Lesson Plan On Childhood Stress

Fairhope's first kindergarten teacher retires after 34 years

At the time, the K Center housed kindergarten through third-grade classes and the first 20 kindergartners were chosen by a lottery. Within a few years, she had mentored a student teacher and helped expand the program to two other classrooms. Today, with 11 classrooms and more than 240 students, the K Center will close it’s doors to public school children and transfer those classes to the new Fairhope Elementary School on Section Street. “A lot of early childhood things have been lost that I’m sad about because developmentally, children are the same,” Jones said. “They still need to play and learn to get along, which is something we have less time for because we are required to teach so much. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t stress the children so much. We’d cook more. We’d bake cakes. We’d lay out on the grass and look at the clouds more.” Jones recalls spontaneously asking a recent class if they had ever played “Farmer in the Dell,” which many students answered that they had not. Jones taught them the game, and “immediately, there was a spark in the classroom and the children were having the time of their lives,” she said. “All they wanted for the next two or three days was to play ‘farmer in the dell.’ That’s an old game, very basic and very social and it’s those types of experiences that I hate to lose.” “My fondest memories are when parents tell me that they appreciate what I’ve done,” she said. “The children have to be the best part. They absolutely adore you. You can scold them for being unruly and two minutes later they tell you they love you and you’re the best.” Jones said she also has also been inspired by watching shy children gain confidence. “I’ve loved these people’s children.” Jones said. “And sometimes it is hard. We don’t always like them but we always love them,” she said, expressing the sentiment of a parent. “I measure their success by if they are a happy, well-adjusted child. Children tend to forget kindergarten and that’s okay. They are young and have so much going on. But I just want to leave them with a good, warm feeling about their experience.

Friends and Friendship: how to find friends, make friends and keep ...

Friendship is a fundamental part of life. Family and friends are the glue that holds our lives together. Without them, life could be very bleak and lonely. Our friends enrich us.

What is the definition of “Friendship”?

It is to be a friend.To be attached to another by affection or esteem. Acquaintance.One that is not hostile.One that favors and promotes the other. A favored companion.

American Writer and Publisher Elbert Hubbard once said "Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you."

Selfishness is one of the biggest enemies of true friendship. Rather than asking what your friend can do for you, find what you can do for him. Make a deliberate effort to discover what your friend needs. A kind word? A helping hand? Encouragement? Comfort? One of the side benefits of serving your friends is that, more often than not, they will respond by returning the favor. A True Friend is a Speaker of Truth. There may be a time when you need to lovingly confront a friend where he’s off. Pointing out weaknesses can be difficult, but it's a true act of love all the same. The Bible says that if you "rebuke a wise man, ... he will love you" (Proverbs 9:8). As long as you're speaking the truth in love (and trying not to be hurtful), these tricky times can prove to be building blocks in your relationship. A True Friend is a Positive Person. No one wants to be around a person who's negative all the time — the person who always sees the glass as half empty instead of half full. Look for the best in people and in situations. Then express those optimistic thoughts. When you hear someone else's grumbling and complaining, try to turn those thoughts into positive ones. And, for those people who live a life of faith, a true friend prays for you.

In addressing the subject of teaching children how to be a good friend, Dr. Bill Maier of Focus on the Family gives four keys points.

He said to teach your child

Name calling is out of the question, even in jest. Poking fun with words like “pimple face” and “fatty” may seem innocent but it is never funny to the other person on the receiving end. Don’t expect always to get your way. Take turns. You can’t always be the leader. Friends do things for each other. They put others needs above their own. A good friend can always be trusted. They can be counted on to keep their word and to keep a secret.

As children, a lot of friendship revolves around play. That's what children do and that's how they learn. Learning to become a friend, and take the pain of rejection that childhood friendships can bring, is all a part of the process.