Week of 5/6: FINAL Counseling Lesson
PK: This week, we read Horton Hears a Who and discuss kindness and cooperation. Then, we share PK memories. All students will receive a Horton button.
K: This week, we read She's Got This and discuss perseverance for 1st grade. Students spend time reflecting on the year and sharing with their class.
Ask your child: What is your favorite counseling lesson from this year?
Week of 4/7: Growth Mindset/Effort
PK: This week we read A Perfectly Messed up Story and share what things we can't do yet but are working on.
Kinder: This week is all about preparing ourselves for First grade. We talk about what growth mindset means, follow a story about a student that learns how to develop a growth mindset and put forth effort, then play a couple of growth mindset games.
Ask your child: How are you growing your brain? What areas are you working on your growth mindset?
Week of 4/7: Growth Mindset/Effort
PK: This week we read A Perfectly Messed up Story and share what things we can't do yet but are working on.
Kinder: This week is all about preparing ourselves for First grade. We talk about what growth mindset means, follow a story about a student that learns how to develop a growth mindset and put forth effort, then play a couple of growth mindset games.
Ask your child: How are you growing your brain? What areas are you working on your growth mindset?
Week of 3/24: Emotional Regulation (Handling Worries)
PK: This week, we read How Big Are Your Worries Little Bear and discuss & practice ways to handle our big emotions and worries.
K: This week, we read Little Red Fox Has Feelings and discuss & practice ways to handle our big emotions and worries.
Ask your child: What is your favorite way to help big emotions?
Week of 3/3: Respecting Differences
PK- This week we watch The Odd Dog Out and students color their odd dog to show all the differences in the class.
K- This week, we watch The Crayon Box That talked. Next, students choose 1 crayon and draw a picture (and be as detailed as possible). Then, students recreate their drawing using as many colors as they would like. Students share what they liked and didn’t like about each. We end with a discussion about how the crayon box is like our classroom, filled with people that look different and have different strengths.
Ask your child: (PK) What is something that makes you special? (K) How is your classroom like the crayon box? What did you like best about your picture when you were able to use all of the colors?
Week of 2/18: Career Exploration
PK: This week, we watch Career Day and students draw and share a career they might like to have in the future.
K: This week, we learn about different careers and play a career charades game to guess the career. Students share what they would like to be when they grow up.
Ask your child: What is a career you might be interested in?
Week of 2/4: NSCW Activities
Check out the books and activities in honor of National School Counseling Week.
Week of 2/4: Kindness+Empathy
PK: This week we read What does it mean to be kind? And discuss ways we can show kindness to friends, family, and teachers.
Kindergarten: This week, we watch Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch and shared an act of kindness we can do for people around us.
Ask your child: What is a random act of kindness? Let’s brainstorm a random act of kindness we can do for someone else.
Week of 1/22: Circle of Control/ Emotional Regulation
This week, we talk about BIG feelings we might have when something doesn't go our way, we mess up, or something happens outside of our control. We watch a video on different feelings. Then, we read STUCK. We discuss a few simple strategies we can use when we feel frustrated, nervous/worried, sad/overwhelmed, or scared. (Strategies include: Take a break, Ask for Help, Count to 10, Try a different way)
Ask your child: What's a big feeling you feel sometimes? What can you do at school if you feel that way? What can you do at home if you feel that way?
Week of 1/22: Circle of Control/ Emotional Regulation
This week, we talk about BIG feelings we might have when something doesn't go our way, we mess up, or something happens outside of our control. We watch a video on different feelings. Then, we read STUCK. We discuss a few simple strategies we can use when we feel frustrated, nervous/worried, sad/overwhelmed, or scared. (Strategies include: Take a break, Ask for Help, Count to 10, Try a different way)
Ask your child: What's a big feeling you feel sometimes? What can you do at school if you feel that way? What can you do at home if you feel that way?
Week of 1/6: Goal Setting OR Conflict Resolution Review (Teacher choice)
Goal Setting:
This week, we discuss what goals are and why people set them. Students will participate as a class in a class goal and determine if it was reasonable. Then, students will practice setting a reasonable goal at home and at school.
Ask your child: How do you know if a goal is reasonable? What goal do you want to work on at home?
Conflict resolution review:
This week, we review big vs. little problems and what we can do about them. Students will practice identifying little problems and come up with a strategy to handle it.
Big problems are dangerous, make us feel scared, or someone is hurt. We need an adult to help us solve these problems.
Small problems make us feel annoyed, frustrated, or sad. These are problems we can handle on our own.
Ask your child: What's the difference between a big problem and a small problem? What is a strategy you can try when you have a small problem?
Week of 12/2 : Identifying Feelings/ Self-Confidence
PK: This week we read a story about identifying feelings. Then, we create feelings books that describe situations that make us feel happy, angry, and sad.
Kinder: This week, we watch Rock What Ya Got and students write and share the things they rock (like playing basketball or having curly hair).
Ask your child:
(PK) What is something that makes you angry? Sad? Happy?
(K) What did Viva rock in the story? What things do you rock?
Week of 11/11: Growth Mindset/ Personal Safety
PK:
This week, we learn the power of yet (Growth Mindset). Students are encouraged to think of something they didn't know how to do but they can now and think of something they are wanting to learn how to do.
Ask your child: What is something you can't do YET but are learning.
