April Happenings

Recently our 5th grade students came to tour the middle school in preparation for their move to 6th grade next year.  As such, several advisory groups welcomed 5th grade visitors into their class for the day.  Not surprisingly, during their time with our middle school advisories, the 5th grade students heard about the activities our students participate in each day with their adviser.  To help get our students excited to share the Advisory program with our visitors, we celebrated Advisory Pride Week.  The week consisted of making posters, slogans and chants representing each advisory group.

Ms. Toms' Advisory spelling "T-O-M-S" with their bodies during their chant

Currently in Advisory we are talking about the word integrity.  Each advisory group is working to design their own two week project focusing on the concept of integrity and what it means in our lives.  Some groups are creating videos, others are considering ways we can remind each other to practice integrity; it seems I hear a new idea from a group every day.  It's exciting to watch students take charge of their own learning by designing projects around their interests.

I also wanted to share with you that yesterday we wrapped up stress management lessons in Wellness classes.  Each group met to discuss what stress is, how it affects us and how to keep it to a minimum.  Students in each grade learned about our "Fight or Flight" response and how our bodies physically react to stress.  We discussed how slowed breathing and physical activity can counteract those instinctual responses in our bodies.  6th grade students were then guided through creating a Stress Action Plan.  7th grade students talked about how to think through what one can and can't control in a stressful situation.  8th grade students took an informal stress checklist to assess how high their stress levels are currently or have been this school year.  8th grade students had the chance to privately request an appointment with me upon completing their stress checklist if they wished to discuss their stress further.  I am happy to say that overall, the 8th grade group reported low stress levels and many had little trouble thinking of strategies to keep their stress from building.

Teaching Character

This morning I took some time to skim through the March edition of The Voice, the student newspaper of Pembroke Hill School.  An article written by a high school student caught my attention.  This article was a response the character initiative assembly that our high school students have already attended and our middle school students will participate in this spring.  What interested me most about this article was the honest student perspective of character education.  The author argued that good character develops along a unique path for each individual and that random lessons here and there may not have always have the lifelong impact we hope for.  This same edition of The Voice also includes another high school student authored article regarding cyber-bullying, in which the writer discusses the difficulty of seeing the cruelty discussed in assembly format come to life.  This author describes how even he, who has balked at character assemblies, saw their value in the aftermath of anonymous cyber-bullying.

My take aways from this most recent edition of The Voice?  Find meaningful ways for our students to connect with the concepts of respect, integrity, compassion and scholarship on a daily basis.  Give them tools to turn to when they encounter a situation that puts their character to the test.  Let them become their own unique selves, in their own time.  Make sure our students know that we are good listeners and available. Teach good character by example.

When I re-read the above paragraph I know that this is the existing philosophy of our staff at Pembroke Hill. It is a timely reminder as we head into busy and exciting time that is 4th quarter.  It is what I will return to as I work with our teachers to implement our renewed focus on character development.  It is what I will spend a great deal of time considering as I challenge myself to help our students know that this is our belief as the adults in this school community.  And it comes from reading the voices of our students.

Intent vs. Impact

Recently in Advisory we have taken some time to think about the impact of our words.  A common skill middle school age students are still struggling with is the ability to consider how another person might perceive a situation.  While we have seen quite a bit of growth in our students' abilities to "put themselves in someone else's shoes" from their elementary years, this can still prove to be challenging for them.  A little brain development science helps to explain this trouble in teens quite well.

During adolescence the brain is experiencing a huge amount of growth in synapses, the connections between the various parts of the brain.  It is also pruning old synapses it does not need anymore.  This pruning and growth starts in the back of the brain and moves forward (from the back of the head to the forehead).  Located in the front is the prefrontal cortex.  This area of the brain controls impulses, forms judgements, weighs outcomes and helps us to understand others - and it is the last to be fully developed.  Usually this development is not complete until the mid-20s!

Knowing this about our students brains, we know they need repeated exposure and practice regarding thinking about how our words and actions impact others.  One thing that makes this discussion so tricky is the concept of intent.  Almost always when I talk with students about relational aggression I hear something about how it is "just joking."

