Classroom Lessons

Once per month, each class receives one classroom counseling lesson. The counseling curriculum in the Fort Zumwalt School District is based on the American School Counseling Association standards as well as The Missouri School Counseling grade-level expectations, aligned with Missouri State standards. Because we are a Leader In Me school, each of The 7 Habits of Happy Kids are infused into each lesson. This year, we have adopted a new curriculum with an emphasis on teaching Executive Functioning Skills as well. Please see the year at a glance and executive functioning skills listed below.

Inhibit: ability to resist impulses and inhibit one’s behavior when appropriate.

Shift: ability to switch attention, deal with transitions and tolerate change, shift focus and think flexibly in order to respond appropriately to a situation.

Emotional Control: ability to control or modify one’s emotional responses.

Initiate: ability to start an activity or task, to come up with one’s own ideas and problem solving approaches.

Working Memory: ability to retain information to complete a task (follow instructions, complete multi-step activities, etc.)

Plan/Organize: ability to set goals, anticipate future developments, predetermine steps to complete a goal, organize information and identify key concepts or ideas.

Monitor: ability to assess one’s progress on a task (monitoring accuracy, time management, effectiveness of strategies, etc.) and the ability to monitor one’s behavior and the effect they have on others.

After most lessons, students will return home with a form we have completed together in class. This is a way for you to reinforce the topics discussed at school, at home, as well. If your child returns home with something incomplete, feel free to complete it with him/her at home for fun. Since I only visit once per month for 40 minutes, we don't always have time to perfect everything before it goes home. The discussions the students have while I'm in the room are truly valuable to their social/emotional growth. I appreciate your support and look forward to seeing your child grow this year.