Counseling Lessons for March 2025

Dear Caregiver(s),

Today we are starting our stress relief unit with our Slumberkins friend Alpaca. Stress refers to feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope with difficulties or challenges in life. Alpaca’s lessons offer support and coping skills to students to find ways to increase their resilience and ability to cope with challenges. Some challenges can be solved, while others cannot. These lessons will help students cope with stress in and outside the school environment, preparing them for life and increasing their capacity for academic learning.

Alpaca’s lesson helps students:

• Understand Alpaca’s Story “Alpaca Holds Your Worries”

• Feel safe and supported as a member of the classroom community

• Understand how anxiety/worries affect the brain and our ability to respond to stress

• Understand the way big emotions show up in their body

• Calm their body and brain when big feelings are present

• Learn strategies to support worries and take care of big feelings

• Determine a plan for the school environment to take care of their stress, worry, or anxiety

Opportunities for connection at home:

1. Read “Alpaca Holds Your Worries” or listen to the story with your child. You can watch together at

slumberkins.com/pages/storytime

2. Set a time daily to discuss worries with your child. For children experiencing consistent worries, just knowing there is a designated time to focus and talk about worries can provide comfort. When talking with your child, listen, and remind them they are supported and safe.

3. Ask your child where their favorite place is. Have them describe this place while you draw the details, or have them draw the place themselves. When your child is experiencing worries at home, use their favorite place visual to visit and take a “vacation” to their favorite place.

For more information about Alpaca’s story, visit Slumberkins.com.

I am strong and supported.

I am never alone.

Climbing these mountains

will lead me home.

Counseling Lessons for the month of December 2024

This month we are starting our Gratitude unit with our Slumberkins® friend Honey Bear. Honey Bear teaches students about Gratitude. This topic is important to support students in building feelings of happiness and appreciation for the people and things around them.

During these lessons your student will:

• Listen to Honey Bear’s Story, “Honey Bear, I’m Grateful For You.”

• Learn how to show gratitude to others.

• Write letters of gratitude to others and read them out loud.

November 2024 Counseling Lessons: No Place for Hate - Imagine What More We Could Do

Dear Caregiver, 

Woodlawn Elementary believes that having a school community where your child feels safe and respected is an important foundation to their academic success. That is why Woodlawn  will be participating in No Place for Hate®, a national program supporting schools in their commitment to celebrating diversity, promoting respect for differences and challenging bias and bullying at all levels.

Developed by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) – a leading civil rights organization that has worked for over a century to “secure justice and fair treatment to all” – No Place for Hate® will help us incorporate anti-bias and bullying prevention resources into our existing programs in order to have one consistent message of inclusivity. 

You and your child can help support our No Place for Hate® program in a number of ways:

1. For students in 5th grade there is an opportunity to join our No Place for Hate® Committee to help and plan No Place for Hate® events.

2. Along with your child, sign the No Place for Hate® Promise/ Resolution of Respect to commit to challenging bias and bullying!

3. Practice No Place for Hate® at home! For family resources on challenging bullying and bias, visit https://www.adl.org/education-and-resources/resources-for-educators-parents-families. 

To learn more or to get involved with No Place for Hate® at Woodlawn, please contact the school counselor, Carissa Marquis (cmarquis@pps.net).  With your help, we will make our school community a safe and welcoming space for all. 

2024-2025 October Counseling Lessons - Slumberkins - The Feels 

The Feels Lesson Objective 

Students will learn how to identify 5 major emotional states as well as strategies for taking care of their feelings in weekly counseling lessons in each classroom. 

SEL Standards 

The Feels Curriculum introduces students to each of the six Social Emotional Learning Standards, touching on benchmarks and indicators using an engaging narrative and supplemental learning tools that can be accessed continuously within the classroom to further reinforce learning. The curriculum includes Yeti Feels and their Mountain, which can find a home in the classroom's self-regulation area (a Safe Place or Calming Corner), or within an at-home Comfort Corner, offering an outlet for students to connect with and build upon their SEL skills as needed, bolstering self-awareness and self-efficacy. 

Offering concrete tools for coping with the spectrum of feelings, The Feels teaches students to first tune in mindfully to their own needs, emotional reactions and behavioral responses to better self-advocate and problem solve with their peers and resource adults. It teaches the importance of self-compassion when tougher feelings arise, which in turn builds empathy and group cohesion within the classroom. Finally, it helps students assume greater responsibility for themselves, their "Feels" and needs of their greater school community, inviting them to contribute meaningfully by practicing new skills daily. 

