Week of 5/12- Closing
This is our last counseling lesson of the school year. We read Zero and write letters to our future 6th grade self about our goals for the year and ways to initiate kindness (students will receive these back at the end of 6th grade).
Ask your child: What is your favorite counseling lesson of this year?
Week of 4/28- Understanding Differences
This week, we read Just Ask and listen to this 5 minute interview with Sonia Sontomayor. Then, we spend time discussing the polite/kind way to ask about differences, how to set a boundary and not answer if we aren't comfortable, and talking about our differences.
Ask your child: What is a polite way to ask someone about something? How can you set a boundary if you aren't comfortable answering a question?
Week of 3/31- Resilience and Test Taking Strategies
This week, we read this article and discuss the 5 keys of resilience ( 1. Think positive 2. Focus on what you can control 3. Know what's important 4. Know what you're good at 5. Surround yourself with things that matter). Students think through the steps and come up with a plan to help with test anxiety. We learn 10 tips, practice breathing, and some stretches to do at their desk.
Ask your child: What is something you are working on being more resilient at? What can you do if you start to feel nervous during the STAAR test?
Week of 3/17- Effects of Marijuana Use*
This week, we learn that marijuana negatively affects the brain and its performance. We apply our decision making skills and discuss the negative effects of marijuana use on our ability to reach our goals and become a healthy, confident person.
Ask your child: What are some of the harmful effects of marijuana? How would using marijuana affect your goals?
Week of 2/24- Career Exploration
This week, we discuss our strengths and how that can relate to our future careers. Students look at their skills and qualities and find a career that aligns with their interests.
Ask your child: What are some of your strengths? What is a career idea that goes along with that strength?
Week of 2/10: Effects of Nicotine Use*
This week we learn the negative short-term and long-term effects of using tobacco products and practiced using the nine peer-pressure refusal strategies in situations involving nicotine.
Ask your child: What are some of the negative consequences of using nicotine?
Week of 2/4: NSCW Activities
Check out the books and activities in honor of National School Counseling Week.
Week of 1/27- Effects of Alcohol Use*
This week we discuss the negative effects drinking alcohol can have on the developing brain. We learn that an impaired brain can limit a person's ability to reach his or her goals.
Ask your child: What are some of the things that you enjoy to do at home? How can alcohol affect your ability to do those things?
Week of 1/13- Peer Pressure Refusal*
This week, we learn 9 peer-pressure refusal strategies that help express in confidence our decision to avoid risky behavior and practice using them in a variety of situations.
(Say “No” | Walk away | Ignore | Make an Excuse | A Better Idea | A broken record | Reverse the pressure| State the Facts| Steer Clear)
Ask your child: What strategy do you like best and why?
Week of 12/9: Substance Abuse- Safe use of OTC Rx medications*
This week, we learn about the safe and unsafe use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines. We identify safe practices for use and storage of these drugs.
Ask your child: What are some of the safe use practices/storage practices you learned about medications? Take a walk through the house to verify everything is where it should be.
Week of 11/18: Personal Safety
District Personal Safety Lesson
Ask your child: Discuss the lesson and safety tips for your family
Week of 11/6- Bonding & Relationships*
This week, we discuss healthy and unhealthy friendship qualities. We learn how to be a good friend to others and discuss the benefits of choosing friends with healthy qualities.
Ask your child: Why is it important to have a good friends? What can you say to a friend who demonstrates unhealthy friendship qualities? What can you say or do to end an unhealthy friendship?
October 28-11/1: Healthy Choices Week
Here's the virtual classroom all students will have access to this week. Click around to see the videos, stories, and games.
Week of 10/21- Bullying
Our focus this week is Bullying. We review the differences between rude, mean, and bullying. We read My Secret Bully. Using the terms we defined in our lesson, students play a salad bowl game to practice using the terms.
Bullying terms:
Bullying Acronym (STOMP)- Several Times, On purpose, mean, purposeful
Types of bullying:
physical
verbal
relational
cyber
Be an upstander- stand up for bullying & tell a trusted adult
Ask your child: Have you ever seen someone get bullied before? What did you do? What would you do if you witnessed bullying?
Week of 10/7- Effective Communication*
This week, we discuss effective communication skills. We describe the characteristics of an assertive speaker and an active listener.
Assertive speaker:
Use confident body language
Looks the other person in the eye
Uses a firm tone of voice
Has a calm facial expression
Active listener:
Maintains eye contact with the Speaker
Leans in toward the Speaker
Focuses on what the Speaker is saying
Repeats what the Speaker is saying
Asks clarifying questions
Ignores distractions
Ask your child: Take turns practicing being an assertive speaker and an active listener by role playing interviews. (examples: (A) Imagine having lunch with a famous person: Who would you like to invite to lunch, why, what would you have, what two questions would you ask them. (B) Imagine you were the first astronaut to explore Planet Perfecta: Name one person you would take with you, what two things make this place a perfect place to live, how is it different from Earth, if you could bring one thing back to Earth from the planet what would it be?)
Week of 9/23- Managing Emotions*/ Time to ACT
This week, we learn there are different words we can use to describe the intensities of emotions. We learn how to identify our emotions, and discuss how intense emotions can influence our decision making. We learned healthy ways to manage our emotions so they don’t overwhelm us.
Ask your child: What are some of the physical body symptoms you get when you feel embarrassed? Surprised? Furious? What are two ways you can manage your intense emotions?
Week of 9/9- Making Responsible Decisions*
This week, we learn that when we stop, think about a positive outcome, and consider the positive and negative consequences of our decisions before taking action, we are more likely to make good, healthy choices, and we are more confident in ourselves.
Ask your child: What does a responsible decision look like? What are the steps to making a responsible decision ? (Answer: stop, think, act, reflect)
Conflict Resolution Upper 3-6.mp4Week of 9/3: *VIRTUAL* Conflict Resolution
This week students will watch this conflict resolution video. We go over our SOAR STRATEGY poster and focus on effective communication in conflict resolution.
The steps are:
ask the person to talk privately
share how you feel in a calm tone
listen without interrupting
check for understanding and acknowledge feelings
active listening
brainstorm solutions
find a solution that works for everyone (win-win)
create a plan for the future
agree- forgive & move on
Ask your child: What is one conflict resolution strategy you can use at recess? Which of the conflict discussion steps is the most difficult for you?
Week of 8/19: Setting reachable goals*
This week, we learn how to name a short-term goal (that can be accomplished in 2-3 months). We list the following criteria to help us determine what goal is best. It’s Personal, Possible, Positive, and Specific.
Ask your child: What is an academic goal you have? What is a personal goal you have? What is a way that I can help you reach one or both of these goals?
2024 Intro Video.mp4Week of 8/13: Video Intro
This week, teachers share the following video with students. It briefly describes the role of a school counselor, shares an office tour, and reminds students how to request to talk to Mrs. Watkins. Minute Meetings begin this week, where I meet with every 3-6th grade student to check in.
Ask your child: If you were feeling sad at school? Who could you talk to? How can you request to talk?
*Denotes lessons from Too Good For Drugs Curriculum
