Dear Parents,

This lesson is designed to help you and your students explore grade appropriate topics in a motivitional and educational way(K-2: Educational Transitions, Grades 3-5: Organizational Independence, Grades 6-8: Responsibility and Accountability).

Thanks,

Mrs. Profito and Miss. Megan

Grades K-2

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”- Dr. Suess

Objective:

Recognizing educational transitions and developing a parental plan to help students cope and identify their feelings.

Do:

• Parental reflection:
• Reflect and consider the anticipation of your child’s reaction to transitions based on temperament, resiliency and previous experiences
• Reaction Examples:
• Child shows potential for separation anxiety from parent or caregiver by showing distress when an adult leaves them
• Students has exhibits stress when in a large group or environment
• Recognizing eating habits and how a child will eat in a communal setting
• When placed in a transitional setting, does you child show a physical ailment such as tummy aches and heachaches?

Discuss:

• Discuss what the school day will be like-
• Explore the school website with your student
• Showing different activities, pictures of teachers
• Research and show what a classroom may look like
• Discuss what the school lunch may be 
• Lunch from home
• Go over the school lunch menu
• Explain the school bus ride 
• How long it may be, where they would be sitting, using a seat belt, possible sitting with a neighbor
• Talk about making friends and remind your child that it is okay to be nervous
• Everyone is feeling similar

Activity:

• Draw a picture of your classroom, school bus, school lunch and/or your potential teacher

Grades 3-5

“A goal without a plan is just a wish”- Antoine de Saint-Exupery 

Objective: 

Helping and preparing students to become independent and organize learners through routines.

Discuss/Activity:

• Create a vision for a future plan 
• Short term plan example: Getting “A” in Math, doing well in gym
• Long term plan example: Graduating in the top 5% of the class, Being fit for life
• Using a Positive tone while discussing the future
• Validate the learners views and feelings  
• Words offer for guidance should be positive in nature and not in criticism
• Interactive Modeling with Parent and Student (Through observation and discovery)
• Discuss strategies to accomplish the plan
• Example for getting an “A” in Math: they will have study, do homework and participate in class
• Example for being fit for life: talking with your doctor, developing a health and fitness plan with a professional

Modified from The Responsiveclassroom.org 

Grades 6-8

“We want our children and teens to learn and grow from their successes and their mistakes.” - The Healthy Family Connection with Neil D. Brown

Objective:

Creating an environment that promotes learning experiences from both successes and mistakes.

Activity:

Definition: Accountability - Taking responsibility for one’s actions (WordPress.com)

How to Become Accountable

1. Taking Responsibility and avoid blaming others
2. Promoting a culture of accountability within your circles of friends and family
3. Create your own rules to live by and establish achievable boundaries
4. Reflect on your decision making process and share with an trusted adult

Activity modified from WordPress.com Parenting with Youth and Responsible Adulthood (MiddleEarth)

Discuss-

How our choices affect us both positive and negative; how can we make improved choices next time? How is accountability important in decision making and self-reflection?

Do-

Think of a time when it was hard to take accountability for your actions (cheating on a test, forgetting to do your homework, breaking a loved object, gossiping about a friend/classmate, etc.). Self-reflect on this time. Was it hard to take responsibility? What would you change today about that situation?