Classroom guidance begins with fourth grade. After the introductory classes, we started with bullying prevention lessons. The first two bullying prevention lessons centered around the Pacer Kids Against Bullying website. Students learned the definition of bullying (hurting someone ON PURPOSE and OVER+ OVER) and the people involved in a bullying incident (the bully, the victim, and the bystanders). The site emphasizes "Together, we can stop bullying." And a catch phrase used on the website is: "Speak-up. Reach out. Be a Friend. Be a Kid Against Bullying" There was a break in classroom guidance lessons from September 29 through October 22, due to NECAP testing. Guidance classes resumed October 23. We just finished our bullying prevention unit. To conclude the unit I read "My Secret Bully" OR "Just Kidding" (both by by Trudy Ludwig) and we played a game of "Bully Buster Bingo." The Respect unit began today with the video "What's Respect?" It covers five kinds of respect: respect for people's things, respect for rules, resepct for people's ideas, respect for how people do things,and respect for the environment. There is a catchy song that goes with the video. Maybe your child can sing it for you! The Conflict Resolution (which includes Anger Management) has begun. Students are learning about the "conflict escalator." The goal is to help students prevent their conflicts from escalating and to reslove them peacefully! I hope to end classroom guidance with a Study Skills unit. Classroom guidance classes will end around January 13. Fourth grade students will then have Library Classes. Fifth graders will begin Classroom Guidance around January 14. There will be about fifteen lessons.