August 18-21 : Welcome Back & Friendship
📚 Book: I Love My school
🧠Activity: Students were welcomed back to guidance and reviewed the role of the school counselor. We talked about what guidance will look like this year and ways the counselor can support students at school. Students also participated in age-appropriate friendship discussions and activities focused on getting to know one another, connecting with classmates, and thinking about what makes a good friend.
💡Key concept: "Positive relationships help us feel connected."
🎯This week's objectives:
Reintroduce the role of the school counselor
Build comfort and connection within the classroom
Identify qualities of a positive friendship
Understand why having at least one positive connection at school matters
Recognize that learning and relationships are both important parts of the school experience
August 24-28 : Friendship & Belonging
📚 Book: A Little Sot of Belonging
🧠Activity: Students explored what it means to belong at school and discussed the people, places, and experiences that help them feel included and connected. Through the story and class discussion, we talked about ways to make friends, include others, and help everyone feel like they are an important part of our school community. We also practiced an important friendship skill: introducing ourselves! Students practiced using a handshake, sharing their name, and confidently introducing themselves!
💡Key concept: "Not everyone we know is a close friend, and that’s okay."
🎯This week's objectives:
Understand what it means to feel a sense of belonging
Identify ways to make and build friendships
Recognize ways to help others feel included
Understand that everyone deserves to feel like they belong at school
Practice simple ways to connect with new or different people
August 31 - September 4 : No Guidance!
Due to no school Friday, there was no guidance class this week. Students will catch up next week with “Social Smarts” and “Reading the Room.”
September 7-11: Social Smarts - Read the Room / Red & Green Flag Behaviors
🧠Activity: We continued practicing “Spot It, Think It, Do It” through our red and green flag behavior activity and feelings charades. Students practiced spotting behaviors, facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice, thinking about what those clues might tell us about how someone is feeling, and doing something kind, respectful, or helpful in response. These activities helped students strengthen their social awareness and recognize how our choices can help build positive friendships and make sure others feel seen, included, and valued
💡Key concept: "We can use red and green flags to guide our friendship choices."
🎯This week's objectives:
Identify red flag and green flag behaviors
Practice recognizing behaviors in everyday situations
Recognize feelings through facial expressions and body language
Understand how tone of voice can provide clues about feelings
Practice using social clues to better understand others
Understand how social smarts can help us build positive friendships
Make thoughtful choices about who we choose to spend time with
September 14-18: Social Smarts - Social Smarts Detectives
🧠Activity: Students became “Social Smarts Detectives” and practiced using “Spot It, Think It, Do It” with different social situations. Students looked closely at pictures to spot what was happening or what might be wrong. They then used their “Think It” sheet to discuss how someone in the situation might be feeling, what clues helped them figure that out, and what that person might need. Finally, students talked about what they could do to help. This helped students practice looking beyond what they immediately see and using social clues to better understand and respond to others.
💡Key concept: "Noticing social clues helps us understand and help others."
🎯This week's objectives:
Practice using “Spot It, Think It, Do It” in social situations
Identify important details and problems within a social situation
Recognize possible feelings based on social clues
Explain what clues helped identify how someone might be feeling
Consider what another person might need
Identify kind, helpful, and respectful ways to respond
Strengthen social awareness and perspective-taking skills
September 21-25: Social Smarts - Social Smarts Detectives
🧠Activity: Students continued working as “Social Smarts Detectives” and finished their detective packets using “Spot It, Think It, Do It.” Students practiced spotting what was happening in different social situations, thinking about how someone might be feeling and what clues helped them know, and discussing what that person might need. We brought each situation back to what students could do to respond in a kind, helpful, or respectful way.
💡Key concept: "Social clues can help us decide what to do. "
🎯This week's objectives:
Continue practicing “Spot It, Think It, Do It”
Identify important clues within social situations
Recognize how someone might be feeling
Use social clues to explain why someone may feel a certain way
Consider what another person might need
Choose kind, helpful, and respectful ways to respond
Apply social awareness skills to everyday situations
September 28 - October 2: Social Smarts - Putting It All Together
🧠Activity: Students wrapped up our Social Smarts unit by reviewing the skills we have practiced throughout the month. Students played a Four Corners game where they listened to different social scenarios and decided how they could respond by choosing one of four options: Say Something, Do Something, Get Help, or Give Space. After making their choice, we discussed why different responses might be helpful and how there can sometimes be more than one good way to handle a situation. Students used their “Spot It, Think It, Do It” skills to notice what was happening, think about what someone might be feeling or needing, and choose a helpful response.
💡Key concept: "Social smarts help us choose how to respond. "
🎯This week's objectives:
Review skills learned throughout the Social Smarts unit
Apply “Spot It, Think It, Do It” to everyday social situations
Identify different ways to respond to social situations
Practice deciding when to say something, do something, get help, or give space
Recognize that there may be more than one helpful response
Consider what another person may be feeling or needing
Make kind, safe, and helpful choices when interacting with others
October 5-9: Smart Choices & Courage - Taking Brave Steps
📚 Book: Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
🧠Activity: Students were introduced to our new monthly theme, Smart Choices & Courage, through the story Jabari Jumps. We followed Jabari as he worked through feelings of fear, nervousness, and uncertainty while building the courage to jump off the diving board. Through group discussions, students explored how being brave doesn't mean we aren't scared, but rather finding the courage to try even when something feels difficult. Students also reflected on something they were once afraid to do but found the courage to try anyway. We connected these experiences to making smart choices, working through uncomfortable feelings, and recognizing that courage can help us grow.
💡Key concept: "Being brave means making the choice to try, even when we feel scared."
🎯This week's objectives:
Introduce the concepts of smart choices and courage
Understand that being brave doesn't mean we aren't scared
Recognize feelings of fear, nervousness, and uncertainty
Identify how Jabari demonstrated courage throughout the story
Reflect on personal experiences of overcoming fear
Understand how our feelings can influence the choices we make
Recognize that trying something new or difficult can help us build confidence and grow
October 12-16: Smart Choices & Courage - Small Acts, Big Differences
📚 Book: I Walk with Vanessa
🧠Activity: Students continued exploring our monthly theme of Smart Choices & Courage through the wordless picture book I Walk with Vanessa. As we viewed the illustrations together, students used their “Spot It” and “Think It” skills from last month's Social Smarts lessons to notice what was happening, consider how the characters might be feeling, and work together as a class to tell the story. Through group discussions, we explored which characters demonstrated courage and how their choices affected others. Students discovered that courage doesn't always mean doing something big or scary. Sometimes, it means making the choice to show kindness, include someone, or stand up for others, even when it might feel uncomfortable. We discussed how one small act of kindness can encourage others and make a big difference.
💡Key concept: "Even the smallest act of kindness can be a courageous choice that makes a big difference."
🎯This week's objectives:
Continue exploring the connection between smart choices and courage
Apply “Spot It” and “Think It” skills to understand a story through illustrations
Practice interpreting emotions, actions, and perspectives without written words
Work together to develop a story based on visual clues
Identify characters who demonstrated courage through their choices
Recognize that standing up for or including others can take courage
Understand how one small act of kindness can positively influence others
Reflect on how our choices can encourage others to make kind and courageous decisions