As we enter into the Advent season, we are eagerly awaiting the celebration of our Savior's birth. In guidance I am teaching from an Advent tree with ornaments that point toward Jesus.
Luke 2:10-14
"And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
Mindset
We are learning about the brain in guidance, using material from Carol Dwek's book "Mindset". Specifically, we are learning how our attitudes impact our thinking, and the difference between fixed and growth mindsets. A fixed mindset views the world as "fixed", you are who you are and intelligence and talents are fixed. A growth mindset, in contrast, sees oneself as a work in progress where growth and learning from mistakes help shape a person. Please visit our bulletin board in the lower school hallway!
Nutrition and Health...
March is a focus on healthy habits! Our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and everything we do ought to be an expression of this knowledge. My hope is that students become aware of healthy habits and the relationship of "sowing and reaping", which impacts our health down the road. We have talked about getting our "daily 7" fruits and vegetables in order to boost our immune systems, along with the harmful effects of sugar. The key word is "moderation", and making wise choices in the area of healthy eating.
Manners Can Be Fun!
We have capitalized on "manners" for the month of February, teaching through Ron Clark's book "The Essential 55". This is a collection of 55 essential "rules" that emphasize manners across all aspects of life. We talked about how every student can be successful in the area of manners by practicing simple habits every day. It has been a fun experiment to implement these manners at school, with the incentive of "manners certificates" given out by faculty to students who were caught using good manners.
Some of the manners discussed:
1. When an adult asks a question, answer them and ask a question in return "How are you?" "I am fine, how are you?"
2. Always say thank you when given something
3. Do not ask for a reward
4. Know other teachers' names and greet them in the hall by name
5. Do not show disrespect with gestures
6. If you win, do not brag; if you lose, do not show anger
7. Respect other students' comments, opinions, and ideas
8. Make eye contact when someone is speaking to you
9. Hold the door for people coming in behind you
10. Do not save seats in the lunchroom
11. Be responsible for your trash after dining in the cafeteria
12. When meeting new people, shake hands and repeat their names
13. When offered food, take only your fair share
14. On a field trip, compliment the place you are visiting
15. During an assembly, do not speak to one another
Some of the manners discussed:
1. When an adult asks a question, answer them and ask a question in return "How are you?" "I am fine, how are you?"
2. Always say thank you when given something
3. Do not ask for a reward
4. Know other teachers' names and greet them in the hall by name
5. Do not show disrespect with gestures
6. If you win, do not brag; if you lose, do not show anger
7. Respect other students' comments, opinions, and ideas
8. Make eye contact when someone is speaking to you
9. Hold the door for people coming in behind you
10. Do not save seats in the lunchroom
11. Be responsible for your trash after dining in the cafeteria
12. When meeting new people, shake hands and repeat their names
13. When offered food, take only your fair share
14. On a field trip, compliment the place you are visiting
15. During an assembly, do not speak to one another
Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
Respect and citizenship. Hope and compassion. Courage and honesty. Excellence, perseverance and responsibility. How can we teach these character traits to our children? It begins by modeling these traits toward all people, regardless of race, gender, or economic status. Jesus demonstrated this love throughout the New Testament, and we can model this at home. Children learn respect (or disrespect) from how we treat them and others. They reflect back everything we, as parents, say and do. When we give children the same respect we demand, we are modeling this important character trait.
Thanksgiving
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln dedicated the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving. His proclamation states that we are prone to forget the source of our bounties from a Holy God. As we reflect on things we are grateful for, may we never forget all of the ways our Heavenly Father blesses us!
Points to Ponder, "Reading aloud reinforces listening skills, develops vocabulary and imagination, plus encourages correct sentence structure. The best way to encourage your child is reading aloud to them. Plan an earlier dinner, skip a favorite television program, then relax together as a family with a good book. Repetition develops auditory skills."
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