favorite
Super Power - KiNdNeSs!

My Self-Esteem Shield

2012-02-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

I always find it interesting when parents tell me that their child needs some self-esteem; I have to stop myself from facetiously asking if they’d like the small bag or the large. Let me be clear – I can NOT give a child his or her self-esteem. And while self-esteem can’t come from me, per se, there certainly are strategies that I can use to help a child excavate the things that make him or her shine. Her spark. His passion. The things that make him or her special and unique.

I discoveredthe book I Believe In You by Marianne Richmond last fall and received itas a gift from my Mother-in-Law this past Christmas. I can’t count how manytimes I’ve used it already and I’ll tell you that there’s power in letting students talk about what they’re afraid of, what they’re proud of, what they’reworried about, what they’re good at, and who believes in them. Use this gem as a springboard for ahealthy discussion with your students about who they are. I start with the front cover: What do you notice about the child and his caregiver? What’s she teaching? What’s he learning? How do they feel? Trust me on this one; you’ll come backto it on the last page and they’ll be excited to make an observation and aconnection. How are the pictures different? Why?

This book makes my job so much easier 'cause it addresses a little bit of everything - attitude and actions, feelings andfriendships, choices and character. I love the page where the girl makes a mistake and is hiding behind thecouch. Did she know what she didwas wrong? How can you tell? Such delicious food for thought!

We like this one, too, by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. It's called Incredible You! 10 ways to let your GREATNESS shine through. Since it has more words, you might find it more suitable for your older elementary-aged students.

When you've finished reading either one (or both) of these books aloud and discussing the different pages, let your students create a shield that shows what makes them special.

Here's my Special Shield - click the graphic for a template to make yours.

Follow it up with this self-esteem Sesame Street Clip that my kids LoVE:

What are some of the books and activities youuse to help promote healthy self-esteem?

Helping Kids Shine

2012-02-06T06:30:00.000-06:00

Happy National School Counseling Week. Have you hugged your school counselor today? Do you have anything special planned for him or her? Last year, Natalie Hoskins' class made this poster for me and invited me to be the Star of the Week; what a gift that was! They also asked my sister to write an essay telling them about me when I was their age.

Here's the All-About-Me poster that's in my office now. Thanks, Natalie!

We have an amazing opportunity as school counselors to help kids make healthy choices and support them as they learn how to communicate and connect in appropriate ways. At Westwood-Bales, we'll be focusing on something else that counselors enJOY doing:

Helping our kids shine by helping others!
Each day we're spotlighting one need in the the community to give our school families the opportunity to help out.

Click here to see whom we'll be helping this week.

Since counselors serve as a support and resource for the faculty and staff as well, I'm holding a drawing for gift cards, fuzzy socks, and books each day. We're also playing a guess-how-many-legos game from an idea I saw at Tabitha's School Counselor Scrapbook blog. Go ahead, play along; just how many legos ARE there?

Leave your guess in the reflections below!

I asked our students what legos and counselors have in common, and one of my third graders wrote this: The legos fill the jar just like counselors fill buckets. Yep, it promises to be a FUNderful week.

I'm going to gear my daily posts all week toward the kinds of things a school counselor can help with, like navigating friendships and managing feelings. Today my guest post at the Teacher's Lounge is all about
Friends That Fit; click here to go there.

Got this t-shirt from my husband last year for School Counseling Week!

Oh, and you simply MUST check out the resources at Marissa's blog over at Elementary School Counseling. AmAzinG!!

The Muffin Man

2012-02-05T06:00:00.000-06:00

So my sister called from Wisconsin last week, all excited to tell me this story, but she had to leave a voice mail because I was in session when the phone rang. Her message enthusiastically explained that she'd read this article in the paper and was cutting it out and sending it to me because, "it has Barbara written all over it!" She went on to tell me how this guy had come to Madison and was giving away free muffins to people in exchange for their good deeds. You shovel a neighbor's driveway, for example, you get a muffin. Taking a hot beverage to someone would get you a muffin. Picking up trash that isn't yours? Muffin. I got the article in the mail just yesterday;

do you see that it's signed?

Click on the article to read the online account of this delicious Pay-It-Forward project.

That's cause it turns out that my sister was out running errands on the very afternoon that she'd come across that article and, sure enough, guess whom she ran into? Yep, the Muffin Man. She went up to him, of course, and before he could get a word in, she said, "I know who you are," to which he answered in amazement, "you do?" She explained that she'd cut out the article and had it in her car to send to me; she somehow talked him into signing it for me because she was just sure that I'd be wanting to either blog about this or do something like this at my school. His message? Be The Change!

Then, in true Debra fashion, she asked him what he needed to keep his business going, and she went into the store and got him some gluten-free flour, in exchange for . . . you guessed it . . . a muffin. She wasn't even planning to take one, but he talked her into the Pear-Fig muffin and, for the record, she said that it was quite tasty.

I'm not really that big into rewarding people for their good deeds, but today I'm wondering: How might a trade like this work at your school or in your community? What might the reaction be? What might the outcome be? How might things change?

*************

NOTE: Today’s story is just begging for somesort of recipe ex-CHANGE, so here’s my
Peach Muffin recipe:

1½ cups flour

½tsp. baking soda

½tsp. baking powder

½tsp. salt

1cup sugar (scant)

Combinein large bowl and make a well in the center. Add:

2eggs, beaten

½cup vegetable or canola oil

Stirin these ingredients:

1½ coarsely chopped peaches (we use fresh peaches!)

½tsp vanilla

¼tsp. almond extract

½cup chopped almonds or pecans (optional)

Greasemuffin tins and pour batter in to fill. Sprinkle muffin batter lightly with sugar before baking for a bakery-topcrust. Makes 12 small muffins or 6 large muffins. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. YuM!

Character Pledge

2012-02-04T05:42:00.000-06:00

This is what I woke up to the second time I got up this morning. HeAvEnLy! The first time was @ 5:00 because Joshua had to get up for the Galveston County Science Fair; then I stayed up until 6:30 to get Jacob out the door for his German Festival Competition in Houston. I wasn't sure I'd fall back asleep, but I did, until 8:30 when it started to downpour this beautiful, healing rain. What a SwEeT sound!

Now to the business of school and character. Every morning after we take our moment ofsilence, this is what we say:

I will make good choices today. I willrespect myself, my teachers, and others, and give my best effort in all I do.

It's what we call our Character Pledge. It'sour promise to ourselves and to each other. It sets us up for success. Andwhen we falter, we come back to it and reflect on the words and talk about how we could improve. And we make a plan for how to be better. We've been saying this pledge for the past seven years. Every day. Do you have a Character Pledge at your school?

Vince Lombardi of Green Bay Packers fame has a little book about being #1 in which it talks about giving your best effort. Not necessarily having to be THE best, but doing YOUR personal best. Every day. Click here to see and hear what this legendary coach had to say about character and success.

As I wrap up my character-infusion idea extravaganza and gear up for National School Counseling Week, I'm curious: What are your best practices for preparing tomorrow's leaders to become
'value-able' and productive citizens?

How are YOU a gift to your school?

Thanks for positively influencing our future and teaching our kids that they are a gift that makes

the world a better place.

