Hand in Hand... We Can Fight Drugs

This week was a busy week!  It was Halloween Week, it was Red Ribbon Week, and we completed a unit in reading (yes, I know, not as "colorful" as the other two events but still it made for a busy week! Thank you Scott Foresman!).  As the project is nearing and end and I collect data, observations, and reflections; the students began writing in their journals of the impact this project has had on them in everyday world.  I was overjoyed to see these reflections.... ( I will post photos of some reflections first part of next week). 

As this week was Red Ribbon Week Just Say No to Drugs.  The theme at my school was, "Hand in Hand We Can Fight Drugs" a perfect partner to my project!  I could not have planned it any better!  Each day this week had a theme and everyone dressed accordingly.  Monday: was "sock it to drugs" crazy socks were worn at school; Tuesday was "tie up drugs" neck ties were worn; Wednesday was "hats off to drugs"; red hats, wigs, headbands, bows, and ribbons were worn; Thursday was "shade out drugs" sunglasses/shades were worn; and Friday was "turn your back on drugs" all shirts were worn backwards.   We worked these themes into our "All Hands In Project" by relating the two facets together.  How helping a friend, schoolmate, classmate, neighbor etc could also help this person to stay away from drugs.  On Thursday the students in 4-6 grades had an assembly on drug/alcohol awareness and prevention.  The students returned to class needing to discuss what was learned and what was talked about.  I included the relationship between the two as the students talked to each other.  

Many of my students stated the best way you could help someone/anyone is by preventing them from doing something wrong/ harmful!  I was as proud as a mama lion is of her pride.  Unfortunately, my students are aware of the effects of drugs and many have known or know someone who has experimented or used drugs/alcohol.  One of their "what if" questions was, "what if __________________ had someone to help him/her make a better choice, what could have been prevented.   

Throughout the week, the students discussed ways they could help and also help keep the community "clean from drugs.  I was truly pleased to hear how the students responded on the importance of helping younger children learn to "just say NO!"  All in all it was a great week!  I love  observing my students growing together as a tighter unit.

"All Hands in Project" Links...

Okay everyone, I am yet again going to attempt to post some valuable websites pertaining to students helping others and the effect it has on them when they do something unexpected.  I will post my "week in review" and photos tonight or Sunday!  I have been working on the links this weekend!  If by chance you are unable to go directly to the below links, it is a technical/ user error; the site addresses are correct! :)

http://www.awesomelibrary.org/ChildrenHelp.html

http://www.makingfriends.com/helping_children.htm

http://schoolreadiness.suite101.com/article.cfm/help_your_child_make_friends

http://www.gateline.com/104/story/5420.html

http://www.usd305.com/heusner/default/Students/new_matrix.pdf

http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-1175078/Classroom-meetings-encouraging-a-climate.html

continued from Sunday October 25th

 As the students are coming to an end of completing the "hands" part of the project.  I am looking forward to observing the students' interaction with each other as well as with faculty and students throughout the school.  I have been in contact with the parents.  I sent home a newsletter discussing the project to have the parents aware of what was taking place in the classroom.  Several parents have contacted me to let me know, their children are becoming aware of their actions and how these actions affect others. I will be posting some photos of the students working together.  I will also post some of the students' comments about the project.

Helping Hands

As the students continue to complete the hands and focus on making our classroom a better place for all the students and the school; I am so proud of the progress I am observing with the students.  

However, my students  discussed being in the sixth grade you have to endure hearing the phrases:

 " you are the big kids of the school"

 "all eyes are upon you"

 "you need to act like 6th grade students"

"you know the little kids look up to you" 

They do not appreciate all of these phrases.  The complained that is these phrases are all they hear from the faculty. They said sometimes they just wanted to be appreciated for who they are and what they do. I am just as guilty for saying this to my students.  The truth is they are acting like 6th grade students;  which just may not be exactly how we want them to act at the time. So I took some time to ask the students how these comments make them feel and what should be done to make these statements realistic and encouraging.

As we had our informal group discussion, the students expressed their feelings of the comments as being:

"Too much pressure"

"It's not like we are the teachers or anything"

"Why does everyone have to look at us?"

"Who do we have to look to?"

So we worked on how could we make this work for everyone!  The students decided they would accept the role of being the oldest in the school. They accepted the challenge of being role models for the younger students.  So in order for them to feel some affirmation; I arranged for the to have some privileges only the 6th grade students could have. For example more computer time on Friday afternoons, opportunities for earn "double tickets" for their hard work. Also, I spoke with the lower grade teachers, we decided the pair up the younger students with the older students so they could help each other.

Therefore, I am adding one extra week of the "helping hands" project the "buddy pairs" will make hands together and discuss how they have helped each other for that week. My sixth grade students have discovered  one valuable lesson from the younger students... it is okay to be silly sometimes and not always having to be so "COOL!" or as my students say today, "CLEAN!"

www.bullybusters.com

The students helping each other overcome some scary moments!

