Sassy Pants

Just a random entry of the day, but if I ever get to present at a conference you will probably see me in these:

True. Story.

Growls and Grrr's

The other day my foster pup Seven tried to take away a ball from Brooklyn. They ended up growling at each other in an endless game of tug of war. Seven won, but only because Brooklyn fell asleep mid growl. This happens often and it always make me giggle to myself, because it's like watching two angry people yell at each other, get louder and louder without listening to the other person, and both ending up exhausted and defeated. I see this happen every day with my non furry friends. We get angry at kids for getting angry and not controlling it, we get angry at co-workers and instead of talking we avoid  or vent to another, we get angry at the people we love the most and we growl.

This lesson was for my first graders, and it was on what to do when you get angry.

First, we discussed what makes us angry and how we feel when we get angry.

Tucker Turtle Takes Time to Tuck and Think

csefel.vanderbilt.edu/scriptedstories/tuckerturtle.ppt

Then, we discussed the Tucker Turtle Method, and how to tuck like a turtle when we get made. This program is from Vanderbilt and although it is very basic and simple (perfect for student with Autism) I love it for 1st grade for that reason.  We talk about places you can tuck at school and home. Sometimes they kids like to tuck in their shirts, but we also discuss how your shell can be your room, a special cool down spot in the room, etc.

Next, we practice the deep breathing. If you haven't seen this video yet you have to share it with your students. My kids watched it many times, the second time singing along and practicing the breath.

Prezi's- You Can Be Techy Too!

This week was the TN School Counseling and Administrators Institute, a wonderful conference I look forward to every year.
I learned lots, left with many ideas I can't wait to share, but my favorite breakout session was "I'm Techy And I Know It" hosted by the amazing Greene County team.

Here is why I loved this break out:

1) I actually have more tech knowledge than I thought or give myself credit for. For example, I was one of few people in the room who blogged (yay! and thanks for reading) and also one of the few people with a LiveBinder.

2) I went home and immediately used the info given. I updated my Pinterest site to match my website and brand. Visit it here: http://pinterest.com/sassyscounselor/   and visit Nashville Pittie's page here: http://pinterest.com/nashvillepittie

3) It was practical, informative, and inspiring. While I don't have an iPad (yet) I left with many many ideas that I can do.

For example, do you know about Prezi's? I love it! It's like PowerPoint on crack (sorry but there is simply no other way to describe it's awesomeness.) I have created a few since Tuesday just for practice. I also love that you can download them as a PDF and search and share for other Prezi's (you know I love to beg, borrow, and steal!)
Do you have a Prezi to share? Share Share!! Here are mine thus far:

Middle School Transition (for a parent workshop I am hosting) http://prezi.com/qck4nj9zjoxo/middle-school-transition/
*note I am still building this one!






Pittie Please: http://prezi.com/wsu00ohk00en/pittie-please/



The Prezi that started it all: http://prezi.com/nuu24blefvua/im-techy-and-i-know-it/

Keep checking back as I update with more ideas I learned and implemented!

Sugary Self Esteem

Today I was stress eating donuts because I never got paid. I always reach for sugar when stressed, so isn't it funny that my self esteem group is called "The Cupcake Club."

Last semester I had a "Jelly Bean Self Esteem" group, and I have many repeat participants so I wanted something new. So I stole this the idea from "Elementary School Counseling". It's the perfect follow up to my Jelly Bean group.

First we read "Cupcake" a great story about a cute vanilla cupcake who feels out of place being just ole vanilla. Cupcake tries to become more exciting and ends up making a friend who loves cupcake for cupcake.

Next we started working on our "Cupcake Journals." Many of the pages I got from "Elementary School Counseling," and several others I drew by hand.

Gratitude

My little girl is spoiled, and I swear it's like she has no idea she is a rescue. Sometimes I giggle and look  at her and think about the fact that she doesn't know any different; she thinks the life of a puppy is sleeping, eating, playing, and loving.

I have an individual student I work with that does not know that life. She is your "at risk " kid in a nutshell. Well a few weeks ago we were talking about her birthday, which was amazing, but she kept focusing in on the fact that she didn't get what she wanted. Forget that her mom tried to throw her a party, they had a special dinner, I gave her a special Valentine, she didn't get what she wanted.

Then I happened across a pin on Pinterest which lead me to a great blog: " Jenny's Sketchbook." The author has amazing art talent and started her own gratitude journal. I loved looking at the colorful pages and since my kiddo loves art as well, I had an idea:  We would make her own gratitude journal!

I am not even remotely as talented artistically, but I started a few pages to get her thinking and left several blank for her own ideas. She is loving the discussion of gratitude as much as me.

What was interesting about this was how hard it was for her to think of words that described her.  

You have 45 seconds to judge me....

Not really, but that's what today's lesson is about. Making snap judgements based on things we have read or have seen on the internet and using our eyes to judge people, instead of getting to know them.

This lesson has several activities and stopping points for discussion and I have done it with 3rd- 6th grade, but you could easily do it with middle school and yes I would do it with high school.

First, I like the students to have an open discussion so I remind them of our socratic seminar rules.

Then using the smart board I showed them this pup and asked:

I let the students openly share their judgements about the dog and have discussion about what they would do and think if they saw him at the park, etc.

Then I let them meet Jack Frost, the after of the dog above!

Read more about this sweet boy and his journey here: http://pittiesincity.blogspot.com/2012/12/meet-our-new-foster-jack-frost.html

After we discussed first impressions I let the students play the shoe detective game. I do this game almost every year so you can read about it more here: http://sassyschoolcounselor.blogspot.com/2012/07/dont-judge-book-by-its-cover.html

The game is very easy and fun, but best of all your teachers will love you because it ties in critical reading and thinking skills such as using schema and evidence to create an inference.

Top Dog Books....Collaboration With Your Librarian

First, I have to brag on my good friend, our school librarian, Mrs. Svarda for being school and district teacher of the year. She is simply amazing at everything she does. One of the many things she excels in is collaboration, and I am always taking advantage of it.

Here is this months Top Dog book display. For those of you who are new to my blog, my character education program is called "Top Dogs" and you can read more about it here.

Today one of the most amazing mom's ever helped me amp up my display. First, we had paw prints leading to the book display with a rug I got in the dollar bin at Target. It's a fun way to draw student to my display while reminding them (through my brand) that this probably has something to do with counseling.

We add some fun paw displays and surrounded the books with words that you may find in the definition our character education word of the month- "caring."

Before you bark...

Here is my version of the famous THINK bulletin board....