Paying It Forward can create a domino effect and make the world better!

Character Cubes

2012-02-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

*Today's freebie, to honor Pam's memory (The Vintage Teacher blog), was created with help from my husband John!

Wanna see how well your students understand the values that you've adopted for your character building? Here's a six-sided character cube that perfectly complements our Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility,

Fairness, Caring, Citizenship.

Click here for the template that you can print on card stock. Ask your students to illustrate each character trait and color before cutting out, folding and fastening the tabs with glue or tape to make a cube. Use it during those five minutes at the end of class or at a work station to integrate character; students can roll the cube and talk about either what's happening in the picture or discuss an experience they've had with that particular pillar.

What other ways could you use this character cube?

Three more bulletin board ideas:

Our future looks bright with cool character kids leading the way!

Shine on!

How do you create a caring community?

When Character's Contagious

2012-02-02T06:00:00.001-06:00

Today's post in my character series has to do with your building's character climate. What's hanging on the walls in your school? The poster I saw in one of our classrooms that reads - Your Attitude Is Contagious; Is Yours Worth Catching? – got me to thinking; could I swap the word character with attitude, I wondered. That sparked the idea for this bulletin board:

YAY - click the picture to see this design featured at Bulletin Board Ideas!

But doesn’t the word contagious have a negative connotation? If I say you have an infectious smile, for example, is that a good thing? Isn’t an infection something we work hard to avoid? If I said that you’ve got Character Fever, would you have to stay home until the fever broke?

Silliness aside, character is something that's just as effectively caught as taught. Leading by example is a powerful thing as evidenced when we’re taking our daily moment of silence. If I’m silent with my head bowed and my hands folded, all those little eyes watching me instantly take that stance to observe that moment with me. I don’t have to shush them to quiet them, I just have to get quiet myself.

Knitting is contagious, too. When our younger students see the third graders knitting for service, they set a goal to be in the Knit Club when they get to third because their role models are doing it. Who wouldn't want to make these cute caps?

Knit One, Save One - Third graders knit to help Save The Children!

The Go Green movement is also catchy and spreading like wild fire. When we throw our recyclables into a blue recycle bin instead of the trashcan, our little conservationists are more likely to do so as well. What we encourage, we teach. How do our little ones best learn how and when to use manners? Is it by hounding them to say “please” and “thank you” or simply by modeling those manners ourselves?

What about the simplicity of a smile? You’ve undoubtedly heard the adage, “If you see someone without a smile, give them yours.” How quickly do smiles spread? Try it and see. And since kindness begets kindness, add a kind word and you've got the power to transform! Seal the deal with an act of service and you've got synergetic movement in the right direction down character road.

Do you have a culture that's positively contagious in your classroom? At your school? In your home? In your community? If so, keep paying it forward. If not, what will you do to get a character outbreak sweeping through
your world?

We made our Character Cameras from a Bag Lady template.

Bonus activity: Send your little photographers into the school with their Character Cameras to catch kids making good choices and capture their smiles. On the lined or white paper inside
their little camera journals, students can write about or draw what they see through the lens of their character cam. Smile!

Character Carnations

2012-02-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

What's blooming in your character building? When Kaitlyn was in elementary school, she made me this bouquet and it's still one of my FaVoRiTe gifts! She made hers for me on Mothers' Day, but it would also be a perfect fit for Valentine's Day.

Click here for the template. Brainstorm and list character or value words that describe your students' role models or heroes. Let students select and write their words inside the flowers, color the flowers, cut around them, and tie them up with tissue paper and ribbon. Attach a nice note and, voila - a bouquet of Character Carnations. How would you use these flowers to celebrate with your little buds?

Another way you could use them is Career Carnations. Ask your students to pick a career. Say your student wants to be an architect. What will she need to reach that goal? Have her do a little research, then fill in the flowers with the qualities and traits (and maybe even the steps?) that'll help get her to that career destination.

Here's a bonus bulletin board idea to get you ready for your Career Day. I loved this one because I used Joshua's first fishing pole to give it a 3-D look. That, and he actually asked me to take the first career I put on the hook (accountant) off and put a more-desirable career (musician) on. He said, "mom, really, an accountant?" Such a subjective thing, careers.

Catch a career you'll get hooked on!

Our Character Corral

2012-01-31T05:00:00.000-06:00

TheCharacter Corral, three glass window panels that became a wall and were just begging to be painted, was crafted for us by local Muralist Kathy Hammond. We asked for six horses in apasture branded with the letters T R R F C C to represent the SixPillars of Character.

What we got was this cool 3D-looking corral where the pillars arealso elegantly etched into the fence posts. We also got to watch her create theentire thing as she worked during two school days! (Can you imagine only two days from start to finish on something this spectacular?) Just yesterday one of our preK sprouts asked why the horses had letters in stars on them.

Kathy also painted the six pillars that line the walkway into our school with a faux-marble look and six pillar words subtly etched in them. Unfortunately they have to come down thisweek as we remodel this area to get a more secure entrance.

All aboard the Kid With Character express!

Anotherway that we made character come alive when we first started out was a campaignthat we called Kids With Character. Every month, each teacher would select thestudent who was doing the best job of putting character into action. We’d give them a KWC award and take their pictures so that they could be publicly affirmed. Local businesses would partner with usto congratulate and honor them. We switched the name to the Character Honor Roll twoyears into the program, then eventually phased it out as we moved away fromextrinsic toward intrinsic motivation.

At that same time, we held an essay contest to let our third graders name our hallways. Here's an example of the street signs we had made from the winning entries that now hang in the hallways:

Some of the other names include Respect Route, Trustworthiness Trail, Caring Cul-De-Sac, Pillar Parkway, Acceptance Avenue, Helpful Highway, Character Court, Friendship Forest, Responsibility Road.

How have you made character visible at your school?

Character Cards

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

You may have read on my profile that I'm the school counselor at a Character Education Partnership State and National School of Character; as an NSOC, we're asked to do outreach and help other schools integrate character education into the fabric of their schools so that it becomes a way of life rather than just another add-on. So all week long, I'm sharing fun infusion ideas along with some bonus bulletin board designs
for your character building.

I'll start with the Character Cards I've been making to give away as door prizes for my February speaking gigs. First I typed up 54 challenges, questions and dilemmas onto Avery labels - ie. A stakeholder is someone who cares about and could be affected by your choices; who are the stakeholders in your decisions? - then I trimmed them slightly to fit the cards before affixing them. I gave a deck to one of our first-grade teachers and she uses them as Morning Meeting discussion starters. They could also be used as essay prompts.

You could put them in a center or work station and have kids discuss and/or act out the scenarios. At home, we incorporate them in our card games as a family; when we're playing War, for example, we'd discuss the winning card between having a battle and resuming play. So much potential . . . here are a few of the prompts:

*If your neighbor isn't taking good care of her dog, what should you do?
*What can you do for someone if he's sad?
*If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be?
*Is it fair to punish the whole class for the misbehavior of a few kids? Why or why not?
*How would it feel to be the new kid in class? What would you need?

How would you use Character Cards? Be one of the first three to reflect on that question below and I'll send you a digital file of 60 prompts that you can choose from to make a deck for your class. I wonder what your students would write if they could help you make the deck.

