First and Second graders practiced the skills of being a good listener during Guidance class. This is a part of our unit on impulse control or the ability to stop and think before doing. The listening skills include:
1. Looking at the person who is speaking.
2. Thinking about what the speaker is saying.
3. Looking interested in what someone else is saying.
4. Asking a question about what the speaker is saying.
Students were paired up and took turns listening and discussing what they would do if they had a pet elephant!
For the last several weeks, third and fourth graders have been learning about and discussing the skills involved with empathy. Empathy is the ability to read and understand another person’s thoughts and feelings. Students are pictured here practicing being mindful (an important part of having empathy) while tapping a balloon back and forth between them. Each had to consider the other’s movements, readiness and be “in tune” with one another to be successful (not let the balloon touch the floor!)