Personal Space/Review BARK

In first grade and some second grade lessons this week, we reviewed a concept many students learned about last year. That is the idea that each of us has personal space that we deserve to have respected. The class learned about how to control our bodies and ask before we touch someone or their belongings.

The lesson used comes from the Responsive Counselor, a wonderful resource that RCS has purchased for elementary counselors to use when delivering lessons. It aligns beautifully with the social and emotional learning curriculum we already use here in RCS called Second Steps.

Hunter the Hound also visited with the children who taught him a little bit about personal space. As the kids will tell you, he is so forgetful!

At home activity:

Think of times when you have been uncomfortable with someone in your personal space. Model respectful ways of handling that situation, but still getting the point across. Our Hounds learned to ask first before touching something that belongs to someone else and accepting “no” as an answer when it is received. Discuss the face expressions people may make when they are uncomfortable—ask your children to demonstrate that face expression.