This type of Character Card allows students and faculty to catch one another showing good character.

These cards are displayed on a bulletin board like this:

This farmer's daughter is LOVIN' the Holstein Cow motif!

Here's another visual from our character building
to show that we're hooked!

Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Citizenship - That's TRRFCC character!

Time In A Bottle

2012-01-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

We spent some time spring cleaning in the yard yesterday, and look who we found in our "have a heart" live trap last night:

No, really, buddy, you're going to LOVE your new home!

We relocated him AND his friend to a park down the road, which will be a lot nicer than under our deck! I decided to change up my blog design, too. What do you think about the new look?

One of my favorite songs as a young girl was Time In A Bottle by Jim Croche. I found it so hauntingly reflective, "If I could save time in a bottle . . . " Do you remember that song? The words "If I could make days last forever. . . " made his chart-topper SO much more poignant when he died at the age of 30.

"If I had a box just for wishes . . . "

So I recently got this cool hour glass (which is more of a half-hour glass cause it actually measures about 30 minutes) and it's quite a talking point in my office, probably 'cause it's new. In any event, I showed it to my students this week and told them that this is approximately as much time as we had to spend together. I posed the question of my older learners, "What if this were all the time that you had left?" Most of them said they'd spend it with family and friends. One said he'd spend it playing video games (I worry about that one!). One of them said she'd go to a hospital because if she were going to die, it'd be best that she be at the hospital. Then there's the boy who said he'd stay in my office and just keep turning the half-hour glass over again so it couldn't run out, to extend his time. I just love looking at life through the eyes of our future!

The refrain in Jim Croche's beautiful ballad goes like this: But there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them. We have 86,400 seconds each day; what are you doing with your time today?

Speed Pacer

2012-01-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

We were both running a little late Monday afternoon, so I was speed walking with our Assistant Principal down the sidewalk to the other campus when he noticed that I was moving in that direction fairly quickly - mostly because I do NOT like to be late! That's when he said that he had the perfect job for me (as if I don't ALREADY have the perfect job!). He'd just completed his 100K road race . . . yep, 62.something miles . . . that took 20 something hours. He said that trail runners really appreciate the help from the race pacers, and that he thinks I'd be really good at that. Being a pacer. He said you basically have to walk fast alongside and pace the fatigued road warriors while you say positive things to them. Encourage them. Lift them up, with words. And keep them on track, moving forward, in the right direction, every step a bit closer to their finish line.

Speed walk and say positive things? That's it? I could do that, I thought for a split second. It's not like I rushed right out and signed up for that pacer position, mind you, but I think that somewhere down the road that could be a good fit for me. Mr. Whitlock shared these reflections about that endurance trail run in our school newsletter:

I can't explain what makes me enter these ridiculous events, but I can say that the physical and mental challenge, which is poured into each forward movement, provides such an incredible sense of accomplishment when the finish line is reached. On a recent trail run in Bandera, a course known for technical climbs, steep grades, and loose rock, I got a parenting lesson in a trail-runner way. As a small pack of runners descended through the hill country on a single-track trail, most had acute focus on the next step, with attention to landing in the same footsteps of the trail shoes in front. Our line came to a halt as one of the lead runners recognized we had veered off course.

After a brief period of recalculation, we found our trail again and continued down a nasty rocky slope. Without many words exchanged, I was struck with a parenting notion that will last me for a lifetime. I wonder if my children are observing my footsteps and following in my direction? I wonder how my actions will transfer to them when they become adults. Am I leading them down the correct trail? I had over 20 hours to ponder this parenting metaphor. Thoughts of how small eyes are watching challenged me every bit as much as the course did. My concluding thoughts were that if I model living life rushed, they might not understand slowing down. If I am sharp with my words, they may have trouble dealing with conflict appropriately. If I value and model being on time, they may respect punctuality. If I demonstrate volunteering, my footsteps may be followed by two tender girls who understand service. If I show hospitality to the poor . . . ok, you get the point. . . .

These Ironmen run for twenty hours. Straight. Without a break, except to eat and take care of other bodily demands. Yep, I'd definitely consider becoming a pacer to help them reach their goal.

And then I got this sweet surprise from Shawna at The Picture Book Teacher's Edition - she gave me this AdOrAbLe award! If you haven't been by her blog, do yourself a favor and check it out. She's an expert at picking out, reviewing, and enriching the best picture books! This award got me to thinking that being a follower is kind of like being a run pacer . . . encourage and uplift fellow bloggers as you ~~speedwalk~~ ~~jog run~~ sprint with them down the trail. Thanks, Shawna, for letting me know that you appreciate my visits! The part where I pass the award along is tricky because I have a such a nice support group of friends who stop by the Corner with kind words of affirmation.

Kim from Finding Joy in 6th is someone who also scouts for me and sends me resources that she thinks would fit. So Kim, tag, you're it, the recipient of this cute award. Thanks for sprinkling JOY around our cyberspace universe and being a pacer for me. Sing it with me now: Go Speed Pacer, Go Speed Pacer, Go Speed Pacer Go-oh!

Proceed With Passion!

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

Bulletin boards can be SO much fun to create when I've got some inspiration. I came across this Progress Roadmap recently from imom.com . . .

Thanks, Madison, for permission to post!

that sparked this:

Ps On Down The Road with planning, preparation, practice and performance!

On the road, I put these questions: Whatis my spark? Whatis my dream? Howcan I reach my goal? Whatdo I need to do? Whocan help me? Whomcan I talk to? Whatelse do I need to know? Wherecould I learn more? Howhard am I working? Success! I did it! I reached my goal!
For those of you who don't know about imom.com, it's a division of Family First and an amazing resource for your parenting journey.

That's Embarrassing!

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite Sesame Street characters of all time is Elmo; there's just something SO cute and cuddly about that little red rascal! So you can imagine my delight when I found this feelings clip of Elmo helping Seth Rogen explain the word embarrassed. This is actually a really difficult word for our little learners to understand, appreciate and express, so I'm lovin' the help. That, and how could you NOT love a clip with a subliminal cheese-head reference!

Teens For Jeans and a Winner!

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

Click here to buy a signed copy!

I wish I could give Maria Dismondy's adorable new book to every one of my readers because I appreciate all of you, but alas, I had to fire up the Gruener Generator and my son selected Catherine from the stack of entries in our giveaway. Congrats, Catherine - you have a tiara cookie cutter and an autographed copy of Pink Tiara Cookies For Three coming your way from Maria! Click here for the cookie recipe.

If you want to get a jumpstart on some spring cleaning and show kindness in a practical way, partner with Aeropostale, P.S. and Do Something.org to recycle your gently-worn jeans in their Teens For Jeans project. Drop your used jeans (any brand) off at any Aeropostale or P.S. store between now and February 12; they'll donate them to the homeless teens in America.
Click the graphic for more details.

A Dragon Tale

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

Click on the image to read the book online!

