The Counselor's Corner

The Counselor's Corner

For the past two weeks, PCES students have learned the character education words truthfulness and honesty.  Students are learning that honesty involves more than simply telling the truth.  It involves not lying, stealing or cheating.

Students are enjoying using the materials that we received from DonorsChoose on bullying.  On October 9, 2013, the students at PCES joined students throughout the country in celebrating Unity Day.  They wore orange.  Make it orange.  Make it end.  UNITE AGAINST BULLYING!

Our Career in Focus is Polygraph Examiner - administers a polygraph or lie detector test.


"Honesty and integrity are absolutely essential for success in life - all areas of life. The really good news is that anyone can develop both honesty and integrity."

Zig Zigler

The Counselor's Corner

The Counselor's Corner

Our character education word for the week is honesty.  Honesty means the condition or quality of being honest; acting honorably and justly; not lying, stealing or cheating.  According to our Changing Lives Character Education Program, honesty in school means:
1.  Being brave and strong, admitting when you are wrong.
2.  Not cheating or steating from classmates or others.
3.  Telling the truth.  Not exaggerating to make things seem different from what they are.

October is Bullying Prevention Month.  Here are some of our pictures:



The Counselor's Corner

The Counselor's Corner

After PCES Classroom Guidance Lesson on Truthfulness, the following books from "Tidbits from A Mom" are being recommended:

1. Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big – Berkeley Breathed
2. The Honest to Goodness Truth – Patricia McKissack
3. The Berenstain Bears And The Truth – Stan Berenstain & Jan Berenstain
4. Ruthie And The (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie – Laura Rankin
5. Winners Take All – Fred Bowen
6. Pinky Promise – Vanita Braver
7. Don’t Tell A Whopper On Fridays!: The Children’s Truth-Control Book – Adolph Moser
8. I’m Telling The Truth – Pat Thomas
9. Sam Tells Stories – Thierry Robberecht
10. Shiloh – Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. Sun and Spoon – Kevin Henkes
12. Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire – Diane deGroat
13. A Day’s Work – Eve Bunting
14. The Empty Pot – Demi
15. Jackalope – Janet Stevens
16. Franklin Fibs – Paulette Bourgeois
17. Jamaica’s Find (Reading Rainbow) – Juanita Havill
18. Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook – Barbara Park
19. Mr. Peabody’s Apples – Madonna
20. A Big Fat Enormous Lie – Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
21. The Boy Who Cried Wolf – B. G. Hennessy
22. The Boy Who Cried Ninja – Alex Latimer
23. Pants on Fire (2007)  -  Meg Cabot
24. A Necklace for Jiggsy – Kit Grady
25. Honesty (Adventures in Odyssey Life Lessons) – AIO Team
26. Howard B. Wigglebottom and the Monkey on His Back: A Tale About Telling the Truth – Howard Binkow
27. Honesty (Character Education)  – Lucia Raatma
28. Betty Bunny Didn’t Do It  – Michael Kaplan
29. 30 Very Veggie Devos about Honesty (Big Idea Books / VeggieTales) – Big Idea
30. Honestly, Mallory!  – Laurie B. Friedman
31. The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot!  – Scott Magoon
32. Little Abraham Learns a Lesson in Honesty: Honesty (American Virtues for Kids: Honesty) – David Mead
33. Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants – Barbara Park
34. Jeremy Rabbit’s Honesty Pie – Elizabeth L. Hamilton
35. Being Frank – Donna W. Earnhardt
36. Honest Abe Lincoln: Easy-to-read Stories About Abraham Lincoln – David A. Adler
37. Princess K.I.M. and the Lie That Grew – Maryann Cocca-Leffler
38. Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny – Jan Karon
39. Zack Files 28: Tell a Lie and Your Butt Will Grow – Dan Greenburg
40. Tell the Truth, B.B. Wolf – Judy Sierra
41. Max and the Big Fat Lie: A Book About Telling the Truth (Building Christian Character) – Michael P. Waite
42. Liar, Liar: The Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Deception – Gary Paulsen
43. The Boy Who Cried Alien – Marilyn Singer
44. Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire – Gordon Korman
45. Chester Tells A Lie (Chester the Snowkid) – Marcus Ferdinand
46. My Big Lie (A Little Bill Book for Beginning Readers) – Bill Cosby
47. But It’s True!: Lying (Tough Stuff for Kids) – Heather Gemmen
48. Eli’s Lie-o-Meter: A Story About Telling the Truth – Sandra Levins
49. Hello, Goodbye, and a Very Little Lie (Little Boost) – Christianne C. Jones
50. Nothing But the Truth (Tales of Midlandia) – Michael Scotto