At the end of February our advisors had meaningful discussions with their groups about how your intent does not always match the impact of your words and helped students to think through how to prevent negative consequences in their interactions with each other.  Each advisory was asked to make a visual reminder for us to display that will help us remember as we go about our days.  Here are some of the visuals that were created:

The drawings in the poster show a girl talking about how easy the test was.  The boy hears this and feels bad because the test was difficult for him (I LOVE this poster - I know I have talked with some of you about this concerning conversation that happens in our hallways sometimes!)  Created by Wolfe Advisory

Engage your brain and your heart before your mouth - simple and powerful!  Created by Maxson Advisory

Just as you can't put toothpaste back in a tube, you can't put your words back in your mouth - great concept!  Created by Mohr Advisory

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Oh my!  It's been awhile since I've added to the blog!  I've been working with the students and staff in so many great ways lately, let me update you!

5th grade
Approaching Spring Break means getting to know the 5th grade students who will be joining our middle school soon.  I've had the pleasure of talking with staff at Lower School regarding this amazing group of kids coming our way!  I will be visiting the 5th grade group in March to talk about friendships and conflicts.  I am looking forward to talking with them about this issue that is so central to their lives and getting to show them a little bit of what I do in the middle school.

6th grade
Together with our Learning Specialist, Susan Tuncten, I have been working with the 6th grade teachers to develop "mini-lessons" in the Plus Period time for students needing a boost.  We have met with students regarding test taking skills, how to ask for help, how to manage your time, what to do when you are absent, keeping your locker clean and more!  Click here to see a Test Taking Tips document created by some 6th grade students working to improve their test taking skills.

7th grade
I'm very excited to have the chance to talk with the 7th grade next week during the Career Kaleidoscope day.  I'll be meeting with all students at the end of their sessions to recap the day and talk about "The 4 Cs of 21st Century Skills" which are: critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity.  We will talk about how those are skills they are learning now and how that prepares them for success later.

8th grade
Last Friday I spent a portion of the day participating in East Asia Day activities.  Together we learned Feng Shui, how to use chopsticks, the art of Ikebana floral arrangements and how to write "horse" in Chinese calligraphy!  Such a fun day!

Earlier this week I had the chance to attend the annual KCPT Technology Conference.  I learned about so many great resources for bullying, college and career readiness, technology in the classroom and diversity awareness.  Now that I've had a couple days to get my head to stop spinning with possibilities, it's time to do some planning to bring in all this new learning I've experienced here to Pembroke Hill.  Better get to work!  Have a great weekend!

National School Counseling Week

The first week in February each year is a chance to recognize school counselors through National School Counseling Week and each year I find myself feeling ever more grateful to have found a career I enjoy so thoroughly.  

One of the things I look forward to the most is helping students discover who they are, both for a healthy self-awareness and in the hopes that they will spend their future days working in a field that fulfills them in the same way I feel fulfilled in mine.  Recently I have had some opportunities to be a part of this self-discovery on a large scale with students.  I am preparing an end of day summary session for the 7th grade to participate in following Career Kaleidoscope on March 7th.  While their professional lives are still some time away, this is often the time in a student's academic career they begin to question "Why do I have to do this?"  Being able to connect the learning experiences our students have now with their future endeavors is increasingly important as they near graduation and career exploration activities provide a new lens with which to have these discussions.  

At the end of January I was able to sit down to talk with the college counselors about ways I can help support the transition to the high school.  This past Monday, one of the ideas from that conversation was put into action in 8th grade math classes.  To help 8th grade students prepare for their upcoming Professional Day, we created portfolios in Missouri Connections (www.missouriconnections.org) and took one of the interest inventories to see which careers fit with activities we enjoy doing.  Students discussed how this website is a tool to get them started on their own personal career development journey and interests change over time.  We hope some students who were unsure who to shadow on Professional Day have some new insight as to how to approach this opportunity.  If your student missed this activity, make-ups will be held this coming Wednesday during Advisory.  Ask your 8th grader about his/her Missouri Connections profile and results.  If you would like to follow up with me regarding this program, please let me know!

