Monthly Archives: September 2019

Rebus Puzzles

A rebus is a puzzle device which combines the use of illustrated pictures with individual letters to depict words and/or phrases.   Remember when you needed pictures to help your read a story – When Small is Tall.  Now you need pictures to give you clues to solve puzzles.  Here are two examples:

Let’s have fun practicing, drawing our own and/or generating with a computer – Rebus Generator.

If you are ready for a Rebus with a challenge, harder puzzles have a representation of words or pictures whose names resemble the intended words or syllables.  Here is an example.

The next level of rebus puzzles are sometimes called Word Winks.  These puzzles require you to look at size, location and direction. Try a few online – Rebus Brainteasers.

Enjoy solving rebus puzzles because they can develop your concentration, critical thinking skills and verbal reasoning.

Start With Hello

This week we will celebrate “Start with Hello” week, which is a week to remind us how important and powerful it is to get to know one another, make new friends, say hi to new people, and make people feel good if they are feeling sad or alone. Every day you can do a special activity to remember to try and include others. Whether on the school bus, in the playground or in class, it is important to make sure others feel included and welcome.

Sometimes to do this, you need courage. Courage can mean a lot of things and people can act courageously in a lot of different situations. Listen to Bernard Waber’s book, Courage. Think about what courage means to you and how you too can act courageously in every day kind of ways.

Courage is also staring with Hello! Let’s try to be courageous by getting to know new people and by helping others who might need a friend.

Chopstick Challenge

Watch The Bridge to remind yourself how to be a team player. The video will remind you what collaboration looks like and will encourage you to step outside your comfort zone.

Bridge from Ting on Vimeo.

Work with a team on the Chopstick Challenge.  How far can you count?

  • Describe your team’s collaboration process.
  • Explain the disagreements, the possible results of pride, frustration and compromise.
  • Reflect: Post a comment on how you will be a good teammate.
  • Challenge: S.C.A.M.P.E.R.

Another Good Read About Empathy

September Roses is another sweet book about empathy. You might want to share today and tie it in with 14 Cows for America.

September Roses is another great book like 14 Cows for America. Both demonstrate how others show empathy. “On September 11, 2001, two sisters from South Africa are flying to New York City with 2,400 roses to be displayed at a flower show. As their plane approaches the airport, a cloud of black smoke billows over the Manhattan skyline. When they land, they learn of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. All flights are canceled; the sisters cannot go home, and they are stranded with boxes and boxes of roses.”

What can you do to show empathy today, this month, this school year?

Empathy

This year our Character Education theme is “Communities form Connections.” Through building relationships, we can build a better school, community and world. Each month we will highlight a character trait and use a read aloud to reinforce this trait.

September is Communities Show Empathy. Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah wrote 14 Cows for America. One inscription reads, “To all the little children who read this book. You are the peace the world has been waiting for. May you grow to be compassionate diplomats.” You have the ability to make the world and our school a better place.

What can you do this year to heal a sorrowing heart? How will you show empathy?

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