Format for Guidance Lessons in Kindergarten and 1st Grade

The goal of classroom guidance is to teach and build skills that will help students to have a positive school experience.  In order to ensure that the skills that are taught are utilized beyond the lesson, I plan to be more consistent with my format this year.   Classes will begin with a story, video, or a short puppet skit that will introduce a topic and skill.  Following a brief discussion, students will have an opportunity to show that they understand the skill either by writing or drawing about what was taught or sharing ideas with a classmate.  The last part of the lesson will allow students to use and practice the skill using puppets and role plays.   At times lessons will take more than one session to complete.  

Here is the plan for my first lesson:

1. Paxton the Panda talks to the class about a problem.
2. Students turn and talk with each other and share ideas about what Panda might do next. As a class we create a script that we can use when we need adult help at school (works for home too).
3. Students get into groups of two and are each given a puppet. A variety of situations are given as examples and students need to use the puppets to practice asking for support/help.

Skills Addressed on the Guidance Roadmap:

Kindergarten:

Hardworking Student  #2-  I can identify adults at home and at school that I can seek support from.  I can verbalize if something is bothering me and can tell a caring adult.  

1st Grade:

Hardworking Student Skill #2- I have multiple adults at school that I can go to for help with a problem.  I know how to ask for help and tell the adult what I have already used for strategies. I can politely decline and accept help when offered.