Welcome to the 2014-2015 School Year!

Hello, Gracemor Families!

We hope you and your family had a happy and safe summer and are now in the swing of things with school.  This year, Gracemor Elementary will again have two counselors.  Kirsten Muller is one of our Elementary Counselors.  She also serves as an e-Campus instructor. She has grades 2, 4, and 5. Jennifer Bagby is the other counselor at Gracemor and she has grades K, 1, and 3.

As the Gracemor Counselors, we will structure our day within the frameworks of the Missouri Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program.  The program provides four basic program components:  Guidance Curriculum (K-5 – weekly classroom counseling lessons), Individual Student Planning (assessment, academic assistance, behavior plans, etc.), Responsive Services (small groups, individual counseling, crisis counseling, etc.), and System Support (in-services, program management, program evaluation, parent, faculty and building support).

The curriculum is divided into three content areas: Personal and Social Development, Academic Development and Career Development.  The Missouri Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program, the district curriculum, and other materials will be used for classroom and small group presentations with students.   Some of the topics discussed during groups will be: Self Awareness, Decision Making, Feelings, Social Skills, Careers, Study Skills and more.  The Gracemor Counseling Program will also support the school-wide Positive Behavior Support Program.

We are looking forward to having a great year and hope to meet many of you in the near future.  If we can be of assistance to you, please contact my counseling office at 816-413-6484.

Keep Your Friends!

For the primary grades, our focus has shifted to personal and social skills and interactions with friends.  Younger children can have so much difficulty getting along with their peers.  To help them better understand the skills necessary to make and keep friends, I read a wonderful book by Nancy Carlson, How to Lose All Your Friends.

This book's author uses humor to let kids know the way that they should be treating others.  Bullies, tattletales, and grouches are going to have a hard time making and keeping friends in the future.

After reading the book, the kids were asked to complete graphic organizers, identifying ways to make and keep a friend.

This student said being kind, loving, and nice are ways to maintain friendships.  She also said that kids shouldn't bully, call names, or say, "I hate you."

This student suggested being nice, kind, and honest.  She also states that kids shouldn't be grouchy or mean.  They also shouldn't whine or keep all of the cookies to themselves.

Careers, Careers, Careers!

Our counselor activities have continued to focus on careers through the month of February. During my last lesson, I read How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky with first and second grade classes.

This book tells the story of how Santa (Yes, that's his real first name!) became the jolly man that we know today.  He had to try many different jobs before he found the one that was perfect for him.  He was a chimney sweep, mailman, waiter, zoo keeper, and circus worker before he was hired by the elves to deliver the toys that they make.  This wonderful story illustrates how, as adults, we often have to try many, many different jobs until we find the perfect fit (if we're lucky!).

Next, students were asked to identify what job they would like to have when they're adults.  I borrowed  an activity from a fellow counselor (Thank you, KR!) and asked the children to complete the statement and illustrate what they want to do when they're adults.

This student wants to be a truck driver.

This student wants to be a doctor.

I also encouraged the students to talk to their parents about the different jobs that they've had in their lives.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Muller

Careers

Identify one thing that you wonder (want to know) about the career path that you and your partner discussed today.  How can you find out more information?

Safe Touch

During our most recent Counselor lessons, we have been discussing 'Good Touch/Bad Touch.'  These lessons are brief, but they give kids a very important message:  They get one body; their bodies are very special; and they need to report touches that are hurtful, confusing, and uncomfortable.  

I taught them a simple way to remember what to do:

Say NO!

Then GO!

And Tell!

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  I'm always available.  Have a great week!

Wanted: A True Friend

While searching the internet for some new goodies to use with first and second grade, I discovered a counseling blog,  Music City School Counselor.  There are many lessons and activities that are very helpful.

Inspired by her idea, I had first and second grade students make "Wanted" signs for their true friends.  They were asked to write the traits that their friend should have.  They also illustrated them.  It was a great lesson and we had a great time!

"I want a friend who does not bully.  And I want a friend that treats me like a good friend.  I want a friend that I can trust."

"I want a friend that is nice, honest, helpful, caring, and loving."

I also shared mine with them as an example.  Too bad that my ideal 'friend' is taller than the tree.  The kids thought it was funny!

Happy Thanksgiving!

College Bulletin Board

This year our school district is focusing on college and career readiness.  Obviously careers is a large part of what we discuss through our guidance curriculum.  Borrowing the idea from one of my counselor friends, I made bulletin board that displays where Gracemor's faculty and staff attended college.  Both the students and staff members love it.  I think it's very important for students to see the wide variety of experiences that their teachers have.  In fact, last Friday, one of my students told me, "Mrs. Muller, you went to the same college in Memphis that my parents did."  Memphis is an eight hour drive from where we are in Kansas City. 

As you can see, Kansas City is our starting point.  We have staff members who studied on both coasts.

Here is a close up view.  I printed each college/university's mascot on card stock and included the staff members' name on each card. 

Have a great week!