Kindergarten...everything is new and exciting...so much to learn and experience, least of which is social and academic readiness skills necessary for success in school and life. Through twice monthly, 30-minute, classroom guidance lessons kindergarten students answer the below stated essential questions. The children learn these important objectives through singing, role plays, puppetry, games, drawing, listening to books, and discussion.

Essential Questions:

What are things I can do to be a good learner?

What is a family?

Why do we have rules?

What are feelings?

What are choices we make?

How can I keep safe?

Initially, the children are introduced to the concept of "What is a counselor?" through Rosie and Dennis, the kindergarten puppets. The children enjoy Dennis and his high energy and empathize with Rosie, who speaks no English and is very shy. The children will help both puppets do their best this year and learn that Mrs. Lightstone helps children in fun ways.

In September the students became members of the Beary Good Listening Club and learned how and why to Listen. In the next lessons, they learned to draw and recognize basic feelings. They enjoyed doing puppet shows while simultaneously showing how to care about others' feeling. At the end of October in conjunction with Red Ribbon Week, they will learn about how to be safe and healthy. Specifics strategies will be covered in the areas of how to ask parents before putting anything in their bodies, and how to ask for help if they are lost. In all of these lessons a multitude of approaches will be used to help all learners participate.