The Virtue of Forbearance

Our new virtue for this quarter is Forbearance. This is a tough one for kids - and even adults - to understand. Forbearance is showing self-control, patience, and tolerance especially in the face of provocation.

One example of forbearance is when one student patiently works with another student on a concept without getting frustrated or complaining. This would be a great topic to discuss when beginning to work on a group project.

Another great example - that happens to me all the time - is when something goes wrong with technology in the classroom. A video won't show up, there is no sound, the smart board needs to be calibrated, etc. Often times all of the students in the room want to jump up and tell the teacher what to do. This can be a great lesson in forbearance. Being patient and understanding while the problem is dealt with by the teacher.

Here are my bulletin boards for the quarter...

BEE forBEARing - in the main hallway. Each of the bees discusses a different way to show forbearance.

Keep Calm and Forbear On - in the middle school hallway. The smaller red pieces have different quotes relating to forbearance, patience, and self-control. I especially love the quote from T.H. White - "The most difficult thing in the world is to know how to do a thing and silently watch someone else do it wrong." This is something that I struggle with all of the time in both my personal and professional life.

Counselor Style #3

Still doing well without repeating actual outfit. Looking back at these pictures I do realize that I love my khaki skirts! It has been fun looking for inspiration on Pinterest and trying to create outfits out of what I already own. 

Mint Sweater - H&M

Mustard T-shirt - Banana Republic Outlet

Skinny Jeans - Old Navy

Burgundy Flats - Old Navy

Polka Dot Scarf - Target Dollar Spot ($3)

Purple Cardigan - J Crew (garage sale find)

White Tank - Target

Khaki Skirt - thrifted

Burgundy Flats - Old Navy

Leopard Belt - Macys

Navy/Cream Polka Dot Cardigan - J Crew

Cream Shirt - NY&Co

Khaki Skirt - Old Navy

Nude Flats - Target

Coral Necklace - Kohls

Purple Cardigan - TJ Maxx

Khaki Skirt - thrifted

Burgundy Flats - Old Navy

Polka Dot Scarf - Target Dollar Spot ($3)

Pink Sweater - Banana Republic Outlet

Navy Skirt - J Crew (thrifted)

Brown Flats - Vera Wang for Kohls

Necklace - Dress Barn

Blue Cardigan - TJ Maxx

Khaki Skirt - Old Navy

Brown Boots - Naturalizer from Macys

Scarf - Burlington Coat Factory

Mustard Cardigan - Target

Navy Shirt Dress - J Crew Outlet

Cognac Boots - Famous Footwear

Tan Belt - garage sale find

Red Sweater - NY&Co

Khaki Skirt - Old Navy

Brown Boots - Naturalizer from Macys

Scarf - Burlington Coat Factory

Red Cardigan - Target

White Tank - Target 

Black Skirt - Old Navy

Cognac Boots - Famous Footwear

Tan Belt - garage sale find

Gold Necklace - NY&Co

Mustard Sweater - LOFT

Navy Shirt - Ann Taylor

Navy Lace Skirt - Target (garage sale find)

Cognac Boots - Famous Footwear

Tan Belt - garage sale find

Chevron-ish Scarf - Target Dollar Spot ($3)

Kindness Class Projects

Here are some examples of what the classes have been doing for the virtue of Kindness.

In Kindergarten, we read The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace. We discussed different examples of kindness and then each student created their own "quilt square". I cut scrapbook paper into 5 inch by 5 inch squares and regular copy paper into 4.5 inch by 4.5 inch squares and glued them together.

For our second Kindergarten lesson, we read The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane DeRolf. We discussed how the crayons were all different but had to work together and be kind in order to create a beautiful picture. We then discussed how the students could work together and treat each other with kindness. The students then decorated their own paper crayons.

For one of my 2nd grade lesson, we read Kindness to Share from A to Z by Todd and Peggy Snow. The students then worked in groups to come up with sentences/examples of kindness for each of the letters of the alphabet. They did a great job coming up with their sentences and were very creative! 

In 5th grade, we discussed the concept of building one another up versus tearing each other down. The students made pledges to build others up by doing kind acts for one another. 

Here are some examples of class projects from around the building.

Kindness Bulletin Boards

I thought that I had posted about this already, but I guess not. Our first virtue for the year was Kindness. I have two bulletin boards that I am in charge of, one in the main hallway, near the front office, and the other outside my office in the 5th-8th grade wing.

The one in the main hallway is in a pretty prominent space and can be seen by all parents and students entering the school through the main doors or going to the front office. I try to keep this bulletin board more "primary" in focus. The theme is simpler and the suggestions are easy to understand. With the leaves starting to change and fall in the air, I decided to play off of the idea of raking leaves, but instead focusing on Random Acts of Kindness. The kids loved see the actual rake on the board. I got it at Dollar Tree in their summer/beach section over the summer.

For the board in the middle school wing, I try to go with more "popular" or "in" ideas. I had seen this idea all over Pinterest so I just had to use it. It is a play on Carley Ray Jepson's song, Call Me Maybe. The kids thought it was pretty funny.