Character Counts

*The intention of this newsletter compiled of some quoted information is to inform parents/caregivers about the Character Trait of the Month for May, TRUST, and to highlight what students will be learning during our SEL lessons. Resources and at-home activities have also been compiled for parents throughout this newsletter. SEL lessons may vary depending on classroom needs and Teacher request.

September:RESPECT: https://app.smore.com/n/s7nub

October: RESPONSIBILITY: https://app.smore.com/n/46kup7

Novemeber: CITIZENSHIP: https://app.smore.com/n/xtakg

December: HONESTY: https://app.smore.com/n/asb9z

January: FAIRNESS: https://app.smore.com/n/qgf54

February: CARING: https://app.smore.com/n/d0w3x

March: COURAGE: https://app.smore.com/n/suc29

April: DILIGENCE: https://app.smore.com/n/rbh0fu

May: TRUSTWORTHINESS: https://app.smore.com/n/dab41-character-counts

June: INTEGRITY:

Social and emotional learning (SEL) provides provides an array of benefits. Not only can it increase students’ academic achievement, but SEL activities can build students’ self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. All of these skills are important for students’ academic, social, and eventually, professional lives.

This month, Woburn Elementary School Adjustment Counselors will be teaching students about the importance of DILIGENCE. We will have interactive discussions and will do a guided activity together. *Lessons and activities may vary from school to school*

Trustworthiness: The ability to be relied on as honest or truthful.

Trustworthy describes something you can believe in — it's completely reliable. Your favorite newspaper can be trustworthy — they always print the truth — and people can be trustworthy too. A trustworthy person is honest, reliable, loyal and has integrity. The color blue is used to symbolize the pillar of trustworthiness, helping to remind students to be a "true blue friend" in all situations.

1. Name ways that you can be a trusted friend and then reflect on how others treat you

2. Practice by making a list of things you have to do and check them off as you go

3. Make a “Chain of Trust” by having students write one trustworthy action on a paper strip and connect them to form a class chain, illustrating that trust is built together.

4. Create “What would you do?” cards to use either at home or in the classroom with different scenarios and problem solving ideas

1. How do you know when you can trust someone?

2. What part does trust play in your relationships with your friends and family? How would these relationships be affected if you found out someone was lying to you?

3. Can you imagine starting a friendship with someone you didn't trust? What would that be like?

4. What are the benefits of being a trustworthy person? How do you benefit from the trustworthiness of others?

5. What does trusting somebody mean?

6. What do you look for in someone so you know you can trust him/her?

.7. What makes a person trustworthy?

8. What does trust have to do with the quality of someone's character?

9. How do you define a "lie"?

10. Is it ever okay to lie? When would that be?

11. What is a white lie? Is there any difference between a white lie and any other kind of lie? When have you told a white lie? What was the situation?

12. Some people say that simply avoiding the truth isn't really a lie. What do you think?

13. What is the biggest lie you've ever told? Would you do it again? Why or why not?

14. Have you ever lied to fit in? Did it help you fit in? If not, what happened?

15. Have you ever been lied to by someone you care about? What did that feel like?

16. Can your parents trust you? Why or why not? What role does trust play in your relationship with your parents? Have your parents talked to you about trust? How important is it to you and your parents?

Movies are a great tool for character development. They can explain important life lessons and help reinforce messages we're trying to teach our children. Here is a list I put together of great movies with characters who demonstrate a growth mindset and qualities such as perseverance, courage, determination, and TRUSTWORTHINESS.

• An American Tail
• Milo and Otis
• Aladden
• Pinocchio
• Cinderella
• Frozen
• Brave
• Marley & Me
• Nanny McPhee
• Shrek
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas The Sand Lot
• The Lion King
• Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory .... A personal favorite of mine.
• Mary Poppins
• Wonder
• The Pursuit of Happyness
• Inside Out

Another greast way to help your child learn about trust is to read books at their level then have a discussion about what happened. Reading is so important in a childs development!

• The Empty Pot.
• Edwurd Fudwupper. Fibbed Big.
• Sam Tells Stories.
• The Honest-to- Goodness Truth.
• Boy Who Cried Wolf.
• he Principal's New Clothes
• Too Many Tamales
• The Berenstain Bears and the Truth
• Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie
• A Big Fat Enormous Lie
• The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
• Fibbed Big
  
• Mr. Peabody’s Apples
  

• Ira Sleeps Over

• Frog and Toad are Friends
• Rise and Shine
• Molly’s Lies
• Bargain for Frances
• Swimmy
• The Little Engine That Could
• Big Fat Enormous Lie
• Ruthie and The Not So Teeny Tiny Lie
• How Could You?

1. “Keep Your Word” Challenge

-Have each family member make one small promise for the day (“I will put my dishes away” or “I will read for 10 minutes”). At dinner, talk about how it felt to keep the promise.

2. Trust Jar

-Every time a child shows trustworthy behavior- telling the truth, returning something, being responsible, or helping without being asked- add a pom-pom or marble to a jar. When it’s full, celebrate with a family activity.

3. “What Would You Do?” Scenarios

Read short situations and discuss:

• “You accidentally break something. What should you do?”
• “You find $5 on the floor at school, what would you do?”
• “Your friend lets you borrow their toy. What should you make sure you do?”

4. Truth vs. Tall Tale

-Take turns saying silly statements and truthful statements. Kids guess which is which. Then discuss why honesty matters even when telling the truth is hard.

Information & Shared Community:

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Mental Health education, self care resources, and awareness materials.

• Mental Health America: Screening tools, wellness tips, research articles, advocacy

• City of Woburn - Mental Health and Substance Abuse Awareness Festival / Live Free Fun Run: May 31, Ice House Park, 9:30am-2pm. Community event focused on providing resource connections, raising awareness, food trucks, face painting, music.

Coping Skills & Self Regulation:

• Headspace for Educators: App in Apple/Android Store. Free subscription for educators offering classroom resources, guided meditations, mindfulness routines, sleep aids, and focus exercises.

• Healthy Minds Program: App in Apple/Android Store. Science based, free meditation app. Designed to help improve mental health through awareness, connection, insight and purpose. Combines podcast style lessons with meditations.

Seeking Support:

• Interface Mental Health Referral Service: Free mental health referral service for students of WPS. Provides a "concierge" like service to connect students and families with mental health providers.

• MIIA Member Portal & App: Mental Health and Wellness resources for staff members provided as part of the WPS Employee Assistance Program.

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After Hours Mental Health Emergency Contact Info:

If this communication is regarding a mental health emergency occurring before or after school hours (8:10am-2:55pm on school days) or on a weekend, holiday or school break, call 911, go to your nearest Emergency Room or Advocates Mobile Crisis Team.

Advocates Mobile Crisis Team: 1-800-640-5432

Other Mental Health Resources:

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7: call or text 988

Interface Mental Health Referal Service (non-emergency, 9am-5pm): 1-888-244-6843