 Quotable Quotes:
"Honesty and integrity are absolutely essential for success in life - all areas of life. The really good news is that anyone can develop both honesty and integrity."

Zig Ziglar

The Counselor's Corner

The Counselor's Corner

Our character education word for week 9 is truthfulness.  According to our Changing Lives Character Education Program, truthfulness means habitually telling the truth; a truthful person.  Students will read  The Boy Who Cried Wolf.   Students are also Learning that Truthfulness in School Means:
1.  I will tell the truth all the time.
2.  I will not talk bad about my friends.
3.  I will tell the story the way it happened.

Spotlight on Careers: 
Health Science Cluster:  Pharmacist

Personal Qualities:  Good understanding of chemistry, science, math.  Accurate, responsible, concerned about

                                    People’s Health

Duties:  Fill drug prescriptions written by doctors or dentists.  Help people choose non-prescription drugs and

other medical supplies.

Students will learn the Dangers of Illegal Drugs.
Assessment:  Drug Prevention Posters in Grades 3-5 for Red Ribbon Week.

The Counselor's Corners

Our character education word for the week is confidence.  Confidence means faith in ones self or self-reliance.

From May 6-13, we will be testing.  Here are a few test taking tips from Teacher Vision.

Here are the top ten tips to success!

1. Have a Positive Attitude
Approach the big test as you'd approach a giant jigsaw puzzle. It might be tough, but you can do it! A positive attitude goes a long way toward success.

2. Make a Plan
The week before the test, ask your teacher what the test is going to cover. Is it from the textbook only? Class notes? Can you use your calculator? If you've been absent, talk to friends about material you may have missed. Make a list of the most important topics to be covered and use that as a guide when you study. Circle items that you know will require extra time. Be sure to plan extra time to study the most challenging topics.

3. The Night Before
Cramming doesn't work. If you've followed a study plan, the night before the test you should do a quick review and get to bed early. Remember, your brain and body need sleep to function well, so don't stay up late!

4. The Morning of the Test
Did you know that you think better when you have a full stomach? So don't skip breakfast the morning of the test. Get to school early and do a ten-minute power study right before the test, so your brain is turned on and tuned up.

5. Test Time
Before the test begins, make sure you have everything you'll need - scratch paper, extra pencils, your calculator (if you're allowed to use it). Understand how the test is scored: Do you lose points for incorrect answers? Or is it better to make guesses when you're not sure of the answer? Read the instructions! You want to make sure you are marking answers correctly.

6. Manage Your Time
Scan through the test quickly before starting. Answering the easy questions first can be a time saver and a confidence builder. Plus, it saves more time in the end for you to focus on the hard stuff.

7. I'm Stuck!
Those tricky problems can knock you off balance. Don't get worried or frustrated. Reread the question to make sure you understand it, and then try to solve it the best way you know how. If you're still stuck, circle it and move on. You can come back to it later. What if you have no idea about the answer? Review your options and make the best guess you can, but only if you don't lose points for wrong answers.

8. Multiple-Choice Questions
The process of elimination can help you choose the correct answer in a multiple-choice question. Start by crossing off the answers that couldn't be right. Then spend your time focusing on the possible correct choices before selecting your answer.

