I've lost my... Conscience..

..that "angel and devil thing"

Well, we've made it to the dog days of the school year between Valentines Day and Map Testing. We are now at the point where we are starting to rehash previous topics to make sure that the kids know them. Wellllll, I call it "rehashing" but it's technically called "enriching"( to you one-uppers out there). There is never a more intense time for a guidance counselor.

"Have we done Stranger Danger?"

Check.

"Have we done Manners?"

Check.

"Have we done Bullying and Conflict Resolution?"

Check.

"Well, son, you've done it all."

..but I have 14 weeks of school left..

"Do the lessons again, but build on them."

Yessir.

..and that's where we get intense. Time to up my game and introduce some more intense variations of each lesson. I can't simply repeat the same lessons and rename them (Although "Stranger Danger 2: This Time We're Playing For Keeps" sounds appealing) I've got to play some new cards. Enter topics like depression, cyber-bullying, and adoption. Enter the conscience.

There is nothing like trying to teach kindergarten and first grade students the concept of having a conscience in a non-biased, fully scientific, and empirical way. We just settle on "uh-oh voice" or  "That queasy feeling in your stomach". This works most of the time, unless there's fish sticks for lunch.

I really view it as a privilege to be able to try and develop a sense of ethics and citizenship with my students.. even when they tell me that "I want that voice in my head to go away so that I can do back-flips on the trampoline.".