This week at school was Drug Free Week so I decided to tie that into our manners lesson this week. We discussed just saying no. The counselor also came this week and did a lesson on having a peaceable class and the right way to just say no. Having also these activities interwoven together makes the learning that much more meaningful for the kids. In class we discussed proper ways to say no such as:

• No thank you
• No mam
• No sir
• No I don't want to but thanks anyway
• No that's not good for me

We discussed to say no when a stranger ask you to come with them, offers you candy, or ask for your help finding their pet. We talked about saying no to things that may harm your body. On Monday we all signed a banner that said Just Say No, We Are Drug Free. Each day this week we dressed different ways to show we are drug free and in the classroom we tweeked ours a little to show we can say no. On Monday we wore Red to show we are bold enough to say no. On Tuesday we wore silly socks and slippers to sock it to the wrong things and slip into good behavior. Wednesday was career day so we dressed as our future careers to show we are smart enough to make good decisions. Thursday was sunglasses day to shade out drugs, but we were gone to the pumpkin patch in Clanton all day so we didn't participate. Friday was red ribbon day and wore ribbons to just say no.

We also discussed just saying no during trick or treating since its Halloween weekend. We talked about to be safe and say no for those that may be going to large halloween parties, fall festivals, and trick or treating with friends. The kids said things like don't eat candy before your mom or dad tells you to, do go with someone who says that have more candy inside, and don't go to anyone's door alone. We talked about making sure you could see through the head of your costume and don't runaway from your parents or group of friends at halloween parties or fall festivals no matter what anyone says.

The counselor talked about how it is okay to say no when you don't want to do something. She talked to the kids about talking to their parents about when its okay to say yes and no. She brought her friend Tuggles (stuffed bear) who talked about situations when he had to say no to a friend. He told a story about how one of his friends tried to get him to take something from the teachers desk and he said no because it was the wrong thing to do and he didn't want to get into trouble. He also talked about how a strange adult offered him candy and he said no thank you and walked away and so he wouldn't have to continue his walk alone he asked the kids walking ahead of him to wait up.

www.goodcharacter.com, www.halloween-safety.com,

http://family.samhsa.gov/teach/refusal.aspx