Lesson 1: September 2023

I visited each classroom to introduce myself to students and review my role as a school counselor.  I always want students to know that my job is about helping them, and I help them through classroom lessons, small groups, individual counseling, and consulting with parents and teachers. Students also completed a short check-in activity to help me and their teacher know how they feel about the school year so far.

Standards:

NC Guidance Essential Standards: RED.SE.1.2 Identify ways of controlling emotional states, feelings, and moods. 

ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors: Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental, social/emotional and physical well-being; Create relationships with adults that support success.

Lesson 2: October 2023

We focused on bullying prevention during this lesson. Students learned what bullying is and differences between a bullying situation and a mean moment. They practiced determining if different situations were bullying or not bullying. Then, we learned the importance of reporting bullying situations to an adult at school as soon as possible.  

Standards:

NC Guidance Essential Standards: RED.C.1.1 Identify problems that you have encountered or are likely to encounter; RED.C.2.1 Identify situations from your daily like in terms of problems and solution strategies

ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors: B-SS 2. Positive, respectful and supportive relationships with students who are similar to and different from them; B-SS 8. Advocacy skills for self and others and ability to assert self, when necessary

Lessons 3 & 4:

November 2023 & January 2024

These two lessons focus on friendship problem solving strategies. Students have learned problem solving strategies in previous years, and we are combining these strategies with new problem solving solutions to form their Problem Solving Toolbox.  As I introduce the toolbox, we talk about the importance of having multiple tools or strategies so that you can be prepared to handle a variety of situations. We focus on fourteen strategies: Share, Take Turns, Ignore, Compromise, Agree, Change the Subject/Distract, Laugh or Make a Joke, Stay Away, Postpone, Apologize, I Message/Talk It Out, Play with Other People, Move On & Forget About It, and Get Help.

Standards:

NC Guidance Essential Standards: RED.C.1.1 Identify problems that you have encountered or are likely to encounter; RED.C.1.2 Identify creative strategies and non-creative strategies

ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors: B-SMS 7. Effective coping skills; B-SS 8. Advocacy skills for self and others and ability to assert self, when necessary 

Lesson 5: February 2024

Students loved starting off this lesson searching for the differences between two pictures! Then, we did a movement activity to see the differences and similarities between students in the class. We learned that differences are a good thing and something to celebrate. Students considered ways to be curious and helpful about differences instead of rude or disrespectful. We also practiced empathy and perspective taking skills to help us choose words and actions that will feel respectful to others.  

Standards:

NC Guidance Essential Standards: RED.C.1.1 Identify problems that you have encountered or are likely to encounter; RED.C.2.1 Identify situations from your daily like in terms of problems and solution strategies; 

ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors: B-SS 2. Positive, respectful and supportive relationships with students who are similar to and different from them; B-SS 4. Empathy