Here we go...

I realize that I have left this blog severely unattended and I plan to increase my activity on here as a New Years resolution!

To make up for the time lost, I am going to share my favorite lesson plan for the 2014-2015 school year (thus far).

The topic was HONESTY and this lesson could be used for any grade level (K-5).

Here is what I did:

Materials: two glass jars (one labeled Louie, the other Truth Juice), bleach, food coloring, a spoon, story about Louie

To start the lesson, I ask students to tell me how they feel when they tell a lie?  We talk about how we feel yucky inside.  Then I explain that I will SHOW them how lying makes us feel with a story.  I tell them that the jar labeled Louie is a student (this jar is filled with water).

Then I tell them a story about Louie and how he told lies throughout his day.  He lies to his friends, bus driver, teacher, etc.  Each time Louie lies in my story I add a drop of food coloring (alternating colors so that the water turns a murky color).

At the end of my story I talk about how Louie feels.  Then I ask the kiddos if they have any ideas for what Louie can do to feel better.  "TELL THE TRUTH" is the typical solution they give.  We go back through the story and have them pretend to be Louie and tell the truth about each wrong doing.  Each time they tell the truth for Louie I add a small amount of bleach to the Louie Jar (Truth Juice).  Slowly the water changes from murky to clear and the students are amazed.

Finally, I have students draw how it feels to be dishonest and how it feels to tell the truth.

For the formal lesson plan, adaptions, and Louie's story- please visit my TPT store!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Creative-Counselor

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Truth-Juice-A-lesson-in-honesty-and-accountability-914846

Let the 2012-2013 School Year Begin!

Welcome!As I prepare for the start of another school year I find myself thinking about what overall aspects of my program I can improve.

Here are some of the ideas that I have going into this school year...

1.  Balance is Best Bulletin Board- Students/Staff can turn in photos of activities they do outside of school.  One of the 7 Habits we teach talks about making sure that our life is balanced with both work and play.

2.  Parent/Student Communication- I have started a blog this year!  You can visit it at: http://pembertoncounselor.blogspot.com/

3.  I will continue with "Penguin Points" as part of our school-wide positive behavior plan!  To read more about this look under the PBIS tab!

4.  I am going to train classroom greeters this year!  Every student will get training through classroom guidance.  Their job will be to greet any guests that enter the room.  They will say a welcome, introduce themselves, and explain what the class is currently doing.  This is a great life skill and it goes along nicely with The Leader in Me.

5.  Virtual Book Clubs!  I think bibliotherapy is extremely powerful but I often struggle with finding the opportunity to truly read a book with the students and conduct a meaningful lesson.  Through my blog I plan to conduct a book club where students are assigned weekly reading assignments and then answer questions about character's that promote moral development and problem solving skills.  The two books I am considering are: As Simple as it Seems and The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda.  You can see these book clubs in action on my school blog (link above).

So much more to talk about but I think these sum up the top things on my mind currently!  While I am sad that the summer is coming to close brainstorming fresh ideas for the new year is inspiring and motivational.

If you are interested I have links to some of the resources listed at the bottom of this post!

Many Smiles,
Sarah