Kindergarten Social Skills
Mr. Bingham is our school counselor. He visits our classroom every other month to share a brief lesson
on social skills that will help our students be successful and have a happy experience at school.
on social skills that will help our students be successful and have a happy experience at school.
Lesson 1: Pay Attention (September/October)
Mr. Bingham teaches the class that they will be the most successful when their eyes are on the teacher (whether we’re in the classroom or walking in the hallway). He encourages the students to “practice, practice, practice.” He also reads the students a fun book called Grover and the Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum—a story where Grover doesn’t always have his eyes where they should be.
Lesson 2: Listen (November/December)
Our eyes and our ears point in the same direction. Students are taught that if their eyes are on the teacher, their ears are listening too. Mr. Bingham reads Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen to the class. In the story, Howard is always having a hard time because he chooses to not listen. His choices not only affect him but those around him as well. Howard decides that he wants to try harder. The next day goes much better! He uses his eyes and his ears all day. Because he was able to really listen, Howard ends up with extra time to play and have fun.
Lesson 3: Wait Patiently (January/February)
There are a lot of times in kindergarten where we have to wait. Learning to wait patiently is a great skill. In this lesson, Mr. Bingham plays a game of Memory with the class and the students are taught how to wait patiently for their turn. They're also given an example of what not to do while waiting (shout out, wave their arms in the air, make noises, etc). In the Memory game, students choose two photo cards at a time and try to find a match. Each photo represents a time when we might have to wait for something, whether at school or away from school. For example, we sometimes have to wait in line, wait to be called on, wait for supplies during a craft, wait in the library, wait for our turn during a game, wait at a bus stop, wait for instructions or supplies during group time, or even wait for our turn to use part of the playground at recess. Mr. Bingham also teaches that when we wait patiently, have have more fun, we hear the directions, and everyone stays safe.
Lesson 4: Participate (March/April)
Mr. Bingham helps the students create their own origami boat. He emphasizes and summarizes all of the lessons/skills that he has taught us throughout the year. In order to make the origami boats, students are told that they will need to do the following: 1) Look 2) Listen 3) Wait 4) Participate.
Mr. Bingham helps the students create their own origami boat. He emphasizes and summarizes all of the lessons/skills that he has taught us throughout the year. In order to make the origami boats, students are told that they will need to do the following: 1) Look 2) Listen 3) Wait 4) Participate.