Kinder:
District Personal Safety Lesson
Ask your child: What do you do if someone tries to hurt you?
10/ 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 10/28: Bullying
PK:
This week, we discuss what bullying looks like using Howard B. Wigglebottom's story & song. Check out the video here. Students learn that bullying is when someone is mean (STOP-Several Times On Purpose) or one big incident. We also learn that the best way to fight bullying is to STOP it (Start Telling Other People) and spread kindness. Students learn how to report bullying on our campus (tell a teacher or parent, so that an administrator can investigate it).
Ask your child: What is bullying? What would you do if someone was bullying you or a friend?
Kinder:
This week, we discuss bullying and read The Recess Queen. Students learn that bullying is when someone is mean (STOP-Several Times On Purpose) or one big incident. We also learn that the best way to fight bullying is to STOP it (Start Telling Other People) and spread kindness. Students learn how to report bullying on our campus (tell a teacher or parent, so that an administrator can investigate it). Then, students identify what nice recess behavior looks like and identify adults they could report to.
Ask your child: What is bullying? What would you do if someone was bullying you or a friend?
Halloween Drug or Food.mp4October 21-25: Virtual Lesson Drug Awareness
It's Healthy Choices Week, also known as national Red Ribbon Week. Here is a quick virtual lesson that students will watch that explains what a drug is (anything that is not food that changes the way our bodies feel). Students will learn that it is very important, especially with Halloween around the corner, to ask an adult they trust before they eat candy or take medicine (or candy that is not in a wrapper).
Week of 10/15: Coping Skills (Mindfulness)
This week, we review the coping strategies we have discussed in class (breathing, problem-solving skills, and loving thoughts)
Together, we read the book Find Your Calm. Then, I read a mindful script to the students that allows them to imagine themselves holding warm hot cocoa and what that feeling is like as it goes through their body. Then, we focus on the people and things in our life that bring us warmth and happiness. We discuss how our bodies feel after the exercise and reflect on the people and things that bring us joy together.
Ask your child: What is something or someone that brings you joy? How does mindfulness help your brain/body?
Week of 10/15: Coping Skills (Mindfulness)
This week, we review the coping strategies we have discussed in class (breathing, problem-solving skills, and loving thoughts)
Together, we read the book Find Your Calm. Then, I read a mindful script to the students that allows them to imagine themselves holding warm hot cocoa and what that feeling is like as it goes through their body. Then, we focus on the people and things in our life that bring us warmth and happiness. We discuss how our bodies feel after the exercise and reflect on the people and things that bring us joy together.
Ask your child: What is something or someone that brings you joy? How does mindfulness help your brain/body?
Week of 9/30-Managing Emotions/ Time to ACT
PK: This week, we talk about the difference between tattling and reporting. If a friend of ours in trouble, we need to ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) and find an adult we trust to help.
Kinder: We read Today I Feel Silly and talk about all of the feelings we might feel. If a friend of ours in trouble, we need to ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) and find an adult we trust to help.
Ask your child: Who is an adult you trust at home that you can talk to? Who is an adult at school you trust you can talk to?
Week of 9/23- Conflict Strategies Review
This week, we review all 6 of the conflict strategies we have been practicing. Students finish their problem solving books (kinder) and can take them home. Pk students take home a coloring sheet with all of the strategies.
Ask your child: Share one of the conflict strategies you’ve learned and when you can use it. Look over the strategy book together.
Week of 9/16- Conflict Strategies: Talk it Out & Apologize
This week, we continue to discuss how to handle small problems on our own. We focus on 2 more strategies: talk it out and apologize
Talk it out- let the person know how you feel and what you need. Say “I feel _______ when you ______ can you please _________?”
Apologize- Understand your part in it and say “I’m sorry” for what you did.
Ask your child: Share an example of an I statement you can use when someone hurts your feelings.
Week of 9/9- Conflict Strategies: Take Turns & Take a Break
This week, we continue to discuss how to handle small problems on our own. We focus on 2 more strategies: take turns and take a break.
Take Turns- share and let others have a turn is a way to make problems better before they happen
Take a break- wait and cool off to solve the problem when you are less upset
Ask your child: Why is it helpful to take turns? What can you do take a break?
Week of 9/3- Conflict Strategies: Ignore & Walk Away
This week, we discuss how to handle small problems on our own. We focus on 2 strategies, ignore & walk away.
Ignoring means I ignore with my eyes, mouth, body and mind
Walking away means you scoot or walk away from the person bothering you
Ask your child: When would be a good time to use your ignore strategy? When should you walk away?
Week of 8/26- Big vs. Small Problems
This week, we discuss the difference between a small and big problem and what we can do about them.
Big problems are dangerous, make us feel scared, or someone is hurt. We need an adult to help us solve these problems.
Small problems make us feel annoyed, frustrated, or sad. These are problems we can handle on our own.
Ask your child: What's the difference between a big problem and a small problem? Who should you talk to when there’s a big problem?
Week of 8/19: Introduction to the school counselor
This week, I visit each class to talk more about what a school counselor does and how I can help students.
Kinder: We also talk about 3 important parts of our brain (Prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and the hippocampus)
Ask your child: What does Mrs. Watkins do for students at school? How is she like a Mr. Potato head?
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.
Ask your child: If you were feeling sad at school? Who could you talk to? How can you request to talk?
