ONE Can Make a Difference

In our Guidance Lessons this week, I wanted to talk to the students about how they can impact the day of their peers and teachers based on the words that they use. We read the Starfish story and talked about how the little boy in the story makes a difference in the lives of the starfish he tosses back into the ocean, even if he can't save them all. 

During our lesson, the students sat at a table and put their names on their starfish. At each signal I gave them, they passed their starfish paper to the right and the students at their table wrote something kind about the student. We passed our papers around the table until it arrived back at the original owner. Then, I took the papers and sent them to a new table. We did this a few times so that the students had a chance to write kind things about each other. 

When we had completed a few rounds, I had the students read the name of a student and choose one kind word about the student to tell the whole class. It was amazing to watch the faces of the students as their kind words were read aloud. Our first instinct when we hear kind words about ourselves is to shy away, disagree, or come up with an excuse but I challenged the students to just sit and listen to all of the wonderful things said about their classmates. 

I don't know about you, but when I receive a note, letter, or kind word from someone else, it feels as though a spark is lit. I feel extra motivate to continue doing what I am doing or ensure that I am showcasing that positive attribute. Sometimes it is easy to pick on the negatives instead of letting the positives shine. As the students got their papers back and read the kind words their peers had said about them, I feel as though it gave them a sense of self worth. The smiles truly said it all. 

My hope with this lesson is that students see how it feels to receive affirmations and in return will give those affirmations to their peers more frequently. 

Mrs. Hagg
Cherry School Counselor