Ms. Mykela, our School Counselor, will be coming in for monthly lessons to lead us through learning around timely topics of need. This month, we got to talk about gossip and rumors. After defining gossip as a group, we reviewed some of our previous learning our students had done with Ms. Mykela around this topic in past years. We recalled an activity where a few students came up at the front of the room with the task of passing something from one end of the row to the other without any falling on the ground or sticking on them. The object was *glitter* and, unsurprisingly, was impossible to pass on entirely! Afterwards, we discussed how glitter is like gossip - It can seem shiny and fun but creates a big mess! Students also shared other ways this connected, such as how gossip always leaves a bit behind on whoever is spreading it, you often don’t get the whole story when hearing a rumor, and that it takes more than one person to spread. We read a story called ‘Trouble Talk’ by Trudy Ludwig, which demonstrates this further when a student says unkind words to others, gets involved in other people’s business, shares half-truths and assumptions with others, and just generally makes a mess of things! Luckily, she was able to see the impact her actions were having on others and worked to change her behavior and make amends. Before wrapping up our lesson time, students shared with one another what they could say or do when they hear someone talking about someone else, what they can remind themselves if they think that someone else is talking about them, and how they can help stop gossip and be part of the solution rather than the problem! Here are some ways to continue this learning at home:
- Share with your student how words are powerful. How have words lifted you up in the past? How have words hurt or stuck with you?
- Let your child know what ways you have dealt with gossip and rumors in the past. Odds are, we have all been there! What strategies have helped you?
- Playing games like two truths and a lie or telephone can be a great way to continue this learning in a fun way! How do we know if something is true? Can we control what happens to our words once we’ve said them?
- Talk with your student about how they want to be remembered by their peers. What behaviors and actions will it take for others to see them this way? What things could they do more of and less of to make this happen?
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