Our guidance counselor, Mrs. Penny Palagyi, is visiting our second grade classrooms this spring for a series of 5 social skills lessons.  For our first lesson we learned the difference between good social peer interactions (handshakes, compliments, smiles, etc.) and poor social peer interactions (pushes, "mean faces", rolling the eyes, etc.).

The Children Begin a Meditation Exercise

For our second visit Mrs. Palagyi shared a book called Zach Gets Frustrated by William Mulcahy.  This book demonstrated the 3-step triangle process that a young child may use to calm him/herself when faced with a frustrating situation.  We learned to NAME the problem, TAME oneself (calm down with techniques that we practiced), and REFRAME the problem (look at the positive side of the issue).  You will see that triangle kite visual reminder sheet in your child's folder tonight.  We practiced "Counting Back" to relax, and we also practiced a quick meditation exercise to calm the mind.

Meditation Helps Us Relax

We Were Very Good at Calming Our Bodies:)

Today Mrs. Palagyi shared a new book called Zach Apologizes by William Mulcahy.  She taught us how to use a 4-step square to work through an appropriate apology.  Mrs. Palagyi gave us a situation where an apology was needed (for us to practice this process), but the children could use their own examples if they chose.  This practice sheet is also in their "Bring Home" folders this evening.  Many children chose to fill in their practice answers on Post-its so they could keep the original sheet blank in case they needed it in the future at home:)!!!  We have 2 lessons left, and the children are looking forward to Mrs. Palagyi's final visits.

The Students Have a Discussion with Mrs. Palagyi