Hearing from students that their friends are being mean to them is one of the most heart-breaking problems teachers deal with. School should be a place where all students feel safe and valued, and I want to make sure that is happening by equipping my students with the social skills needed to be a good friend to others. Character Education and Social Skills books will help my students learn how to appropriately solve conflict with their classmates.
Teaching students how to respect others, disagree politely, and take turns are things that we have to talk about on a daily basis in Second Grade.
Every kid has a different life at home, so it is critical to our classroom community that we take time every day to talk about how to be kind, a good friend, and a good student. Teaching these students coping and self-regulation when they are feeling upset are tools that are going to last them a life time. If kids are facing these big feelings now, then teachers need to provide students with a way to regain composure, and stories provide students with solutions they can relate to.
My Project
These stories will help my students gain confidence and improve their relationships with their peers; this will allow more time to be focused on instruction and less on figuring out who took who's pencil without asking.
School isn't just about learning math facts; I am here to help my kids feel loved, confident, and safe by equipping them with the social tools they need to get along with their peers.
Here are some of the messages are taught in the stories in my grant:
-How to disagree respectfully
-Honesty
-Putting others before yourself
-The importance of diversity
-Individuality is important
-How to listen to others
-How to be a friend
-How to deal with big feelings
-How to handle a bad day
-Kindness brings people together
These are the lessons that we want our kids walking away with as they enter the world on their own, but unfortunately there isn't a curriculum for that. But by reading these stories and having meaningful discussions about the situations the characters are in, we're able to shape these little learners into loving leaders.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. A. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
