Breakout EDU - MINDSET!

Several cycles ago, we talked about Mindset in 4th grade.  We read Julia Cook's "Bubble Gum Brain" and talked about how a growth mindset meets challenges with a positive attitude and how when we try difficult things it is helping our brain grow stronger.  When we have "brick brain" and we quit things that seem too difficult, we miss out on growing our brain.

Students in 4th grade were given several puzzles related to a growth mindset and the brain - challenges that had them practicing using a growth mindset!  For each puzzle completed, they received a clue that helped unlock one of three locks on a box that contained a prize.

The prize?!?!  Since Mrs. Flier loves play-on-words, eraser brains because a strong brain makes mistakes and learns from them!!

Mix It Up Day!!!

October 31st was National Mix It Up Day - an international campaign to challenge students to get to know peers outside their circles and appreciate our differences that Teaching Tolerance promotes.  At Willow River, students took a "Dum Dum sucker" and had to find the table that had the corresponding flavor such as pineapple, cherry, or root beer. 

Students had fun asking the "Get to Know You" questions on each table and learning more about peers they might not otherwise sit by.  There were several reports of new friendships too!

More info on Mix It Up Day

4th graders have fun answering questions such as "What superpower would you want to have?"

3rd graders Mixing it Up

Kindergarten Mixing It Up!

UPStanders!

This month we are learning FOUR main ways to stand up for others when we see mean or bullying behavior.  The people with the MOST power to end mean behavior is actually our kids.  By ignoring mean and bullying behavior, they are sending the message that it's okay to continue doing that at Willow.  But by saying something, they are letting the offender know that it is NOT okay and they are letting the victim know that they have support.
I use the NED Show video with Kindergarten through 5th grade, sending the message that there are 4 ways you can stand up; Interrupting, Be a Buddy, Say Something, or Tell Someone.  Student council showed what these all looked like in specials classes in front of the school on Friday at our All-School Meeting.
All staff purchased a "Kind is the New Cool" shirt and wore them on Friday, while UPStanding students were awarded a t-shirt of their very own.  Staff helped purchase half of the shirts while Willow River Parent Group purchased the other half for us.
Ask your child what they have been learning in guidance class this month and chat about what method of UPStanding they feel the most comfortable with.
We are VERY proud of our 15 students who have been nominated so far this year!

Ms. Cameron's class watching The NED Show clip on how to be an UPStander instead of a "bystander"

Students were encouraged to "Wear Blue" to support UPStanding on Friday - Look at this sea of blue at our All-School Meeting!

Willow River Staff support our students who are UPStanding!

Our AMAZING UPStanders!!

Remembering Lily

A Willow parent had mentioned purchasing a necklace with "Lily" on it for her daughter to remember her 5th grade classmate and had made the comment "I wish I could buy one for everyone in the class who wanted one!" I read this comment just moments after finding this gem on my Facebook feed:  Middle School Counselor Blog  and got the idea to make something similar with all 5th graders who were interested.  Many said they'd prefer a keychain instead of a necklace so they could attach them to their backpacks etc.  I wrote "I am awesome" on the back of each, quoting our sweet Lily and giving every child that positive mantra.  Students chose their own washi tape or scrapbook paper to put on the front and we sealed it all up with Mod Podge.  They turned out great!!

 Lily's favorite animal was the butterfly, so we topped them off with a butterfly charm. 

I walked down to 5th grade the other day and this stopped me in my tracks and made me smile :) 

Goal Setting and Frog Tossing!

Third graders are learning how to write "SMART" goals - meaning goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Rewarding, and Timely.  To demonstrate how being "attainable" and "rewarding" looks, students tried to throw toy frogs into a bucket from 2 steps away (not very rewarding!) and then 20 steps away (not attainable!) and then 8 steps away.  They found that when they were 8 steps away, it was far more rewarding when they got the frog in the bucket, but it was not completely impossible to achieve.

Students then wrote down a goal for their fall and made sure their goals were SMART!

Parent Book Club

I'd like to invite you to join me and read "8 Keys to End Bullying" by Signe Whitson this upcoming October!  This book gives practical tools for both educators and parents so we can work together to end bullying in our schools.
All 4th and 5th grade students had a unit on "Rude, Mean, Bullying" last year that was based on this text and the activity book that goes with it.  If one of your children is in the 4th or 5th grade, ask them about it!  All 3rd graders will have this unit this year.
A huge focus for me this year is celebrating our UPStanders - those kids who bravely stand up against mean behaviors and in some cases, bullying behaviors.  Our school is finding ways to help encourage this from our students to celebrate those who stick up for their peers.  Students standing up is one of the biggest ways to end bullying, and they need our support and guidance to know they have the strength to do this!
Join me for 4 Mondays in October/November (every other week) and for online discussion as we apply the lessons of Signe Whitson to our beloved Willow River Elementary.  You can check out the Book Club Syllabus , order the book online, or borrow one from my counseling library!

Monday October 9th

Monday, October 23rd

Monday, November 6th

Monday, November 20th

In Mrs. Flier's office from 2:45pm-school release!

If you're interested or have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me! fliersj@hudson.k12.wi.us or call me at 715-377-3880 X2610!

Kindergarten Gingerbread Hunt!

One of my favorite days in the fall is the day Kindergarten does their school-scavenger hunt looking for the Gingerbread man - and lucky me - he ends up in my office with gingerbread cookies!!  This is a fun way to show Kindergarten where they can go if they are having big feelings and need somewhere to feel safe!