This Week in Guidance

This week we will be reading the story Hey Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose. The story is about a little boy who sees an ant on the sidewalk and has to decide whether or not he will squish him or let him go free. His peers are encouraging him to step on the ant while the ant is pleading for his life. I will encourage students to talk about what they would do in this situation all the while reminding them that just because we have the power to do something doesn't mean it is the "right" thing to do. I will talk about peer pressure and how it is always more difficult to do the "right" thing than the "wrong" thing. I will also talk about how everyone and everything should be treated with respect.

This Week in Guidance

This week's lesson is from the book "Accept and Value  Each Person" by Cheri J. Meiners, M.Ed.  The little girl in the story learns that while we all look differently, dress differently, and have different interests, we should accept people for who they are without judging. She learns that everyone wants to be accepted and that it is fun to learn about others and to make new friends. She also learns that we all have strengths and that we can help others and allow others to help us. She learns that if she has a problem with someone she can use her words to solve the problem. She also learned about the importance of forgiveness. You can help reinforce these concepts with your preschooler. As you notice people who look differently than you point out something positive about the difference and model acceptance of people despite our differences.

This Week in Guidance

This week I will start my rotation in the Blue hall. For the next few weeks we will be discussing the topic of diversity. This week's story is called Whoever You Are by Mem Fox. The story talks about how we are all different on the outside but we are the same on the inside. It points out that people all over the world live in different homes, work different jobs, and talk differently but again we are all the same on the inside and we all have things in common. One way you can reinforce this week's lesson is to point out differences between your own family members and people that you know and emphasize that these differences are what make us interesting and fun. It is also important that your child know that everyone should be treated with respect regardless of our differences. When we use our Magic Triad we are showing respect.