Friendship With +Arianne Jones

Friendship - It Means So Much

February was fabulously fun!.  We watched Arianne’s message about friendship and unpacked the monthly challenge. We also celebrated Valentine’s Day wearing our pajamas, playing board games and exchanging Valentines. Pink shirt day gave us the opportunity to talk about bullying and it’s impact on relationships between classmates.

Arianne encouraged students to be friendly and make the effort to include new people in activities. She challenged us to spend time learning two new things about students in our class.  The students were given a large grid with their classmates names on it.  They used the grid to record the new facts they learned about each classmates.  We modelled how to ask questions that dig deeper once a surface question has been asked.  For example: What is your favorite sport? (hockey)  Do you play hockey or watch?  What position do you play? How often do you practice?

 

 

Students were given several twenty minute sessions to spend time in conversation with their friends.  It was fun.  There was a lot of chatter but it was productive chatter and it forged links that will last forever.  

We celebrated Valentine’s by reading, “Somebody Loves You, Mr Hatch”.  This is one of my favorite Valentine’s Stories.  The student loved to see Mr. Hatch transformed from his crusty, bachelor, hermit lifestyle into a kind, caring, generous friend.   We had a wonderful discussion regarding the importance of “belonging” and how simple acts of kindness can transform and enrich lives.

On Pink shirt day we read one of my most favorite Valentine stories, “Hooway for Wodney Wat!” by Helen Lester.  We discussed the bullying behavior of Camilla Capybara and marveled at the way Wodney saved the day, just by being himself.

During February, Ms. Mayer, started her nine week student teacher practicum.  The class loved her so much.  It was so much fun getting to know her and watching her get to know the students.

Curriculum Links

Language Arts

• ask questions to clarify information and ensure understanding

• discuss, represent or write about ideas in oral, print and other media texts, and relate them to own ideas and experiences and to other texts

• experiment with ways of generating and organizing ideas  

Health

W-3.7 identify strategies to avoid being bullied in different case scenarios; e.g., communicate whereabouts, get away, say no firmly, avoid dares

R-3.5 develop strategies to build and enhance friendships

R-3.6 demonstrate inclusive behaviours regardless of individual differences or circumstances; e.g., physical, emotional, cultural, economic