\

Counseling Connection
March 2018 bridgettecarter.weebly.com

Mrs. Bridgette Carter | School Counselor, Grades K-7

carter.bridgette@hardingacademymemphis.org

From the classroom . . .

Ephesians 4:32 “be kind and compassionate to one another.”
Mark 12:31 “love your neighbor as yourself.”
February guidance lessons focused on KINDNESS in honor of National Random Acts of Kindness Week, February 12-16.
We explored ways we can honor God’s commands in Ephesians 4:32 and Mark 12:31. At the end of the lesson, students
were issued a challenge through a Kindness Bingo activity. I encouraged
students to complete kind acts and submit completed BINGO sheets for a small
treat. Many Kindness Bingos were submitted and I am hopeful the kind acts
continue. We cannot tell what challenges a person is going through just by
looking at them, which is why it is so important to be kind to everyone all
of the time. A simple act of kindness can change someone’s day and even
inspire that person to pass it on.

Grades SK-3 Grades 4-5
We met Brian, the invisible boy. Chloe and her friends won't play
Nobody ever notices him or thinks with the new girl, Maya. Every time
to include him in their group, game, Maya tries to join Chloe and her gang,
or birthday party… until, that is, a they reject her. Eventually, Maya plays
new kid comes to class. alone, and then stops coming to school
When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to altogether.
make him feel welcome. Justin notices Brian’s kindness When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even
and drawing talent. When Justin tells a class mate who small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is
wants to exclude Brian that “Mrs. Carlotti said we can stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks
have up to three people in our group,” Justin changes about how much better it could have been if she'd
the paradigm. Before long, Brian, in living color, is not so shown a little kindness toward Maya.
invisible after all. This powerful story sparked amazing conversations in
This story shows how small acts of kindness can help each class. Hopefully, this story will continue to resonate
children feel included and allow them to flourish. with students so no opportunities to show kindness are
After our discussion of this wonderful book, we read missed.
Mark 12:31 and Ephesians 4:32 and used our “lenses of
love” to examine and sort different phrases into groups Students worked collaboratively in groups to produce
labeled “keep in my head” or “say it out loud.” We ideas on how to show kindness with their families, at
repeated this activity by grouping various behaviors into school, and in the community.
“kind” and “unkind” columns on the board.

Cordova White Station Cherry Road

8360 Macon Road 1106 Colonial Road 1100 Cherry Road
Cordova, TN 38018 Memphis, TN 38117 Memphis, TN 38117
901-624-0522 901-767-2093 901-763-3280