9. Neatness Counts
If your 4s look like 9s, it could be a problem. Be sure that your writing is legible and that you erase your mistakes. For machine-scored tests, fill in the spaces carefully.

10. I'm Done!
Not so fast - when you complete the last item on the test, remember that you're not done yet. First, check the clock and go back to review your answers, making sure that you didn't make any careless mistakes (such as putting the right answer in the wrong place or skipping a question). Spend the last remaining minutes going over the hardest problems before you turn in your test.

Follow these test tips, and you'll know you did your best.

Career in Focus:  Nurse

May 6-12 2013 is National Nurses Week.  Nurses are often described as an art and science, nursing is a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interest, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers.  As nurses, we work in emergency rooms, school based clinics, and homeless shelters, to name just a few.  We have many roles-from staff nurse to educator to nurse practitioner and nurse researcher- and serve all of them with passion for the profession and with a strong commitment to patient safety.

Quotable Quote:  "They conquer, who believe they can."            Latin Proverb

The Counselor's Corner

The character education word for the week in Phenix City Schools is fairness.

According to our Changing Lives Character Education Program, fairness means not favoring one more than another; being just - following the right rules, being honest.

According to our Changing Lives Character Education Program, Fairness in School Means:

1.  I will not take sides because he or she is a friend.

2.  I will treat my classmates the way I want them to treat me.

3.  I will respect my teachers and obey school rules.

4.  I will do my best to get along with my schoolmates.

Career in Focus:  Judge

Judges preside over courts of law, making sure the court administers justice while respecting people's legal rights.

Quotable Quote:  "Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you."                                                                                                                H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

The Counselor's Corner

Students are enjoying learning about the character education word of the week - fairness.  Fairness means not favoring one more than another; being just - following the right rules, being honest.

Career in Focus:  Judge

Judges preside over courts of law, making sure the court administers justice while respecting people's legal rights.

Examine evidence and decide if cases should go to trial

Preside over trials, ensuring everyone follows the rules of law

Instruct juries on their responsibilities

If there is no jury, examine the evidence and decide the verdict

Decide punishments for those found guilty.

Quotable Quote:

Fairness is not an attitude. It's a professional skill that must be developed and exercised.                                                                                         Brit Hume

 

The Counselor's Corner

Choosing a career is one of the top three most important decisions that an individual will make,

PCES students spotlight a career each week.  This week students are completing Career Links and reviewing the careers that they have studied through a game of Career Riddles.

The Counselor's Corner

April 22, 2013 is Earth Day.  The students at Phenix City Elementary School are

excited about learning the 3 Rs:

Reduce

Reuse

Recycle.

PCES students are also thinking of alternative methods to preserve our

natural resources such as solar energy and wind power.

The Counselor's Corner

Our character education word for the week is courtesy.  Courtesy means polite behavior and thoughtfulness for others; politeness and consideration of others; good manners.

According to our Changing Lives Character Education Program, Courtesy in School Means:
1.  I will always say "thank you" and "please".
2.  I will take off my hat when I enter the building.
3.  I will not interrupt when my teacher is talking.                                                                                                  4.  I will walk quietly, not disturbing class.                                                                                          

Careers for people who like to draw                                                                                                               It doesn't  matter if you use pencils, paintbrushes or computer graphics software – what counts in these jobs is drawing accurately and well.                                                                                                  Related Careers:       Animator, Cartographer, Medical illustrator                                                                                                        Quotable Quote:  "A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love."             Saint Basil

                                                                                                                                         

The Counselor's Corner

In addition to learning about the character education word courtesy, students learned about Earth Day.

We will be celebrating Earth Day on Monday, April 22, 2013.

Student are learning the three Rs:

Reduce

Reuse

Recycle.

Students are also learning to use solar energy and wind power.  