Steps for Understanding and Shifting Worried Thoughts 

Support your child in verbalizing their understanding of the role their Worried Thoughts play in creating Worried Feels.

Re-label the Worry by giving it a name that your child chooses in order to externalize it. This Feel can have a voice of its own that can even be silly, like a cartoon character. 

Reflect and Acknowledge what the child is feeling (i.e., "This is making you so upset," or, "It's hard to do anything when your mind is so busy and making so much noise.") 

Remind through Metaphor the Worry is a no-fault issue (i.e., "It's the Worry Brain, it's not your fault," or, "Its thoughts are junk mail and not true, don't take them personally," or, "It's a false alarm, a worry mosquito, etc.") 

Challenge Worried Thoughts by examining the actual probability of the negative expectation occurring, what the real consequences would be if it occurred, their ability to manage the likely outcome, and the worst possible outcome and their ability to accept it should it occur. 

Explore the Past Worry that no longer bothers your child. Ask them to explain how they got over a past fear. They will often say, "I got used to it." Help them understand that worry can lead to avoidance of the problem, but if they slowly move toward their worry, they may find themselves getting over it step-by-step. 

This process is outlined in detail, along with more information about supporting children who struggle with anxiety, in the book Freeing Your Child From Anxiety: Powerful, Practical Solutions to Overcome Your Child's Fears, Worries and Phobias, by Tamar E. Chansky, PhD. 

2024 - 2025 - September Counseling Lessons

In our weekly counseling lessons we talked about the importance of coming to school every day on time, barriers to having consistent school attendance, and ways to improve one's attendance at school. In addition, we connected regular school attendance with increased academic achievement and skill acquisition. Students explored various career options and discussed skills needed for various future jobs.  

2023-2024 February Counseling Lessons - Conflict Resolution with Hammerhead

Conflict resolution is all about learning how to problem solve if there is a disagreement, calm our bodies when upset, and apologize and make things right when necessary. These skills are important for home, school, and community, and will remain important through adulthood.

Hammerhead’s lesson helps students:

• Understand Hammerhead’s story “Hammerhead’s Recess Conflict”

• Welcome all feelings, including anger, to reduce reactivity and shame around the experience of emotions.

• Mad is not bad!

• Learn to identify feelings in their bodies, and learn ways to soothe their nervous systems as the beginning steps to emotional regulation.

• •Learn skills to repair conflict with peers and community members when needed.

Opportunity for Connection at Home:

After Lesson 4 of the Conflict Resolution unit, your student will bring home their “Mad Matters and Calm Feels Cool” mini-book. Encourage them to share their book with you. Ask questions and have them explain the differences they experience with their mad and calm feelings. This can be an excellent opportunity for connection!

1. Play a Game: Have your child pretend to be mad or calm. Try to guess which one they are feeling. Ask them to describe how their body feels. Now you can pretend to be mad or calm and ask your child to guess how you’re feeling. Ask them to explain how they know you’re feeling that way.

2. Make a Feelings Plan: Discuss a plan with your child when they experience conflict at home (sibling conflict, tantrums, etc.) and how to repair it. What can they do? Where can they go? Could they try Hammerhead’s affirmation?

3. Try Building a Comfort Corner: With your child, build a Comfort Corner in your home. Find a space that works for you and your child to support them with big feelings. 

January Counseling Lessons - Self-Esteem with Bigfoot.

Bigfoot teaches students about positive Self-Esteem, or feeling good about ourselves. This topic is important to support students to be confident about themselves, and build positive relationships with peers.

During these lessons your student will:

• Listen to Bigfoot’s Story, “Bigfoot’s Hurt Feelings: A Lesson in Self-Esteem.”

• Identify what makes them feel good about themselves.

• Create a safe space to rebuild their self-confidence when needed.

• Learn new skills to cope with hurt feelings.

Learn-At-Home Ideas:

1. Try Building a Comfort Corner: A comfort corner is just a small space that children can use to calm down when they have big feelings. It could be a corner of a room, a pillow on a floor, it doesn’t take much to make a cozy spot to soothe big feelings when in need. 

2. Practice Bigfoot’s Affirmation: The more children repeat these words, the better they will work in a difficult moment.

I am kind. I am strong.

I am brave and unique.

The world is better

because I am here.

December Counseling Lessons - Mindfulness with Yeti

Mindfulness is the practice of slowing down and paying attention to what is happening right now with all our senses. Mindfulness has been shown to help children increase focus and attention, and better regulate their emotions. These are all important skills for home and school!

Yeti’s lesson helps students:

• Understand Yeti’s story “Yeti Focuses on Her Senses” (See Slumberkins.com for a free printable copy of the story to read at home).