I'll leave you this week with a link to the Senate bill officially recognizing National School Counseling Week and a sincere "Thank You" for welcoming me so warmly to Pembroke Hill this year!

Scholarship in focus

As previously mentioned, this quarter students are studying what it means to be a scholar.  Here at Pembroke Hill, we define scholarship in the following way:

• Engage the world with open mindedness, curiosity and imagination
• Seek understanding and truth through disciplined and thoughtful inquiry
• Pursue knowledge throughout one's lifetime

This week students were challenged to think about the way they approach the learning that occurs in their life by introducing the idea of fixed mindsets and growth mindsets.  The topic was introduced using this video.  I was able to be in one of the Advisory classes for the discussion that followed the video.  This particular group discussed whether or not they thought intelligence was something that could change over time, or if they felt it was more stable.  The students also talked about how we view and respond to criticism, as well as what it means to have to put effort into your school work.

Students have been invited to put the skills of effort and persistence into practice through our 30 Day Challenge, which officially begins today, though some students have begun already.  We are daring ourselves to try something new for 30 days that will enhance our lives in some way.  For example, my challenge is to read for fun for the next 30 days (I have let this small pleasure go recently in the midst of just being busy).  I have learned that students are working toward making someone smile each day, going to bed earlier and even giving up frozen yogurt at lunch! We'll check-in with students at the end of the 30 days to see how they did and what they gained from this experience!

In our staff meeting this morning we discussed a great technology tool that could help us enhance a learning environment that supports academic risk taking.  The Socrative website allows students to take online quizzes that give them immediate feedback on their understanding. When a student misses the concept, they can adjust their learning on their own.  This option may increase student participation in the lesson and enhance student connections with the material.  I'm giving some thought as to how I can use this tool in guidance lessons to check student understanding of the lesson objectives, while giving each budding scholar the chance to take a stab at the answer.  I'm anxious to use the knowledge I gain from their responses to improve my lessons and guide my work here at Pembroke Hill!  The students aren't the only learners around here :)

New Year, New Opportunities

Welcome back to a new semester!  It has been really wonderful seeing our students again and hearing about their relaxing and refreshing break.  I wanted to be sure to let you know about some opportunities being offered here in the counseling office this month and into the second half of our year.

First, I am going to be working with students in small groups on two topics.  The topics are Stress Management and Friendship Support.  Groups begin next week.  Students have all been informed of the opportunity.  A permission form is required to participate and is due on Friday of this week.  Sometimes students are unsure about participating in a group with the counselor, they worry about the stigma that it will be very "touchy/feely" - but I am working to let them know that counseling groups operate very much like activities I do with them in the classroom.  If you feel your student may benefit from time talking with peers about dealing with high stress levels or challenges that come with middle school friendships, please consider having them join one of these groups.  As always, feel free to call me for more information.

Second, I will be starting a new after school club that will meet on Mondays, called Community Club.  Our first meeting is today.  Community Club is focused on contributing to our positive school climate.  We will consider together what events we could sponsor.  I will be suggesting Kindness is Contagious Week in February as an example.  If the students are interested we may look into service projects for our Greater KC area as well.  I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with our students in this manner.

In Advisory this quarter students will be examining the concept of "scholarship."  We will be looking at the myths that our students sometimes accept when it comes to scholarship and encouraging them to look at risk taking/failure through a new lens.  Our hope is to further develop a love of life-long learning, create a learning atmosphere where academic risk taking is supported and to give students permission to let go of perfectionism while striving for excellence.  Each Monday in advisory students will discuss a concept related to scholarship and on Tuesdays students will be introduced to an example of someone in the world of business, sports, entertainment, etc who embodies the idea of scholarship as we see it.  This week students will watch a short video with Matt Cutts of Google. 

Lastly I wanted to share something really fun that has been happening in my little office.  Before break I had a puzzle on the table in my office and now I have coloring pages with colored pencils.  The students come in during their breaks to relax and enjoy a relaxing project together.  I have had the pleasure of getting to small talk with them and gain some insight into what is happening at school through their eyes.  Have I mentioned before that I have the best job in the world?