Happy New Year Trails to You!

As we enter 2012, my first grade students will be starting a language arts unit that fits the new year theme. It's called 'Journeys'. A journey is another word for trip, vacation, or excursion. It may be a hike, voyage, stroll, flight or car ride toward a destination. I'll be asking them, "What journey did you enjoy most in 2011? What made this journey special? Where did you travel to? Who did you go with?" To help them answer these questions, I'll ask them to please bring in an object for 'Show and Tell' that reminds them of 'Journeys'. Some suggestions include a drawing or a photo of a favorite destination, or an artifact from a place they've visited. ...or perhaps they will look to 2012 and beyond and tell the class about a place they hope to journey to in the future. Either way, it will be great to hear all about their journeys!

I fondly remember a song about enjoying the journey when I was growing up. It was the theme song of a television show starring Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans Rogers called 'Happy Trails'. She and her husband, Roy Rogers, would sing it while riding their horses off into the sunset. It went like this:

Happy trails to you,until we meet again.

Happy trails to you,keep smilin' until then.

Who cares about the clouds when we're together?

Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.

Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.

Some trails are happy ones,others are blue.

It's the way you ride the trail that counts,here's a happy one for you.'

Here are a couple more quotations about this theme by two twentieth century American authors. I think the kids in Room 24 will understand these quotes and the adults in their lives will appreciate them.

"The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” -Don Williams, Jr.

“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.”

-Greg Anderson

Happy New Year to my first grade students and their families!

Ringing in the New Year~First Grade Style!

Children everywhere recently heard the important adults in their lives proclaim new year beginnings for 2011~The new year provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon what's really important to us. It's a time to fine-tune our relationships, including our interactions with the little ones we influence. As we all have experienced, we know that a positive self-concept develops from feeling capable. In fact, many psychologists say our behavior is a reflection of our self-concept. With that in mind, what can adults do to encourage the children in their lives to start this year off right?

As a teacher, my passion is to encourage, motivate, nurture and support the children in my sphere of influence as well as provide tools for their loved ones. One of my favorite resources is The Institute of Love and Logic, founded by Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline M.D. I re-read their books often and actually keep their material and website close at hand as a daily reference. My 'new year read' is 'The Pearls of Love and Logic for Parents and Teachers'. Every time I pick it up, I can't help but apply the techniques...it's SO practical!

Each mini-chapter explains a pearl, such as: 'Self-Concept', 'Schoolwork', 'Grades', 'Fighting and Bickering', 'Whining and Complaining', 'Sibling Rivalry', 'TV and Mush-Brain', 'Avoiding Control Battles'...all very practical and concise lessons for parents, teachers, and other adults who influence our children.

I've learned effective behavioral techniques such as stating negative assertion, using the broken record, giving viable choices, showing empathy instead of anger, as well as developing a grab bag of catch phrase power messages to use as needed...Sound interesting? Then I encourage you to check out their website at http://www.loveandlogic.com

I'm confident that you will want to apply what you learn as 2011 takes shape! Happy New Year!