Types of Training Scavenger Hunt Meets Breakout EDU!

One of my favorite activities to do with 5th graders is the scavenger hunt around the building where they learn all of the different types of training our teachers and staff have gotten.  Each staff member was asked to share their degrees and where they got their training so that students could see the variety of options that are in our building alone!
Students completed a scavenger hunt sheet that asked them to find a staff member who: went to school in Indiana, Iowa, and Minnesota; a staff member who held a technical degree; staff who have an Associate's degree; a staff member who had a Doctorate; a staff member who served in the military; and staff members who had a Master's degree.
A completed form won them a code to unlock one of several locks on a box containing a little prize to help remind them the importance of training after high school!

Gossip and Glitter

Fourth graders talked about gossip in our last lesson and read the book "Armadillo Tattletale" by Helen Ketteman.  Armadillo liked to overhear others' conversations and then twisted the words and told the other animal whom was being talked about.  We discussed how we may hear rumors and gossip a lot in 4th grade and what to do when someone shared a rumor with us.  Fourth graders learned to approach the person the story was about to get the true story or to tell the person "this sounds like a rumor and it isn't our story to tell."  Rumors die when there isn't an audience to listen to them, so we encouraged students to not be an audience for this!

Next I challenged them to pass around a handful of glitter and then put it all into a cup.  The team that was able to do it was promised an extra recess - but the challenge was making sure every single speck of glitter made it into the cup.  For those of you who have ever allowed glitter in your house, you would probably agree that this is impossible!  We made the connection that glitter is like gossip - once you pass it on, it is near impossible to clean it all up.  Students will be seeing glitter on the 4th grade hallway floor for weeks to come, I'm sure, and I hope it reminds them to be careful of how they speak of others. 

Starts With Socks!!

During the week of February 11th, Willow River Student Council challenged students to bring in pairs of socks for a local organization called "Starts With Socks".  This non-profit provides socks to the homeless here in Hudson as a conversation starter to see what other resources the families and individuals may need.  Our students collected over 400 pairs of socks for this amazing cause - truly a "Random Act of Kindness".

Kindness in Kindergarten

During our Kindness Month, each class will have a special guidance lesson to talk about random acts of kindness, the power a kind act can have and how kids can carry out acts of kindness no matter how small!

In Kindergarten, we read Maria Dismony's book "The Jelly Donut Difference".  Twin siblings Leah and Dexter learn more about their neighbor, Ms. Mavis, who seems to be quite lonely.  They invite her to dinner, learn about her traditions from Poland including pączki (pronounced POWNCH-key), which is a sweet and savory donut-like dessert with a jelly filling.  The twins end up making this sweet treat and delivering them to their neighbor, Ms. Mavis.  Their act of kindness is greatly appreciated by Ms. Mavis and the twins continue to find other ways to be kind. 

After the story, Kindergarten students came up with "Half a dozen ways to be Kind" and created a little "donut box" that contains six ways kids can show kindness.  

Where has Wolfie Been?!? Updates!

Wolfie sure is getting some great career experience!   Thank you to our awesome 4th grade parents who are participating in this project - we are learning so much about career options and different types of post-secondary training needed for them all!

Willow earns a 3rd Program of Promise recognition for a Wisconsin School Counseling Program Accountability Report (WSCPAR)!!

I'm proud to share that for the 3rd consecutive year, our school counseling program at Willow has earned recognition at the state level!  Each year, school counselors can submit a Wisconsin School Counseling Program Accountability Report (WSCPAR) that includes data to demonstrate how the school counseling program has impacted school climate and student learning!
A huge thank you to Mrs. Osterhues for her leadership and support of our school counseling program as well as the amazing team of Willow teachers who continuously reinforce classroom lessons, small group skills, and collaboratively problem solve with me each and every day!  I'm proud to represent Willow River Elementary and get us on the map at the state level!
Select the link below to read this year's report!
Willow River Elementary 2018 WSCPAR

New BUDDY BENCH!!!

I am excited to announce that our upper playground will be getting a NEW Buddy Bench soon!  We had one 5 years ago that was made out of wood, but due to our Wisconsin weather, it just didn't stand the test of time.  On our Cinder Lot playground, we have a red Buddy Bench that students can use as well.  With our unique playground set up (how many kids get TWO playgrounds?!?!?) a second Buddy Bench is a treat!

Kindergarten and 1st grade students are learning how to use this tool, which was initially developed by a boy named Christian and included "rules" for using the bench.  Students are asked to "Have a plan" before heading out to recess and then if that plan doesn't work, they are encouraged to ask at least one other playground friend to play.  Ideally at this point, the problem will be solved because we also have the rule "Can't Say Can't Play", so if anyone asks if we can join in kickball, 4-square etc., we cannot exclude!  If for some reason or another this person says "no", we can then go sit on the Buddy Bench!  As we sit, we look around for someone to play with and if someone asks us to play while we are on that bench, we have to say YES!  I teach students that it is my hope that no one ever has to sit on our bench - because if our bench is empty it means that everyone is being included and is enjoying recess! :)

Ask your student about how our Buddy Bench works and see how it brightens up our playground!!!