• Identify the five senses (sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste).

• Learn to notice feelings (happy, excited, sad, mad, and worried) and how they show up in their bodies.

• Create a Regulation Toolbox to help take care of their bodies when moving too fast or too slow.

Learn-At-Home Ideas:

1. Take a Nature Walk: Take your child outside and talk about everything you see, hear, taste, feel, and smell. Talk about how those things make you feel. Does the smell of a flower make you feel happy? Does the rain make you feel sad? Does the sound of a bird make you feel excited? See how the things in nature make you and your child feel.

2. Make a Regulation Toolbox: Using items you have in your home, create a toolbox with your child. This toolbox can be used when they need to calm down, or even if they need to gain energy if their body is feeling slow. Examples of items for the Toolbox could be a yoga pose, a weighted blanket, a book to read, fidgets, a family photo to look at, music to listen to, etc. Let your child decide what works best for them. What is a tool that helps givemore energy, and what tools can help them feel calmer.

I slow down and am calm.

I sit very still.

I take deep breaths,

relax, and chill.

October Counseling Lessons 2023 - Building Connections and No Place for Hate

This month (October 2023) we are starting our Building Connections unit with our Slumberkins friend, Otter. Otter’s lessons focus on the theme of Building Connections. Building connection is all about understanding each other and coming together to build a respectful, safe and supporting learning environment at school.

These lessons help students:

• Understand Otter’s story about Building Connections. 

• Share and respect their own and other’s cultures, values, and traditions.

• Build connections with our classroom and school community members.

• Understand their part and connection to their larger communities.

Please talk with your student this month about your family values, traditions and cultures (favorite meals, songs, traditions, days you celebrate, places you have lived, languages you speak, etc.). Students will bring home a Culture and Traditions handout that they worked on in class at the end of the month. Students will share in class their knowledge regarding their family's values, traditions, and culture. They will enjoy learning about each other, and celebrating our Classroom Heart Family and community. 

For more information about Otter’s story, visit Slumberkins.com.

I am connected and loved,

even if we are far apart.

I’ll keep you with me,

held here in my heart.

No Place for Hate - Imagine What More We Could Do

Dear Caregiver, 

Woodlawn Elementary believes that having a school community where your child feels safe and respected is an important foundation to their academic success. That is why Woodlawn  will be participating in No Place for Hate®, a national program supporting schools in their commitment to celebrating diversity, promoting respect for differences and challenging bias and bullying at all levels.

Developed by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) – a leading civil rights organization that has worked for over a century to “secure justice and fair treatment to all” – No Place for Hate® will help us incorporate anti-bias and bullying prevention resources into our existing programs in order to have one consistent message of inclusivity. 

You and your child can help support our No Place for Hate® program in a number of ways:

4. For students in 5th grade there is an opportunity to join our No Place for Hate® Committee to help and plan No Place for Hate® events.

5. Along with your child, sign the No Place for Hate® Promise/ Resolution of Respect to commit to challenging bias and bullying!

6. Practice No Place for Hate® at home! For family resources on challenging bullying and bias, visit https://www.adl.org/education-and-resources/resources-for-educators-parents-families. 

To learn more or to get involved with No Place for Hate® at Woodlawn, please contact the school counselor, Carissa Marquis (cmarquis@pps.net).  With your help, we will make our school community a safe and welcoming space for all. 

September Counseling Lessons 2023

This week (September, 2023) in class we are started our Routines unit with our Slumberkins® friend Sloth.

Sloth’s lessons reinforce the importance of learning and practicing routines and taking care of

oneself. Students who understand the classroom structure, procedures, and agreements feel more secure and confident taking on responsibilities and appropriate learning risks. In addition, when students are set up for success at home with a consistent routine, it will help them prepare for the day and activities ahead.

Sloth’s lesson helps students:

• Understand Sloth’s Story “Sloth’s First Day of School.”

• Identify the important spaces and faces around the school.

• Learn routines important to the school day in the classroom and at home.

• Learn to use the Comfort Corner in the classroom and manage upset feelings at home.

Opportunity for Connection at Home:

1. Create a special Goodbye Code with your child. This Goodbye Code can be a special handshake, hug, or any consistent routine before the school day begins. This is a great tool to help students feel more confident when heading to school for the day.

2. In Lesson 4, we will be learning all about our Classroom Comfort Corner. With your child, create a Comfort Corner in your home. Find a space that works for you and your child where they can go when they have big feelings. For more information about Comfort Corners, visit the Slumberkins Blog here.