Quotable Quote:
"Courtesy is the one coin you can never have too much of or be stingy with."
John Wanamaker

 The Counselor's Corner

Our character education word for the week is cleanliness.

Cleanliness means free from dirt; not soiled; clean.

According to our Changing Lives Character Education Program, Cleanliness in School Means:                                                                                                                                1.  I will help pick up papers and dirty things on the playground.                                                                                               2.  I will return my lunch tray to the kitchen.                                                                                                                   3.  I will wash my hands before eating.

Spotlight on Careers:

Housekeepers clean and maintain homes, hotels, offices, and other establishments.

• Sweep and mop floors, vacuum carpets, and wash windows

• Clean appliances, sinks, toilets, and showers

• Wash linens and make beds

• Some private housekeepers prepare meals and look after children

• May take out the garbage and feed pets.

Quotable Quote:
I neither drink nor smoke, because my schoolmaster impressed upon me three cardinal virtues; cleanliness in person, cleanliness in mind; temperance.

John Burns

The Counselor's Corner

Our character education word for the week is cleanliness.  Cleanliness means free from dirt; not soiled; clean.

Career in Focus:

Custodians clean and maintain schools, office buildings, hospitals, and other types of buildings.

• Polish floors, clean washrooms, and sanitize surfaces
• Collect and empty garbage containers
• Perform minor repairs, such as fixing leaks or painting
• Secure buildings by locking doors and windows
• May clean windows and do heavy-duty industrial cleaning 

Quotable Quote:

"I love walking down the street and seeing faces and drama and happiness and sadness and dirt and cleanliness".

Ric Ocasek

  

The Counselor's Corner

Independence is the character word for the week for Phenix City Schools.
Independence means freedom.

According to our Changing Lives Character Education Program, independence in school means:

1.  I will try to do my work without the help of others.
2.  I will set goals.
3.  I will confront problems head-on.

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs

Careers in engineering

If you like math and science, and you think the challenge of developing innovative new products sounds appealing, you might want to consider a career in one of these engineering fields:

---

Related Careers

• Aerospace Engineer
• Chemical Engineer
• Civil Engineer
• Electrical Engineer
• Environmental Engineer
• Industrial Engineer
• Materials / Metallurgical Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Mining Engineer
• Agricultural Engineer
• Biomedical Engineer
• Petroleum Engineer

Quotable Quote:  If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.

Henry Ford

The Counselor's Corner

When students learn about independence or freedom, they realize that it takes experience to become truly independent.  Also, students are learning that with each freedom there is a responsibility.

In Auto B Good, students view Road Test for Maturity.

       

                                           

Quotable Quote:  The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.
Denis Waitley

The Counselor's Corner

  

"We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort."

                                                                                                       Jesse Owens

Students at PCES are learning self-discipline.  Self-discipline means to control your emotions and actions.  Anger is one of the emotions that causes many people to lose control.  After watching the
Auto - B- Good dvd on " Road Rage", students realize that frustration and anger are no excuse for losing control.

                      

Students also enjoyed reading and acting out "Froggy Learns to Do His Best".

The Counselor's Corner

Self-discipline means careful control and training of one's self for the sake of development.  Control of one's emotions or actions.

According to our Changing Lives Character Education Program, self-discipline in school means:

1.  I will think before I act.

2.  I will do my homework at the regular time.

3.  I will walk away when someone is provoking me.

4.  I will get my school clothes ready before I go to bed.

Career in Focus:

If you have a passion for learning about other places and would enjoy helping people make the most of their travels, one of these careers might be right for you: » Airline Customer Service Agent » Bed and Breakfast Proprietor » Bellhop » Concierge » Flight Attendant » Hotel Desk Clerk » Hotel Manager » Interpreter » Outdoor Guide » Tour Guide » Travel Agent

Quotable Quote:

"With self-discipline most anything is possible."
                                                               Theodore Roosevelt

The Counselor's Corner

Students have enjoyed talking about sportsmanship this week.  