Happy Year of the Dragon! I'm told that Dragon + Water = Bounty, so I'm celebrating the Chinese New Year with JodiMoore’s award-winning When a Dragon Moves In, a whimsical sizzler about the antics of adragon who moves into the sandcastle of one lucky little lad. While his family goes about their beachbusiness, the boy and his dragon share all sorts of adventuresome fun roamingaround and roastin’ marshmallows, busting bullies and braving the waves. Despitehis insistence of the dragon’s existence, though, this creatively clever kid cannotconvince his family that his dragon is real. Dragons are willing to take risks and driven; the boy is playful and seemingly unafraid of challenges . . . sounds like a double-bubble thinking map would fit perfectly here.

Andwhen mischief starts to happen, the boy decides to send his dragon packing “untilhe learns some manners.” That’s myfavorite part because it’s the perfect segue into a character chat with mystudents. What should a dragon’smanners look like, sound like, feel like at the beach? At home At school? Inthe community? Who will teach himthose manners? How will the boyknow that the dragon has learned his new skill set? Then will the dragon be back?

Theeye-poppingly expressive illustrations by Howard McWilliam bring the text tolife in a such a magical way that I actually wanted to believe the boy! You can also use this gem as aspringboard for a discussion about real versus pretend. Find out if your listeners think thatthe dragon really exists. Why orwhy not? If they ascertain thatthe dragon is imaginary, then ask them if the little boy is being dishonest. What, if anything, is the difference betweenpretending and lying.

Afterreading this dragon tale aloud, warm up with your students' favorite sun andsand adventures aloud, prompting them to use as many sparkle words as they can. Then, fire up those imaginations by encouragingthem to mesh fantasy with fact as they script a summertime story of theirown.

On a personal note, I am so blessed to have met this author online and become friends with her. She's an expert bucket filler whose words can make me laugh and cry (all at once in one of her notes!) and I'm eagerly awaiting her next release!

Mapping Our Thoughts

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

I'm thinking about Thinking Maps today because of a post I saw yesterday at Made In The Shade In Second Grade. Lisa and Beth made these AmAzInG behavior management maps for their readers and, when I couldn't get them to download from TpT, they sent them to me digitally by email to share with my staff. How SWEET is that?
Visit them at the link above to download yours today.

Our GT coordinator conducted an inservice on Thinking Maps before school started (another reason these new ones are going to excite my staff!), so I've seen a lot of them surface this year. Laura, one of our newest second-grade team teachers, posted this double-bubble that she found
on First Grade Blue Skies and did right before the holidays to compare Santa with an Elf.

Melanie in first and Deanna in third used a similar map with their cross-aged Book Buddies. The difference here is the bubble in the middle so that a third trait connects the two:

Here are a few more examples from the third-grade hall.

The cool thing is that these aren't cookie-cutter products; each one is different and unique. Students benefit from the engagement, ownership, and higher-level thinking skills required to adequately think through and complete the maps. I can't wait to see how the behavior ones promote self-regulation and ultimately change classroom climate!

The Exchange

2012-01-22T10:25:00.002-06:00

I’mpretty sure we were in junior high, between our seventh and eighth grade years,when we heard about The Exchange. It was through 4-H, I do knowthat for sure, but the other details are sketchy now, three, almost four decadeslater. It’s hard to remember for sure if just anyone could apply or if it’sbecause I’d been selected Brown County Holstein girl (quit laughing!), but I was given thechance to spend a week on anotherfamily’s farm in exchange for letting their daughter do the same. Simple, right? But kind of scary, too,because we were essentially trusting the powers-that-be to match us withsomeone with whom we possibly only had farmer’s daughter in common. And it was ultimately a HUGE out-of-the-box opportunity because farm girls like usdidn’t really have many activities outside of our farm.

Wegot her name in the mail by US post – Marcia – and we got an address. She lived in Durand, five hours from us acrossthe state of Wisconsin. We startedwriting letters right away; I vividly remember her pretty script handwriting. Our moms only made one phone call to set things up as thiswas during a time when long distance calling was pretty much reserved foremergencies. Just one call, and it was set. Marciawould come to our place first.

At this point you may be wondering how long shestayed and I kind of am, too. Wasit a weekend? Four days? I’mthinking a week but it’s been so long that I can’t vouch for the accuracy of mymemory. I am certain that I likedMarcia right away. She had the beautiful long hair that I’d always wanted andwas just SO pretty to me. She had a voice to match and was an amazing singer.She sewed proficiently and rode horses competitively and pretty much hadeverything a girl like me ever dreamed about. And – get this! – She. Was. SO.Nice! She had this gentle voice, contagious smile, and childlike laugh thatendeared her to us from the get go. We spent some of my favorite days during the Exchange on our farm and Icouldn’t WAIT for my turn to meet her family and spend time on hers!

Partof the excitement, of course, was that I really hadn’t ever gone anywhere bymyself, so this was a first for me, but the bigger piece was getting to spendmore time with Marcia and see where this new friend came from. It was aL.O.N.G. five hours, but it was well worth the wait. I got to tour the farm,which was smaller and somehow more “old-fashioned” than ours, meet her family,go for a horseback ride and hang out. We were able to pick up where we’d leftoff and spend an incredible week together before our time together had run out. The powers-that-be had done ~~a really good~~ an outstanding job; the Exchange was over, but not our friendship.

Webecame pen pals and stayed in touch with letters and pictures (we both LOVEDphotography!) over the years, less frequently, of course, as time went by, but we still communicated with one another through our high school and collegedays. We've only gotten to actuallysee each other twice since then. Oncewas during a family trip out west when I was in high school that we stopped bytheir place to say hello. The other was at Marcia's fairytale wedding. We werealmost finished with college when she married Jim. It was a perfect day tocelebrate their love. I cried when she sang to him at the reception. If I getreally quiet, I can still hear her rendition of Anne Murray’s beautifulballad: Could I have this dancefor the rest of my life; would you be my partner every night?

It’sall so fresh in my heart this morning because I got a letter in the mail fromWestern Wisconsin just yesterday. It was from Marcia. We typically touch baseonce a year and today’s update told about their daughter’s fairytale wedding and their son’s engagement. Hernews also included details about her 50^th birthday party and ended with aparagraph about how blessed she is to be married to Jim, her dancepartner. She still has suchbeautiful handwriting!

It’sbeen almost forty years since The Exchange and at least 30 since I’ve seenMarcia, but I could still hear her smile through her words on the page. I’m hopeful that one day our paths willcross again. Our son is actually participating in an Exchange Programsoon. We’ll host a student fromGermany in April and Jacob will travel to their home near Berlin in June. It’lldiffer quite a bit from our 4-H Exchange, I imagine, but I do hope that he’s asblessed by his Exchange as I’ve been by mine.

Tickled Pink About Kindness Giveaway

2012-01-21T03:48:00.001-06:00

After great success with her books Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun and The Juice Box Bully, author Maria Dismondy has done it again! This month, we celebrate her latest gem - Pink Tiara Cookies For Three - a story about how Sami and Stella learn to successfully navigate through the rocky waters of a triangle friendship. Maria has been traveling the teaching-blog circuit on her Pink Tiara Book Blog Tour, and today, I'm privileged to share a guest post on kindness by this amazing teacher, mom, writer, and friend. Tomorrow she'll be in CA visiting my friend Kim at Finding JOY in 6th Grade, so visit her there as well!

