First Grade Guidance

What more could a Head of School want than to meet regularly with first grade students during Guidance lessons? Harriet, my rabbit hand puppet, and I visit each class once every three weeks to discuss issues pertinent to first graders' positive emotional, social, moral, and cognitive development. Harriet has many problems and first graders are adept at helping her solve tough situations (e.g. She is tempted by older friends to cross a street her parents have forbidden; she alienates friends by bragging; she is tempted to lie to her teacher; she gets separated from her parents in an unfamiliar place.) Of course, by solving Harriet's problems, students give themselves very good advice and prompt each other to consider different positive solutions. The students are quite aware that Harriet is "just a puppet" but she is very much a part of the class during our guidance times.

We also talk about real situations, often using stories from Summit life to illustrate a point. First graders are observant thinkers, even philosophers at times, and their insights are remarkable. I treasure the time I spend with them and look forward to their ninth grade year when I work with them again in a guidance activity called RAP (Reflections and Perceptions).

Sandra Adams