As things are beginning to settle down.  My mother is FINALLY out of the hospital and staying with my sister in Birmingham!  I am working on updating this blog with some photos and summaries for the project and how the students are responding!

The students had a book report due on October 6th.  The report consisted of the students creating a cereal based upon the book they are reporting.  The oral presentations were the commercials.  Many students did not want to get up in front of the class and speak.  Some were even extremely frightened.  The photos depict some of the students lending a helping hand in calming some classmates nerves.  Not only was it encouraging to see the students help each other, but it made for some laughs as well. The students are becoming a close knit group.  I have told them all year we are one team, we may get on each others nerves; but we must learn to be respectful and unconditional in out actions.  The book reports showed this was becoming "normal" in my class.  The students have taken on the "I can say something about you.... but no one else can say anything about you! attitude!"  

Helping Hands Week 3

Now for some details concerning my class project, " Helping Hands"  the students and I are becoming a closer unit as time progresses through the school year.  It is hard to believe one-fourth of the school year is complete.  I am witnessing the students growing as individuals and learning a a team of positive ways to work together on one task.  Yes, twenty-eight students is a lot of students working on one task at one time.  Not only is it a large group they students are growing larger each day; I have one student 6'1" and rapidly growing.  As I barely stand 5' tall I am becoming the shortest in the class.

Even in our close quarters the students are becoming open about feelings, troubles, weaknesses, and successes.  I wish I could schedule a time of the day to talk simply about "student issues." One of my students who inspired this project is mentally challenged has taught me students the meaning of being an unconditional friend.  Therefore, as we venture through this project and the students are able to witness first hand how helping someone simply for the sake of helping someone and doing something nice.  The students are becoming aware of the feeling of accomplishment, accommodation, and fullfillment as they do as good deed for someone.  They are also experiencing the comfort in receiving good deeds from fellow students.

The students overall classroom behavior is improving, well, other than the talking during class.  But they are all trying to work together.  In a way, the talking in class is part of the coming together process because they are verbalizing more feelings rather than withholding and becoming angry with themselves and others in the class. For me as a teacher, I have to concentrate on becoming more tolerant of the talking because as they say, "I can not have my cake and eat it too!"  I can not encourage the students to work together and keep a quiet classroom.  They must be able to talk and communicate with each other.  I am appreciating the conversations occurring amongst the students discussing the good deeds they are doing for each other and for family members at home.

I am truly enjoying the conversations of how my students are helping younger brothers, sisters, cousins, friends, and/or students.  I am seeing and hearing a great deal of how the students are assisting students at school. For example, "helping a student complete an Accelerated Reader test in the library."  The students are having the younger students read to them so they can enhance their fluency skills.  My students have also disclosed helping the younger students at home from tasks as easy as tying shoes to working on multiplication facts.

Again, I hate to cut this short the doctor is one is way into the room.  I will continue....

Week 3 Helping at Home

A surprising fact I have realized, students have difficulty tracing their hands.  I have had to assist several students in tracing their hands as well as assist in cutting out the tracing of their hands.  I am curious is this weakness due to Early Childhood Development becoming focused strongly on reading and phonemic skills?  

All Hands In Project: Week 3 Helping out at Home

Week 3: Helping Hands at Home

This may have to be a two part post as I am Birmingham with my mother.  She had a hip replacement today.  I am now very thankful for the technology we can use today.  The Blog is a very handy tool!  :)

Last week was Week 3 and the students focused on how they helped out at home... outside from the typical chores they are required to do.  I wanted them to pay attention to going out of their way to help out at home.

I regret I have had some technical difficulties while in Birmingham.  I am going to simply post this then add more detail throughout the day!

All Hands In Project: Week 2

I am able to witness the students reflecting on the nice things they do in the classroom.  They are becoming more considerate of the other students.  The first two weeks, we concentrated on the students  and how they have helped a classmate.  This upcoming week, we will discuss and apply how to help out at school.  For example, I picked up the playground; I helped in the lunchroom; I asked the custodian if he needed any help; I helped the Technology Coordinator in the computer lab. 

I have had to adjust the schedule of working on the "All Hands In" Project for the remaining of the observations.  I modeled and assisted the students as they became familiar with the objective and the practice.  This week, the students will begin to work on their "hands" during their "down time" upon completion of activities.  I want to see how the students respond to the tasks of making note of their "good deeds," observe who is taking this  project seriously, and who is exhibiting a difference in their behavior.

All Hands in Project: Actions, Talk, and the "Write Stuff"

Calendar of Events

Week 1: All About Me- how I will improve the well being of my class

Week 2: How I helped someone in my class

Week 3:         How I helped the school

Week 4: How I helped at home

Week 5: How I helped the community

Week 6: How I could help the planet