I am happy to be a guest blogger today! I love what Barbara stands for and writes about on this blog. I believe in the theory behind the Pay it Forward movement. I think if we want a better world, we can start by doing something ourselves, instead of wishing and hoping others will make the difference. On the other hand, I believe that by doing good deeds, you can influence kindness in others as well. Let’s focus on children, especially since they are our future! Whether you are a parent, grandparent or teacher, or you play any other role connecting with children, you are in a great place to implement these five simple steps to encouraging kindness.

1. Do unto others. One way to teach children to be kind is by modeling it. When children see us treating others with dignity and respect, they see that our actions match our words. It’s one thing to just tell kids to be good to others, but to show them how it’s done, that’s a lesson that will stick!

2. Making spirits bright. There doesn’t have to be a reason to do something nice for someone else. Think about all the people in your life that could use some sunshine in their day. Make cookies for your mail carrier or create homemade cards and artwork for the elderly. Make up a fun activity that you and your child can do together that will brighten someone’s day.

3. Volunteer. Volunteer with children. A few ideas such as donating old toys to the local thrift store, using their own money to buy food for a local food bank, participating in a fundraiser for people in need, joining others in a fun walk or run that raises money for a good cause or working at a local soup kitchen will help teach children that it is far better to give than it is to receive.

4. Teach Responsibility. One study out of the University of Minnesota showed that children who did housework had better feelings of responsibility and self-worth years later. And children who feel good about themselves are more respectful to others. (via Parenting.com)

• Toddlers can: put away their toys, get dressed and undressed, put their dirty clothes in a hamper and help out by getting their own snacks (make up a snack drawer they can easily access).

• Preschoolers can: help prepare dinner, clean up their dish from the dinner table, and help with easier chores.

• Elementary aged kids can: take out the garbage, sweep, and make their beds.

5. Read. I think the best way to teach your children a character trait is to first model that trait. The second best way is through children’s literature because someone else is modeling the trait or lesson you want to teach! Here are some of my favorite books that illustrate kindness:

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Heartprints by PK Hallinan

Spaghetti In A Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy (that’s me!)

Kindness Is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler by Margery Cuyler and Sachiko Yoshikawa

The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson and Fumi Kosaka

Thanks, Maria! Click here to purchase an autographed copy of the book from Maria's website and HERE to watch a video trailer of this treasure.

But wait, there's more: Maria is giving away an autographed copy and a tiara cookie cutter! How cool is that? Each of the following three things will give you one entry:
1. Leave a comment sharing your favorite friendship book.
2. Tweet about the giveaway and let us know you did.
3. Blog about the giveaway and share the link.
The Gruener Generator will randomly select the winner on Tuesday, January 24th, at 5 pm central.
Good luck!

This giveaway is now closed - congratulations Catherine, your name was chosen and you've got a book coming!

A FINtastic Friday

2012-01-20T06:00:00.002-06:00

If you haven't seen this amazing rescue clip, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to the FINtastic footage. It was a year ago Valentine's Day when these people helped save this young whale from its near-death fishing-net entanglement.

The happy dance it does once freed seems to say,

"Thanks for a job WHALE done!"

What's For Dinner Tonight?

2012-01-19T06:00:00.016-06:00

One of our wedding gifts some twenty years ago was a Crate & Barrel deep-dish pizza pan set; our family's FAVORITE dinner has been my homemade stuffed deep dish pizza ever since. I used my time home on Monday to set the dough and make this creation; what's for dinner at your place tonight?

This is our Pepperoni/Canadian Bacon combo stuffed pizza!

Stuffed Deep Dish Pizza

1 T. sugar

1 cup warm water

2 ¼ tsp. dry yeast (1 packet)

Dissolve sugar in glass bowl with warm water. Sprinkle yeast over top of warm sugar water and stir in. Let sit until bubbly.

Take 2 cans of diced tomatoes and season as desired (some come already seasoned – I add basil and oregano. Garlic makes it tasty, too.) Set aside to marinate, then use for topping. The longer the tomatoes sit, the more flavorful they are.

In a large mixing bowl add together:

3 cups flour

1 T. sugar

1 t. salt

¼ cup olive oil

yeast mixture (once it’s activated)

Mix with mixing blade, then use kneading hook – or mix together until blended and pull out of bowl to knead by hand. This is enough dough for a double-crusted pizza. It needs to rise for at least 2 hours. I put it into a bowl lightly coated with olive oil and covered with a towel to rise. You can punch it down up to 2 times. (I usually just let it rise once then I’m ready to use it)

When it’s risen and you’re ready, use 2/3 of the dough for the bottom crust and reserve 1/3 for the top crust.

Preheat oven to 475 degrees and position one rack low to the bottom and one close to the top.

Roll out the dough on a floured surface to fit your deep-dish pizza pan’s bottom and come up the sides. Leave a little over the edge so you can pinch the bottom-crust dough together with the top crust.

Fill it with whatever ingredients you want – I use Canadian Bacon, Pepperoni, and LOTS of mozzarella cheese (Call me a cheesehead; I use a 2 lb. bag!). I put a layer of cheese, then the meats or other ingredients, then more cheese. It’s good, too, with sausage or green peppers and olives, even pineapple!

Then roll out the remaining 1/3 dough to fit the pan. Lay it right over the top of the ingredients and pinch it together with the sides from the bottom crust (kind of like you do for a fruit pie).

Put a slit in the top crust middle to release the heat. I usually rub the top crust with olive oil before baking. Bake without tomatoes on top the first 20 minutes as follows:

Bake 10 minutes on the bottom rack, then move it to the top rack and bake 10 more minutes.

Pull it out and put the seasoned tomato bits on top, then bake for 10 more minutes until nicely browned edges appear on the crust. Top with parmesan cheese as desired. EnJOY!

Other Duties As Assigned

2012-01-18T06:00:00.002-06:00

I just love car rider duty in the morning. It's like counseling on the curb in a way, because I get to check in with the kids and get a quick read their emotional barometer as they get out of the car and launch into the day with us. I also get a glimpse into their lives just by my brief interaction with whomever is dropping them off. Sometimes it's the grandparent with whom they live and I have a new appreciation for both the child and the guardian. And I get a few surprises, too. Sometimes there's a dog in the car; my favorite is that big fluffy Sebastian who rides along because he just lost his brother and he's lonely. Talk about a LOVEY! And sometimes I just get the biggest kick out of my exchanges, however brief, with those PrEcIoUs children. Like on Friday, when I opened the door for twin kindergarten sisters. I said, "Well, this must be my lucky day to get to open your car door," to which one of the girls confidently chided, "Why, yes, it is!" YAY for healthy self-esteem; oh to be in K again! How much better could my other duties as assigned be?

Looks like the counselor was in charge again!

Well, this one was pretty good, too. Last week, I was the acting administrator (BIG focus on the word acting!), so I got to decide on and post the message on the marquee. What would you say to passersby if you were in charge?

Skin-Tone Matters

2012-01-17T06:00:00.078-06:00

I'm thankful today to Angela Griffin, a former first-grade teacher at our school, for this engaging diversity lesson that she created after one of her firsties was asking questions and trying to understand just what skin color is all about. (We miss you, Angela!!)

PURPOSE:

• Learners will discover the unique differences among skin tones and will recognize that differences are found in each of us and that those differences make us special.

