Being a Good Friend

Mrs. Ruff

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Ruff Pups Pawcast! I’m Mrs. Ruff, and as always, I’m here with my friend and co-host, Rusty Ruff. This week’s theme is—drumroll please—being a good friend.

Rusty Ruff

Awooo! Can't wait, Mrs. Ruff! And hey, wanna start everyone off with a ‘Howler’? What kind of dog makes the best scientist?—A labrador! Get it? Lab?—okay, okay, that cracked me up. Ruff, ruff! Anyway, let’s fetch the good stuff!

Mrs. Ruff

I should’ve seen that one coming! Alright, let’s celebrate our Top Dog of the Week—Grace! I just have to say, Grace has totally wowed me with her responsibility and note-taking. I mean, she takes detailed notes even when it’s not required, and she uses them to answer all sorts of questions. That’s some solid dedication right there.

Rusty Ruff

A-woah! That deserves a tail wag or two! But seriously, Grace has also been such a huge help to her classmates. I noticed she’s been tracking down missing assignments all week and reminding friends what they still need to turn in. That's, like, the ultimate teamwork move. She’s saving grades and saving you, Mrs. Ruff, a bundle of time, right?

Mrs. Ruff

Oh, absolutely, Rusty! Her kindness—and, honestly, perseverance—just make the classroom such a better place. And you know, it’s not just about the schoolwork. Grace sets an example of what it means to be a leader with empathy. We are really proud of you, Grace!

Rusty Ruff

Way to go, Grace—you’re leading the pack! And hey, time for some quick Paw-sitive Shout-Outs! First up—Greyson and Michael, you two spotted Jada being awesome. Jada’s always following directions, especially in line. Ruff, that’s responsibility and respect in action! And Michael, you noticed Juan making loads of new friends at Pleasant Ridge by just being kind and, honestly, pretty awesome.

Mrs. Ruff

I love when our students notice each other’s kindness. And you know, Rusty, that reminds me a lot of your stories about your trivia team days at Barkington Academy. Cheering on others, helping your teammates—that’s a big part of what makes a team, whether it’s in the classroom or chasing frisbees on the field.

Rusty Ruff

You read my mind, Mrs. Ruff! I’ll never forget that championship—we only won because we lifted each other up, even when someone gave the wrong answer. That’s PAW-some teamwork, right there! Okay, I’ll stop before I start chasing another tangent, but—be like Grace, like Jada, like Juan... let’s keep fetching those good vibes!

Mrs. Ruff

Speaking of good vibes, I’ve heard from so many of you that one of your favorite new traditions is our end-of-the-day meetings. Honestly, it’s become such a wonderful way to wrap up the day—reflecting, sharing what went well, and sometimes learning new games together. It just ties everything up so nicely before everyone heads home.

Rusty Ruff

Totally agree, Mrs. Ruff! There’s something special about hearing everyone’s stories—sometimes you get a surprise out of nowhere, like when I found that old tennis ball in my backpack last week. Wait, that’s not what we’re talking about... Where was I going with this? Oh right—the Nez Perce storyteller video! That was a winner.

Mrs. Ruff

One of the best parts of our week came when we watched a video of a Nez Perce storyteller sharing the creation story of the Nez Perce people. Before he even began the story, he sang an old traditional song to set the mood.

Rusty Ruff

Ohhh, I love a good song. Was it a tail-wagging tune?

Mrs. Ruff

Well, Rusty… it started out traditional, but then the storyteller decided to have a little fun. Suddenly, he switched the words and began singing—get this—“I like Oreos!

Rusty Ruff

WHAT?! Did you say Oreos? That’s my kind of song.

Mrs. Ruff

The kids thought so too! As soon as he started, the whole class jumped right in and sang along—loud, proud, and totally silly.

Rusty Ruff

Let me guess… once it hit the playground, it spread faster than a runaway tennis ball?

Mrs. Ruff

You nailed it. By recess, kids from Ms. Fischer’s class were singing the Oreo song too. The playground turned into a giant cookie choir!

Rusty Ruff

Now that’s what I call a sweet memory. How did the learning go last week?

Mrs. Ruff

Whew! Everyone agrees—last week was an intense week of learning here in Room 210. We had our end-of-module math test, and I’ll be sharing those results with parents during conferences. In reading, students showed some strong thinking by completing a formative assessment. They wrote about how certain aspects of Nez Perce culture were sustained by their homelands. I loved seeing the way they made connections between land and culture. We also learned how to check grades and missing assignments online using StudentVUE. I gave each student a printed list of their missing work, too. Now, here’s the honest truth: only a handful of students had everything turned in. While I’m proud of those few, I really want to see everyone learning just how important it is to turn assignments in on time. That responsibility makes a huge difference—not just in grades, but in how prepared we are for the next steps in learning. So, we’ve been using every bit of extra time to catch up, finish work, and get those assignments turned in. I’m hopeful that by next week, we’ll see a lot more students with that “all clear” list!

Rusty Ruff

I’m just glad dogs don’t get homework. I’d probably have a whole pile of missing assignments—unless chasing tennis balls counts!

Mrs. Ruff

Ha! Maybe for you, Rusty. But for us humans, turning work in on time is the key to staying on track. And now for a special shout-out—big congratulations to the students who did have every single assignment turned in last week: Grace, Greyson, Priyanka, Jada, Juan, Sabrina, Drew, and Ethan! Way to go, you set a great example for the whole class.

Mrs. Ruff

Exactly! Now, looking ahead, we’ve got a new ‘Pack Challenge’ for next week: when you have a moment where you could brag about yourself, I want you to flip the script. Lift up a friend instead. Give a genuine compliment—cheer someone on for something they’re proud of. It’s not always easy to share the spotlight, but that’s the heart of friendship. Being a good friend means celebrating others’ wins—even when you wanted the spotlight just for yourself. Notice how it makes your friends feel. That’s your homework—but the good kind.

Rusty Ruff

Ooooh, I love it! And I can’t wait to hear the stories everyone brings back next episode. That’s what I call a paws-up challenge! Hey, quick ‘Ruff Reminder’ before we go—next Thursday is our field trip to Ernie Miller Nature Center History Lab, so remember to dress for the outdoors, bring a sack lunch, and maybe, if you’re like me, get excited for some fresh air and adventure!

Mrs. Ruff

Before we say goodbye, let’s end with our Bark it Believe it affirmation. Everyone, say it with me: “I use my words to lift people up, not to tear them down.” Let that be our guide all week long—and remember, don’t say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to someone else. We believe in you!

Rusty Ruff

And before we go, here’s my reminder for the week: being a good friend means sticking up for each other, listening, and keeping the gossip out of our doghouse. Friends deserve kindness—always!

Mrs. Ruff

And I’ll leave you with this reminder: don’t say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to someone else. Speak kindly—to others and to yourself

Rusty Ruff

Thanks for listening to the Ruff Pups Pawcast!