Sportsmanship means that you are a good winner and a good loser.

Being a good sport means following rules and respecting your teammates.

Additional children books on sportsmanship are:

              

      

Quotable Quote:  "Before you can score you must first have a goal."       -            Greek Proverb

The Counselor's Corner

Our character education word for the week is sportsmanship.  Sportsmanship means fair play in games and other competitions; using fair play or sportsmanlike conduct.

According to our Changing Lives Character Education Program, sportsmanship in school means:

1.  I will play fair and congratulate the winner.

2.  I will stay cool and control my temper.

3.  I will observe the rules of the game.

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  Career in Focus:  Professional athlete plays in front of an audience and gets paid for it. Fans enjoy seeing these athletes play so much that they are willing to pay to watch. In this way, professional athletes are like performers or entertainers. They must perform well in each game or risk losing. If they don't play well, they won't last long.

  
  

  Our classroom guidance lesson focuses on "Being a Good Sport".

  
  

  Quotable Quote:  "We do not stop playing because we are old.  We grow old because we stop playing."                      Author Unknown

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

The Counselor's Corner

Self-discipline means control and training of one's self for the sake of development.  Control of one's emotions or actions.   PCES students are learning that self-discipline in school means:

1.  To think before they act.
2.  To do their homework at a regular time.
3.  To ignore someone or to walk away when they are provoking them.
4.  To get their school clothes ready before they go to bed.

Career in Focus:




Quotable Quote:

The Counselor's Corner

Since our character education word for the week is perseverance,
PCES students have enjoyed hearing Al Gore read Brave Irene on
Storyline on Line along with several other guidance activities on perseverance.

Despite a raging snowstorm, Irene perseveres and delivers a ballgown to the Duchess for her mother.

Quotable Quote:

“Stay the course, light a star, Change the world where'er you are.”

Richard Le Gallienne

The Counselor's Corner

Our character education word for the week is perseverance.  Perseverance means having the habit of sticking to a task; persisting; to continue to do something in spite of difficulties.

The students at PCES are studying perseverance this week during classroom guidance.  Students are learning to be like The Little Engine that Could and to never give up.

According to our Changing Lives Character Education Program, perseverance in school means:
1.  I will not give up until I find the right answer.
2.  I will work hard to achieve my ambition.
3.  I will study hard, and stay in school to succeed.
4.  I will stay in the game to win!

Career in Focus:  Author/Writer

Writers create books, scripts, ads, articles, manuals, and other written material.

The Guidance Lesson focuses on facing our fears and never giving up.  We are connecting this to

Women's History Month with a spotlight on women:  Colonel Eileen Collins and Dr. Mae C. Jamison.

Quotable Quote:

“Try and fail, but don't fail to try.”       Stephen Kaggwa

The Counselor's Corner

Our character education word for the week is self-reliance.  Self-reliance means to trust in ones own efforts and abilities.

According to our Changing Lives Character Education Program, self-reliance in school means:
1.  I will try and try until I succeed.
2.  I will do the task assigned to me on time.
3.  I will not depend on others for what I can do myself.
4.  I will not leave for tomorrow things I can do today.

Books to read on Self-Reliance:



Career in Focus: Conservator
Conservators preserve history and culture by restoring antique books, artwork, and other important artifacts.
Quotable Quote:

“Self-reliance is the only road to true freedom, and being one's own person is its ultimate reward”  Patricia Sampson

The Counselor's Corner:

Self-Reliance means to trust in ones own efforts and abilities.  During classroom guidance, students discuss ways they show self-reliance.  They also watch the dvd on Auto-B Good:  Self-Reliance.

Additional Books to Read on Self-Reliance are:

Quotable Quote:  "Part of Obama's persona is self-reliance. He's calm; he's cool; he's self-possessed. In many ways, he has tried to define himself in opposition to Clinton's sometimes needy, often undisciplined, emotionalism."
Dee Dee Myers