• Learners will use adjectives and imagery to create names for their individual skin tone.

MATERIALS:
• The Colors of Us by Karen Katz
• Crayola Multicultural paint set
• Paintbrushes
• Plate (for mixing paint)
• Posterboard/Construction paper
• Markers
• Writing Paper

PROCEDURE:

1. Read The Colors of Us by Karen Katz.
2. Discuss the vivid adjectives used to describe the characters' skin tones. Discuss the varying nuances of each skin color revealing that no two skin colors are alike, and that each are beautiful and unique.
3. Call each student to the front, one-by-one, to reveal their own special skin color. To do this, make a palette of the Crayola multicultural paints on a plate. The names of the paint shades include: bronze, peach, taupe, etc. For each student, create a distinctive assortment of the paints that match their skin tone. You can match the paint directly onto the top of their hands.
4. Once an exact match has been created, place a small spot of paint on the poster board or construction paper. Write the child's name above the sample.
5. Together, create a name that describes what that child's color is. For example, creamy peanut butter, cotton candy, double fudge, honey, pumpkin pie, etc. Write the name underneath the color sample.
6. When every student has created their unique color and color name and it is presented on the poster, your finished product is a collection of both fascinatingly-diverse skin tones and brilliant names to describe them.
CLOSURE:
• End your lesson with a discussion of student discoveries. Discuss the differences in each of the skin tones and reflect on how everyone is different, but shares a common thread of beautiful appearances.
EXTENSION:
Allow students to write sentences describing their own unique skin tone. Include painted illustrations. Put them together for a class book or onto a class bulletin board.

Standing Up By Sitting Down

2012-01-16T06:00:00.002-06:00

Happy MLK, Jr. Day. In Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up By Sitting Down, Andrea Davis Pinkney's portrayal of the Greensboro Four of the 1960s, they sit at a counter waiting to be served. Peaceful and polite, the four friends weren't breaking any laws. In fact, they even used manners when they ordered their coffee and donuts with "cream on the side" at that Whites-Only restaurant. Segregation laws not only kept them from being served, but also resulted in them being ignored. Sit-ins were significant to the Civil Rights Movement, and many of them resulted in cruel, violent acts. But not this one. These four boys remembered Dr. King's message: We must meet violence with non-violence.

The ten-step "recipe for integration," a Civil Rights Timeline, a photograph of the Greensboro Four in Woolworth's, a more in-depth look at the incident and times, and book and website resource recommendations at the book's end serve as a bonus for our 21st century learners, who might have difficulty understanding and/or relating to the injustice of segregation.

Have you ever staged a sit-in? My son Jacob led one while he was in his Social Studies class during sixth grade. It was empowering. Not only did he feel listened to, but he also felt heard. I distinctly remember him coming home that day, certain that he'd convinced the Principal to make the changes that he and his friends had peacefully negotiated. What are the hot topics that your students wrestle with at school? In Jacob's case, he was asking for Meaningful Movement Mondays. In a nutshell, I think his group wanted more recess. But it was a really good strategy by his teacher (YAY Mrs. Appel!!) to get her students thinking about how to bring about change. Coincidentally, we now celebrate SPARK day on the first Monday of every month to encourage teachers to intentionally infuse meaningful movement and wellness tips into their lessons. Use this book to spark a discussion about socially-acceptable ways to help students become change agents in their world today.

The Superbowl Of Music

2012-01-15T05:00:00.037-06:00

Words cannot adequately explain what concert-goers experienced at the Texas Region XVII Symphony Orchestra performance Saturday night, so I'm posting their first number - Von Suppe's The Poet and the Peasant - to let you hear the greatness for yourself. What a blessing for Jacob, our trumpet player, to audition for and earn a spot sitting alongside these amazingly dedicated and polished high school musicians. Listen for familiar melodies from cartoons of years past while you enJOY the enthusiasm of their conductor Andrzej Grabiec, who told the audience that these young people energized him and that they were passionate students who "keep me young!"

Loving Joplin

2012-01-14T04:00:00.010-06:00

Deedee over at Mrs. Wills Kindergarten got a note from a sweet Erica, a Kindergarten teacher in Joplin, MO, with a request for a few freebies that she can give away at a staff meeting to lift spirits on Monday.

What a nice way to celebrate MLK Day that'll be for her,

sharing our stuff with her school family!

So I'm linking up with her to send some LOVE:

If you have a unit that you'd like to donate to Erica's school,

email your TpT product, Teacher's Notebook, or a link to something you've created in Google Docs or on Scribd to her (edoennig@joplin.k12.mo.us).

What a practical way to say that we care for them

and pray for their continued recovery and healing!

Ch-ch-ch Changes

2012-01-13T06:00:00.029-06:00

We felt a drastic change in the weather when this came through . . .

This is my backyard today.

. . . and it made it feel like this:

This was my backyard growing up.

OK, well it may not be THAT cold, but it's chilly for sure! The temperature change makes me wonder: How do you react when the winds of change blow in your direction? Do you go with the flow and bend with the breeze? Or do you dig your heels in and bristle with resistance? What changes could be coming your way today?

Thanks And A Thought For Thursday

2012-01-12T08:56:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Tabitha, from Scrapbook of a School Counselor, whose name was chosen at random in our Great Group Games Giveaway. Here's her play-with-purpose activity suggestion:

One of my favorite activities is the blindfolded pb&j activity. In partners, one student is blindfolded and has to create a pb&j sandwich while their partner directs them. To make it a little harder the second time around, we might move all the supplies to different parts of the room. Then, they must gather first, and then build. It is so cool to see how the students are at the beginning of the process and then later on down the road how they manage this activity then!

She has an autographed copy of the book coming her way! Thanks to everyone who entered and to Ann and Susan for their partnership in this great giveaway! Click here for 22 more engaging exercises that'll help get your kids' creative juices flowing.

Two awards from three sweet bloggers have come my way - a HUGE thanks to my new blogging buddies at First Grade Magic, Second Grade Sugar and Spice, and Live, Laugh, Teach for the Liebster and the Versatile Blogger Awards.These ladies are passionate about what they do; hop on by for a site visit AND add them to your blog roll!

Click on the award names to see how I previously fulfilled the requirements; now on to today's inquiry:

How might your life be different

with just a smidge of self-compassion?

A Taste of Colored Water

2012-01-11T06:00:00.012-06:00

What does colored water taste like? If it’s red, might we suspect that it’s cherry or strawberry? Purple? Grape. Yellow? Lemonade perhaps. Well, when Abbey Finch tells cousins Lulu and Jelly that there is a colored water fountain in the city, their imaginations run wild trying to figure out what colored water must look like and taste like. They can’t help but wonder why they don’t have bubblers (that’s what we call fountains in Wisconsin!) that dispense colored water. When they get a chance to go with Uncle Jack into the city and see these special fountains for themselves, they find themselves amid civil unrest. What will they discover and what will they learn?

Coming at an issue using a reverse-discrimination twist in his treasure A Taste of Colored Water, author Matt Faulkner addresses the 1960’s civil rights movement with grace and finesse. Weave this book into your MLK, Jr. celebration or February’s Black History Month. Try this - invite only a certain group of kids to meet you at the carpet for the story. Say, "Only blue eyed children get to hear the book today," and see what transpires. Today’s learners may find it difficult to imagine a time when segregation existed at all, must less for something as basic as a drink of water or a seat on the bus. Use the story as a springboard for a discussion about rights, privileges, and justice.

