Size of the Problem

Talking about the "size of the problem" at school helps students learn to appropriately match their emotional and behavioral responses to the severity of a situation, fostering self-awareness, emotional regulation, and problem-solving skills. By categorizing problems as small, medium, or large, students can better manage their reactions, seek appropriate support, and develop a better understanding of challenges.

Sunny Feelings

Sunny feelings are known as happy feelings that often share good news!

Examples:

Getting an A on a test
Being a good listener for a whole week
Used effective I-statements to tell someone how you feel

small problem

Cloudy problems are “No biggie!”
Only affects 1-2 people
Only lasts for a short time
I can fix or ignore this problem

Examples:

You dropped all your papers
Your pencil broke
You lost the game

Medium problem

Rainy problems are difficult to solve by yourself
Affects more than 2 people
May last for a few days
You need an adult to help fix this

Examples:

You and your friend get into a disagreement
You are feeling lonely at lunch

BIG problem

Tornado problems are an EMERGENCY that cannot wait.
Affects a lot of people
May last a few weeks, months, or years
You need an adult NOW

Examples:

You or someone else is in danger or hurt
You smell smoke or see a fire

When students are have a problem, they are instructed to go to a trusted adult to help solve their problems. These people includes their teacher, parent, admin, and school counselor. To request to meet with the school counselor, students are to fill out a self-referral form. This can be via a printed sheet found in their classroom or Google Form.

At home, feel free to adapt the verbiage used to help your child problem solve and advocate for themselves at home!

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