Making Good Decisions and Choices

As part of our Stop and Think Curriculum, the students learn social skills. We have been reviewing listening and following directions and we are now focusing on asking for help and staying on task. Julia Cook's I Just Want to Do It My Way! was a great resource to remind students how to ask for help. Students are also learning about perseverance and the power of staying on task and ignoring distractions. Over the next few weeks we will be learning more about persevering through challenges and fun learning opportunities.

Stop and Think! K-2nd

Students in Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade practiced the first two steps of good decision making. Step 1: Stop and Think! Step 2: Good choice or a bad choice? Students identified and sorted good and bad choices. Students then wrote or drew pictures of good and bad choices.

Stop and think! 3rd -5th 

Students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade practiced making good decisions during Character Centers. Students first read a problem/situation and then go through the Stop & Think Steps as they work through making a good decision.

Stop & Think: A Guide to Good Decision Making

Students read a situation and use the following steps to make a good decision.

Step 1: Stop and Think

 Step 2: Do I want to make a good choice or a bad choice? 

Step 3: What are my choices (or steps)? 

Step 4: Do It! (Choose a good choice and do it.)

Step 5: Tell yourself "Good job!"

We Give Thanks!

We don't need a holiday to be thankful, but as Thanksgiving approaches we begin to be mindful of people and things that we often take for granted. Students in Kindergarten-2nd grade played a game as they added feathers to their and shared what they were thankful for with their group. Third grade through fifth grade wrote about what they were thankful for and were given the opportunity to write an essay and submit it to the Victoria Advocate for their essay contest. Click on the link if you would like to participate in the Victoria Advocate Essay Contest: We Give Thanks. 

Reading for Meaning

Students have the opportunity to read about bullying and identify parts of the story. As the students grow in learning more about problem solving and decision making, they will also grow in their ability to identify decision making skills in stories and books that they read. I look forward to seeing our students grow as readers, writers, and problem solvers.

Students in K-2 studied the facial expressions of characters in various books. Understanding facial expressions is one of the keys to understanding others and maintaining friendships. 

Students in K-1 also found pride in all the responsibilities and chores they could do at home. Our kindergarten students that are learning high frequency words also loved reading multiple sentences. They were shining confidence inside and out.