With online dictionaries in the computer lab, students can look up, define and explain words like colored, segregation, discrimination, acceptance, open-mindedness and tolerance, then discuss the Civil Rights Movement. Be ready for some interesting observations and inquiries. As a follow-up discussion, have students share about a time when they were excluded from something. Ask them to thoroughly explore why they were left out as well as what that experience was like when it happened. They can also reflect on how it felt. Finally, go on a scavenger hunt in the library to find other books with a similar theme. (NOTE: Ron's Big Mission by Corinne Naden is also worth checking out!)

What's your favorite January pick? Is it themed around Resolutions, Chinese New Year, MLK Day, Penguins or Snowmen? Why not link it up over at Learning With Mrs. Parker.

A Balanced Place

2012-01-10T06:00:00.008-06:00

Today's Guest Post is by James Lander of Couponing, a couponing and deals site that strives to provide consumers with the most authoritative couponing information.

Starting the New Year in a Balanced Place by James Lander

It’s that time of year again. A new year, 2012, is upon us and if you’re like the majority of us, your yearly list of resolutions has probably taken shape, already. Typically, most people’s approach to this process is to look back at the year gone by and pick out those things that they wanted to get done and didn’t, a chastening experience at best and one guaranteed to thrust you into the new year in the most somber of moods.

You realize that you built your New Year’s resolutions on the wobbly foundation of the previous year’s resolutions. What you failed last year, you resolve to do twice as much or better in the New Year; that kind of scenario. But as you might expect, all the gusto and motivation for the new resolutions fall flat even before the first month of the New Year ends.

Therefore this year, you must resolve to change that up and throw a bit of positivity into any ‘resolutions’ you make.

Goals vs. Vision

For sure, most New Year’s resolutions that people make center around advancing financially, professionally, or physically (fitness and health). While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to achieve goals, for this year, you should first ask yourself, ‘what do I envision for self?’

Pursuing personal, financial and professional goals is definitely commendable, but doing so without perspective of a wider personal vision – and a plan to realize that vision – may limit how far you can go in maximizing your potential.

You should put your goals in the context of a vision to pursue because in doing so, you’ll get more inspired and have more hope. On the other hand, accomplishing a stated goal merely represents a milestone on the route to realizing vision. So, before embarking on any efforts to accomplish your goals, know the distinction between a goal and vision. In a simpler way, vision empowers you while goals give you focus.

Achieving personal happiness

How can you achieve personal happiness in this New Year?

It’s funny how people don’t stop and think whether achieving stated goals will really result into personal happiness. Happiness is not a physical attribute that we can take hold of, so, most times, it is construed into a concept that it is not. A lot of people attach happiness to achieving certain milestones or goals, which often leads to frustration and disenchantment once those goals are not met.

First, if you want to achieve a state of happiness, you need to take it upon yourself to search for it, not to attach it to resolutions.

Envision how you want to live your life this year. Regardless of resolutions, your general perspective to life can have a huge effect on how you attain a state of happiness. Look at it this way: instead of sweating over accomplishing your stated goals this year, just envision the things you want to achieve, even if you may realistically not achieve them. You’ll find yourself with a more positive attitude and generally happier.

Another way to achieve personal happiness is by focusing on the present. The future may seem grim because you’re worrying about how you are going to accomplish your goals – or not managing to accomplish them; and also, when you look back at the year gone by, you bemoan the missed chances or failed opportunities. Often times, achieving personal happiness starts with living in the moment. When you live in the moment, your attitude toward life will be positive, and you’ll have a more appreciative perspective toward what you already possess.

Keep in mind this year that achieving a state of happiness is really about how you look at it.

Happy New Year!

Great Group Games Giveaway

2012-01-09T06:00:00.107-06:00

It was providential, meeting authors Ann Saylor and Susan Ragsdale. After they endorsed a book on their blog based solely on a review I'd written, I emailed to thank them for their kind words. They offered to get me a copy of a book they'd written for review, but added that they couldn't get send it until they got back from Houston where they'd be presenting at the Big Tent Conference. Houston? I live near Houston. Could I save them the postage? Did they need a ride? We made airport arrangements, we met for dinner, and we became friends. Today they're making a virtual visit to share FOUR of their amazing activities and get this -
They're giving away an autographed copy of their new book to one of my readers!

For your chance at winning a copy of Great Group Games For Kids, share your favorite "play with purpose" ideas with other readers HERE. We will randomly select a winner from all of the ideas on Wednesday, January 11, 2012.
This Giveaway is Now CLOSED! Congrats Tabitha!

Academics + Character + Fun = A Winning Combination!

By Ann Saylor and Susan Ragsdale

When children enjoy learning, they will absorb much more of the educational material. So children and youth often thrive when they can learn or practice math, English, Spanish, or social studies through educational games. And many of these same experiential educational activities provide opportunities to teach, model and reinforce good character while you are learning and playing.

Here are some activities that you can use in your classroom or youth organization. Each game has directions, as well as going deeper questions to help explore academic and character lessons from the game. Each game is also connected to categories of Developmental Assets, strengths that children and youth need to succeed in life.

ALPHABET SCAVENGER HUNT (from Great Group Games for Kids by Ragsdale and Saylor)

Time: 5–10 minutes

Supplies: Arbitrary items from players’ bags or desks, or from around the room

The Game: Break the group into teams of four to six players. Tell them that you are going to ask for items based on random letters of the alphabet that you call out. The first player to bring up the item that fits gets a point for her team. For example, if you ask for a “C” item, a team might bring up a tube of ChapStick; if you ask for an “N” item, someone might bring up a nickel or a notebook. The team with the most points at the end wins.

Going Deeper:

• What if we had played this individually instead of as teams? How do you think the game would have been different?

• What are some things that you do in everyday life that work better when you do them with others instead of by yourself?

• Were there any letters called for which you couldn’t find anything to fit the category?

• Sometimes we don’t have everything we need. When you come up short and don’t have the right answer or right “stuff” in life, how do you respond?

Asset Categories: Empowerment, Positive Values, Social Competencies, Positive Identity

Coin Spellers (from Great Group Games for Kids by Ragsdale and Saylor)

Time: 10–15 minutes

Supplies:

• A small container of approximately 50 pennies (or rocks, buttons, etc.) for every small group of four or five

• Chalkboard and a piece of chalk, or flipchart paper and a marker

The Game: Break into small groups of four or five players. Read aloud one of the word puzzles (see examples below). The teams will confer among themselves to determine the correct answer, and then they will quickly spell out their one-word answer with their pennies, arranging them in lines that form the shapes of the letters in the word. When they have created the word with their coins, they should raise their hands and yell “Coin Spellers!” Check their answers. Award five points to the first team that answered correctly. Repeat this process for each of the puzzles. The overall point winners claim the prize.

