A Week in Pictures

Last week was a busy one for character classes!  Seventh Age learned about empathy by reading Stand in my Shoes, Sixth Age focused on healthy eating with the book, You Are What You Eat and Other Mealtime Hazards, 7-1 talked about personal space requirements with Personal Space Camp, and 8-2 measured the personal space they need to feel comfortable with friends (a few inches) and strangers (several feet).  Finally, 8-A and 8-B discussed the value of each individual no matter what their ability, ethnicity, race, age, or socio-economic status by watching a clip of the documentary "Babies" and talking about similarities and differences with guest teacher, Monica Stewart.


Tavi Tells the Class How She has Shown Empathy at School

Catherine and Elise Draw and Write about Standing in Someone Else's Shoes

Penelope and Anna Notice How Others Feel

Ms. Stewart was our Guest Teacher in Eighth Age!

8-A Compares Similarities and Differences of the Babies!

Justin Measures the Space Needed for Leon and Zach

Some Need More Space

Others Need Less Space!

 

Manners Matter with Sixth Age

Sixth Age boys and girls learned how manners help with friendships, social awareness skills, and self-confidence.  After reading a few fun books with them, I showed them my board decorated like a dining room table.  The table had "guests" around it (drawings of boys, girls, and adults), and as a class we decided who should stay and who should be excused!  For example, the boy picking at his teeth needed to do that in the bathroom so he was excused.  The girl holding a bowl of soup and licking  it with her tongue was taken off, as was the boy with his feet on the table.  The children seemed to enjoy this activity, and understood from the drawings who was "in" and who was "out."  Manners do matter, but if one spent a lot of time watching T.V. and movies, one might think they didn't matter any more.  Children who are polite are respected by both peers and adults; people want to be around them.  Manners matter because they directly relate to respect, compassion, responsibility, and honor--our four Calvert Pillars. 

Myrna helps us decide who should stay and who should go!

Eighth Age Students Build Conversations

Conversation Builders by the Eighth Age Students

8-2 Practicing Conversation Flow!

All sections of Eighth Age have been building conversations in Character Classes!  The ability to build and maintain conversation is an important tool for friendships and social skills.  Talking about and practicing words and expressions that facilitate conversations is a skill that can be fine-tuned by all.  We started the lesson by discussing what words build a conversation as opposed to what "busts" one.  If a student monopolizes, talks only about herself, or talks over others, that student may be challenged to maintain friendships and develop deep peer connections.  On the other hand, a student who gives everyone a chance to talk, picks a topic that all are interested in, and has good eye contact, will be more inclined to have a multitude friendships. 

After we brainstormed conversation builders and verbal "invitations" such as, "Good morning.  How are you?" and "Let's do it together," each student wrote down his or her own conversation builder --they are now displayed on a bulletin board outside the auditorium.

Here are some examples from the students:

• "Is there anything I can do for you?"
• "I love your project"
• "What is wrong?  Are you OK?"
• "Will you be my friend?"
• "Sure, you can play!"
• "That was awesome."
• "Would you like to come bowling with me?"
• "I missed you"

Students noticed how the reciprocal exchange and positive flow of conversations help develop friendships because they are showing interest in each other, and an understanding of what they have in common, as well as what makes them unique.  An appreciation, certainly, develops!

 

Leon P. Listens to a Conversation Builder

Boys Enjoying Listening to Each Other!

 

Laura

 

8-A Girls!



Lindy talks about her Conversation Builder

Taylor