Developing Readers, Writers, and Thinkers

Mrs. Welch

Relationships

Some conversations are simply to catch up on what's happening in student's lives and to keep in the loop. "Make new friends, but keep the old ones. . ."

Over? Around? Not at all? Are you talking with your student? From the conversations and discussions I have with Thrasher students my answer would be, "yes, you are." Through discussions in the classroom with teachers and peers to those at home, our students are learning how to express themselves respectfully and thoughtfully.

Classroom Guidance

Developmentally appropriate classes are presented in every classroom using books, activities, and discussions. Topics include but are not limited to the following:

Character Education across grade levels

  • Kindergarten -- Red Light/Green Light choices; knowing and following school rules; PAL -- reinforcing skills for academic success; identifying personal feelings
  • 1st Grade -- friendship qualities; tattling vs. reporting; recognizing other's feelings
  • 2nd Grade -- practicing good friendship qualities ; career exploration; introduction to goal setting
  • 3rd Grade -- goal setting; learning styles; skills to build confidence against bullying
  • 4th Grade -- active listening skills; building empathy; decision making
  • 5th Grade -- "I, We, and They" decisions; peer pressure -- discussions and decisions about real life situations
Small Groups

The Thrasher Counseling and Guidance program offers a variety of small groups for students. Among those offered are:

  • - Friendship Groups -- meeting with peers to make new friends and practice social skills in a safe, small group setting
    Study Skills -- building and reinforcing skills needed to be successful learners
  • - New Student Lunch Bunches -- Current Thrasher students getting to know new students in a small, quiet, fun environment
  • - Transitions -- Conversations with 5th grade students to build camaraderie and networking skills as they prepare for middle school
  • - Advisory Groups -- 5th grade students who assist the school counselor on current meaningful topics
Individual
  • - Helping students recognize and strengthen their abilities
  • - Encouraging students during transitions between grades and schools
  • - Building confident students through self-control, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills
  • - Providing support during personal crisis

 

Guidance

Small Groups

One-on-One

Meet Jane Welch

Jane has a Masters in Education in School Counseling and is a member of the American School Counseling Association and the Tennessee Counseling Association.

Jane has built relationships with and served the students of Thrasher Elementary for three years.

Community

Having been part of this community for most of my life, I know that our families and schools work together to instill skills our children need to be successful throughout life. Your children have seen you work tirelessly for their school, social and community services. Through our PTA we collect clothing, food and funds for families in need. You've given countless hours in and out of the classrooms. By your example they are learning the importance in helping others. Daily at Thrasher the teachers and I are reinforcing the need to help one another.

Community (cont'd)

In 2008 the American Counseling Association published an article which stated that if children are not taught to be empathetic by the age of 14 it is extremely difficult for them to understand the concept. Here at Thrasher teaching and helping children to treat others like they want to be treated is part of our counseling program. Beginning in Kindergarten we discuss how to identify the feelings of others. Throughout the grades we discuss not only identifying those feelings but how to relate to them. We role play situations they may face in school or elsewhere regarding misunderstandings or conflicts. In 5th grade the students are asked to project themselves into situations they may face as teenagers and to use the critical thinking skills they have learned throughout their educational instruction in order to be prepared to face the challenges waiting for them.


I appreciate the opportunity to support Thrasher, the Signal Mountain community and its families in helping all our students reaching their potential.