COUNSELING CORNER

WHEN TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP

 

The Counselor’s Corner

 

By Arlene Weis

School Counselor

 

Teachers and staff in K-3 buildings throughout the district have a variety of ways to support and transition students to the next grade level.  While transitions from kindergarten to first grade and third grade to fourth grade are quite structured, informal and formal transitioning occurs for all students towards the end of each school year.

 

Kindergarten teachers often have their students visit first grade classrooms as a group during May and/or June.  The kindergarten students might be involved in an activity such as being read to by the first grade students under the direction of the first grade teacher.  In some buildings, the entire kindergarten might be provided with the deliberate opportunity to mingle while on a full day field trip as they are assigned to certain small groups.  The intent would be to eat lunch with new friends from the opposite AM/PM session and to spend a full day involved in a school activity. 

 

First and second graders in our small neighborhood school settings are usually quite familiar with teachers from the next grade level as they see them in the halls every day, at assemblies or in other APR room routine and special events. Teachers often deliberately seek out and talk with students from the lower grade whom they may be receiving the next school year.  A common practice may be for students to write a letter to the next year’s teacher telling them a little bit about themselves.  At Spring Open House time, teachers encourage the children to take their family members with them to visit the next grade level classrooms.

 

All third graders in each neighborhood school are taken by their teachers and school counselor to visit either Iroquois or Rogers School based upon where they will be attending for fourth grade.  This occurs in May or June.  Preparations for this visit usually include preparing questions in advance for fourth grade staff and students.  The comprehensive visit usually includes viewing a video of classrooms, students and events occurring in fourth grades.  Students learn about things like various clubs and other formal school activities, homework, expectations, and lockers.  Third graders visit the Rogers or Iroquois cafeteria and tour the building in small groups with student tour guides.  Not to leave the parents out, parents are invited by letter to a parent orientation usually an evening at the end of May.

 

Other special events and transition activities are planned and implemented by various teachers and staff at all K-3 levels as the need or opportunity occurs.  It goes without saying that many conversations, formal and informal, occur between sending and receiving teachers and staff to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for our students, your children! 

 

 

 

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