Kissing Elementary Goodbye!

This was a fun "last lesson" for students as they transition campuses.

Campus transitions can be exciting and difficult.  In our final guidance lesson for 5th grade, we talked about the transition to Jr. High (we were going for a visit during the last week of school.)  I made sure to mention who their counselor would be and that she would be AWESOME!

Then, we reminisced about what students would miss about elementary and memories they had on our campus.  I passed out index cards, and they wrote down either a fun memory, or what they would miss.  Then we cut out Hershey kisses (I ran copies on cardstock ~ here is a link to a similar pattern.)  We covered our kisses with foil and glued on the index cards.  I had the classroom teacher write the students names on the ribbons while we worked, and then we stapled them on.  The result:

I blurred out the student names for this photo.

Students and teachers enjoyed reading what the kids had written.  I would definitely do this again.  

Teaching Generosity

This is my "Go To" lesson for Generosity:

1.  Engage:  Ask students if they have ever been given a special gift.  Then introduce the word generosity.  What does it mean?  Giving.
2.  Demonstrate:  I bring my basket of kind letters, trinkets, and pictures students have given me over the years and tell them how even though these are worth much money, they mean so much to me.
3.  Explore:  How can we give?  If we don't have credit cards and bank accounts, what do we have to give?

• Treasures - giving away toys we no longer use, passing down clothing, putting spare change in the Salvation Army bucket, donating canned goods, etc.
• Time - spending time playing with siblings or helping them look for lost items, listening, volunteering, etc.
• Talents - writing a note to someone, helping others who might be struggling with classwork, making people laugh and smile, braiding someone's hair, etc.

4.  Inspire:  We watch two videos about generosity on the YouTube.

Teddy Bear Toss:  This video shows how small acts of generosity 

in large groups can make a big difference!  

This video shows the generosity of giving something special

to a stranger.  And how kindness can spread.

5.  Give!  

• Pennies for Patients through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a great charity.  A very beloved family member has lymphoma, so this was near and dear to my heart.  It was an easy project AS LONG AS you have a bank with a coin counter.  
• Freerice.com is a great way for kids to practice vocabulary while earning grains of rice for the hungry.  
• Currently, Macy's will donate $1 to Make-a-Wish Foundation for each letter written to Santa.  
• Consider adopting an angel, elder angel, or soldier, hosting a canned food drive, or donating used glasses to the Lion's Club.

6.  Celebrate:  Always follow up by announcing how much money (or whatever you collected) was donated.  

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." ~ Winston Churchill

Sandtray: Talk to Me!

A wonderful activity I discovered at the TCA Professional Growth Conference last fall was Sandtray Therapy.
Difficult student? Doesn't want to talk? Ask him/her to make a scene.  Not a scene like throwing chairs in the cafeteria and yelling the bad words...a sandtray scene! If nothing else, they will think you are nuts and try to satisfy you just to stay on your good side.

This is therapy.

Just running your hands through sand calms the soul. Many of your students have never been to the beach. The sand in your bikini bottoms isn't fun, but running your hands through it is pure bliss. I have had full throttle uncontrollable students go from 60 to 0 in a few seconds just by busting out my sand tray and asking them, "Have you ever been to the beach?" I'm still waiting for one of them to throw sand at me. It hasn't happened...yet...

There are two types of sand tray therapy I utilize. Keep in mind that sand tray is not for young children.  They are unable to use symbolism and will just play. Play is fine for building trust but the sand will fly and you will lose your patience. Around the age of 10, students can use symbolism and will be able to make revealing, therapeutic scenes of their lives.

Sandtray Kit from Amazon.com 

"Make me a scene from your life (or home.)" Very. Powerful. Words.

I have had students show me a favorite memory (titled "Hawaii",) and their living nightmare, a scene of dad getting arrested (titled "Bad Times.") The scene will reveal so much to you and allow your client (student in my case since I work at a school) to talk about his/her problem.

Always ask for a title.  Never put away the scene while the student is with you. And take a picture (out of confidentiality I do not want to post my pictures.)

I learned from this book, the Sandtray Bible.  Order it on Amazon.

The other use for Sandtray is using Solution-Focused Therapy (works better with older kids.)  Have a student set up a scene of his/her problem. Work through the aspects of the problem.  Then ask the student, "If a miracle occurred, and you woke up tomorrow and your problem was fixed, what would it look like?"  Give them time to re-work the scene. Then discuss ways to turn their first scene (problem) into their second (solution.)

Teachers also love sandtray.  I wish I could post some of the hilarious scenes they can come up with, depicting frustrations about ~ well ~ you probably know why teachers might feel frustrations.

Sometimes it helps to have a cool beverage on the beach.
Even if it is only enjoyed symbolically.
(miniatures found on amazon.com)

I am still learning about sandtray, but I have found it to be an amazingly simple. You get to peek in and see what is going on in that complex inner world of your student-client.

What is going on in there?