Labor Day is officially over... and as I look back over the past two weeks the students seem to have adjusted well into their new grade level.  I saw only a few weepy eyes... and from the tears reflected a temporary ache to be back home.  The transitioning from the home routine to the "school routine" can be slight challenge for some students. But a few moments with their intuitive teachers, quickly changes the frown, upside down!

Since the start of school I have been into all classrooms in grades 1 through 4 just to say "hi" and to meet new students in our building. This week I hope to visit all Kindergarten classes to introduce myself as the school counselor, just another "helping" person at school. Our DIBELS team has been busy assessing all students in our building.  This benchmark happens three times per year.  Please check out my link to the DIBELS website to learn more about this early literacy initiative. Also, each Kindergarten student has gone through the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment for Literacy (KRA-L) These brief assessments (DIBELS and KRA-L) help teachers drive their instruction to meet the individual needs of each student.

What's On Your Mind? (Post a Comment)

What are common non academic challenges your child may be experiencing?  Is it other students?  Is it a pending divorce.  Is someone in the family ill? Has your child experienced trauma or natural disaster?  Is your child anxious?  Have there been some recent stressors like the birth of a sibling, a move, a remarriage, someone leaving home, a new job for one of the parents? If you would like to share your observations of your child's experience please feel free to do so here.  Just click on the "What's on Your Mind" title to post to this web page.  Thanks for sharing!

Welcome To The 2010-2011 School Year!

Mrs. Harmych

"Will they like me? Will anyone want to be my friend?  Will there be mean kids at my new school?" These are some of the thoughts of students new to our neighborhood or school. At the start of the new school year one of the activities I look forward to is visiting with new students to our building. Attending a new school can be challenging, especially for third and fourth grade students who may have left a few good friends behind.  Their apprehension may show or not.  Either way, I find that just talking, briefly, with these students helps to alleviate some of the worries that come from being the "new kid on the block." Plus, I begin to forge new friendships with some very fun kids!


After a quick visit into all classrooms (30 in all) just to introduce or reintroduce myself, I begin to turn my focus to the classroom visits which begin in September.  Classroom visits consists of a brief, developmentally appropriate lesson, activity, and suitable story from my library of children's literature. On this blog's web pages I will list the custumary guidance topics/lessons for my classroom visits by grade level.  However, I find that collaborating with the teacher regarding the needs of a classroom may sometimes alter my lesson plans.

Throughout the school year please check out some of the websites I have posted below.  They may prove to be a good reference for some of your needs. Also, if you would like to post a comment on my blog, just click on the title of the post.  Thanks for visiting!

Welcome Back!