Sample word puzzles:

1. A person who tells the truth is known for being ____. This word starts with the eighth letter in the alphabet. (Honest)

2. What you show when you give someone a hug. This word rhymes with “dove.” (Love)

3. A person who follows the rules of the game plays _____. The word rhymes with “square.” (Fair)

4. You should always treat yourself, others, and other people’s things with ________. This word starts with the letter of the alphabet that comes after the letter Q. (Respect)

5. If somebody does something bad to you and you don’t deserve it, the right thing to do is to _____ them. The first part of the word sounds like the number that comes after three. (Forgive)

6. You shouldn’t ________ things from other people without asking. Rhymes with “peel.” (Steal)

7. The opposite of selfishly keeping something just for yourself, like cookies, is to ___ it with others. (Share)

8. If you ______ someone, it means you feel safe and believe that person will do the right thing. This word rhymes with “dust” and is a value important in friendships. (Trust)

9. This short word means thoughtful, and rhymes with “mind.” (Kind)

10. This word rhymes with “royal” and is often used to describe a dog’s devotion to its owner. (Loyal)

Going Deeper:

• Did you notice anything similar about the various words?

• What values are important to you?

• What is one value that is hard for you to practice?

• How can you help one another stay true to your values?

Asset Categories: Support, Empowerment, Social Competencies, Positive Values

CULTURAL INVESTIGATORS (from Great Group Games for Kids by Ragsdale and Saylor)

This game is recommended for grades 2 and up.

Time: 20–25 minutes

Supplies:

• One copy of the Cultural Investigators Worksheet for each group

• Large world map

• Computer with Internet access for each group

• Sticky notes, such as Post-it Notes.

• Pencil for each group

Prep: Make copies or your own version of the following Cultural Investigators Worksheet. Compile a list of suitable Web sites to help players research the topic areas on the worksheet. You might consider weather.com, worldatlas.com, or nationalgeographic.com. Additionally, you might allow players to “Google” phrases such as “convention center, [their city]” or “sports team, [their city].” Be sure to double-check Internet sites to make certain they are safe. If possible, recruit a teen or adult volunteer to supervise the small groups.

The Game: Spread out the world map on a table. Give each person a small sticky note to write her or his initials on. Have players close their eyes and place their sticky notes somewhere on the map. Group kids together according to how close their sticky notes are to each other. Ask players to share what they know about the area, and then go on a virtual scavenger hunt to find out more about the area. Give the groups 10 minutes to be private investigators and see what information they can find out about their areas. To add an optional element of competition, the game can be played like a scavenger hunt, with the winning team being the group that finds the most information in the allotted time. Let the groups share two or three cool things they learned about their areas.

Going Deeper:

• Of all the places, people, and traditions shared from each team, which place would you most like to visit or learn more about? Why?

• Who is someone you know that is from a different culture or background?

• What is something you are curious about? It can be anything, from how a Ferris wheel works, to where peanuts come from, to . . . whatever. Where might you go to find the answer to your question?

• If you were building a webpage that others could visit to see interesting things about our culture, what would you include? (Go back through the map card and have players respond to some or all categories.)

Asset Categories: Empowerment, Commitment to Learning, Social Competencies

3 X 2 MATH GAME (from Tales Told Twice, a free 4-5^th grade resource from www.TheAssetEdge.net)

Time: 10–15 minutes

Materials: deck of playing cards, pre-made index cards—two per team (each team gets one with an addition sign on one side and a subtraction sign on the other side, and one with a multiplication sign on one side and a division sign on the other side)

The Game:

· Divide the group into teams of 2 people (or you can do individually).

· Give each team their two index cards: the one with subtraction/addition signs and

· the one with multiplication/division signs.

· Distribute to each team the Ace–10 (1–10) cards.

· Announce a target number. Each team has to use three cards and two orders of operation to arrive at the target number. For example, the number 19 can be derived by: 2 x 9 + 1 = 19 OR 2 x 10 – 1 = 19. One group came up with 30 combinations to get 19 (Remember that you can also use the opposite order of the problems, such as with the first example: 9 x 2 + 1 = 19).

· Each team must rotate roles - handling cards, coming to the board

with answers….

· Have each group send someone up to the board to demonstrate their solution.

Assets: school engagement, social competencies, bonding to school, achievement motivation, planning and decision-making, personal power, youth as resources

Ann Saylor and Susan Ragsdale are Authors and Youth Development Experts at the YMCA Center for Asset Development. Find more “play with purpose” activities in their books, which are available at www.TheAssetEdge.net or at your favorite online bookseller. You can also collect more creative and practical resources that reinforce character, leadership and service by following them on twitter @TheAssetEdge or perusing their blog for educators, counselors and youth workers.

Tanz Mit Mir!

2012-01-08T07:21:00.004-06:00

Today I'm excited about two things. The first is a Concentration guidance game (based on the television game show from my childhood) we made yesterday that was sparked by an awesome idea I saw over my morning coffee at Plug-N-Plan. My IT Department (John and Kaitlyn) helped me create our own deck of Synonym Toast Crunch cards using our school family's character words of the week.

I'm going to put them (face-side hidden) into a pocket chart and let kids pick two cards, looking to reveal a pair of words that mean the same thing. We'll talk about what the cards mean and process what they look like, sound like, and feel like. If they match, they stay out of the game. YAY! If they aren't similar, they go back into the chart and kids work to remember which pocket the matching word came out of as the next turns ensue. I'm dancing for joy about this creative idea!

This lucky student found trustworthiness and honesty!

The second thing is my guest post today at our PreK and K Sharing collaborative celebrates meaningful movement and purposeful play. To whet your appetite, here we are dancing to my favorite German polka,
The Fliegerlied.

Click the button below to dance on over and grab a few new playtime activity ideas and games!

ABC Affirmations

2012-01-07T07:00:00.022-06:00

I don't know about you, but I like being affirmed. Not in a glib, fluffy way, but in a sincere, "good job!" sort of way. When someone says something nice, it just feels good. My dad is awesome at affirming people. As such, he's great at getting volunteers for stuff because people are drawn to him and like to be around him. And it's not like he doesn't get anything in return. Affirmations are a win-win because they feel good on both ends, for both the giver and the receiver. I think it's important for us to teach our students to affirm one another. For a job well done. For great progress on something. For a random act of kindness. For the sweet compliment that cheered someone up. Or just for being. When you engage students in the ABC Affirmations activity, they have to think through the alphabet to come up with different words of affirmation. Ask your students to buddy buzz with a partner to come up with words or phrases of affirmation that begin with each letter of the alphabet. Click on the picture for the template to download a copy if you want them to record their responses.

Follow up the partner-share with this large-group activity aloud. Grab a nerf ball, a stress ball, or even a balled up sock and toss it to the student who raises his/her hand to say a word (or a phrase or sentence with that word in it) of affirmation that begins with A - A is for awesome! or You did an amazing job! Have them toss it back to you or call the next letter and toss it to the next raised hand. B is for beautiful or What a blessing you are! Then C is for cheerful or caring or compassionate (and yes, they can use words like eXtraordinary or eXcellent for the X!). You don't have to go in ABC order if you want to keep them guessing. Pay special attention to what happens in the room;

is there a levity that you didn't anticipate? Can the kids feel it, too?

This would also serve as a great way to review classroom expectations, your social contract, or your promises to one another.

Start with the inquiry: How do we want to treat each another this year?