From home to school,

in my heart, I know

I can try new things,

I learn and grow.

2022-2023 School Year

Counseling Lessons for April 2023

This month we are starting our Self-Expression Unit with our special Slumberkins friend Lynx. Lynx’s lessons reinforce the important message that your needs, feelings, and perspectives matter. When students learn to identify their inner experiences and express themselves, they can better set healthy boundaries, gain confidence, and seek support when needed. Lynx’s lessons teach healthy body boundaries and personal safety lessons to support students in speaking up if something doesn’t feel right.

Lynx’s lesson helps students:

• Understand what a boundary is for them, and begin to know what feels right for them through the lens of greeting others.

• Learn how to listen to their inner voice to understand their feelings and what they need.

• Practice using their inner voice to express their feelings, what they like, and don’t want to others.

• Define their boundaries while learning to express these boundaries.

• Learn to respect others’ boundaries.

Opportunities for connection at home:

1. Give your child choices. This doesn’t make sense in every situation, but when it does, let your child have a voice (within your set boundaries). For example, if your child is ready for a snack, give two choices “Think about what sounds the best to you today. Would you like apples or hummus and carrots?”

2. Ask your child if they would like a hug or kiss (or both) before doing so. Remind them that they get to choose what feels best for them.

3. When trying new activities, ask your child how it makes them feel. If they have expressed they don’t like an activity/outing, or it made them nervous/worried/sad, ask if they know what might make it better the next time they try.

My body is mine

I know what I like.

I check in with myself

and say what feels right.

For more information about Lynx’s story, visit Slumberkins.com. Check out Lynx’s story on Vooks.com

Counseling Lessons for the month of January, February, and March - No Place for Hate and Authenticity

This month we are starting our Authenticity unit with our Slumberkins friend Unicorn. Authenticity is all about students feeling welcome to be their own unique selves. It’s also about welcoming other people to do the same. We are working to create a safe and welcoming environment for all students in our classroom. These lessons go a long way when practiced at home too. Here is somemore information about what we are learning in class, along with some ideas for connection to the learning at home.

Unicorn’s lesson helps students:

• Understand Unicorn’s story “Unicorn Dares to Be Unique”

• Learn to welcome all feelings and accepting themselves and others as they are by looking for what makes everyone   shine

• Learn strategies to resolve issues around not feeling welcomed by leaning on those who help them feel safe,  accepted, and celebrated

• Practice celebrating everyones’ bravery to be authentically themselves

Opportunities for connection at home:

1. Family Fashion Show

Try having a dress up fashion show, where everyone in the family puts on their favorite (or perhaps wildest) outfit from their closet and walks down the cat-walk to show it off. Everyone watching is encouraged to cheer and support the unique style of others!

2. “I Would Love You Even If...”

Draw a picture with your child and create a silly drawing with them. This could be a picture of your child where your child adds a horn on their head, wings, and a tail. Let your child add whatever they feel to the image. Then with each add-on, say to your child, “I would love you even if you grew a tail.” “I would love you even if you had wings.” etc. When the picture is done, create opportunities to insert real-life scenarios that would reinforce the idea that you love your child no matter what. “I love you even if you make mistakes.” “I love you even if you...”

3. Child-led Play

Let your child pick an activity they want to do or play. Let them take the lead, and you follow along. Do they want to make up a dance or sing a song? Do they want to do a craft or participate in imaginative play? Do your best to join in their world of likes and join in their fun.

For more information about Unicorn’s story, visit Slumberkins.com.

No Place for Hate - Imagine What More We Could Do

Dear Caregiver, 

Woodlawn Elementary believes that having a school community where your child feels safe and respected is an important foundation to their academic success. That is why Woodlawn  will be participating in No Place for Hate®, a national program supporting schools in their commitment to celebrating diversity, promoting respect for differences and challenging bias and bullying at all levels.

Developed by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) – a leading civil rights organization that has worked for over a century to “secure justice and fair treatment to all” – No Place for Hate® will help us incorporate anti-bias and bullying prevention resources into our existing programs in order to have one consistent message of inclusivity. 

You and your child can help support our No Place for Hate® program in a number of ways:

7. For students in 5th grade there is an opportunity to join our No Place for Hate® Committee to help and plan No Place for Hate® events.

8. Along with your child, sign the No Place for Hate® Promise/ Resolution of Respect to commit to challenging bias and bullying!

9. Practice No Place for Hate® at home! For family resources on challenging bullying and bias, visit https://www.adl.org/education-and-resources/resources-for-educators-parents-families. 

To learn more or to get involved with No Place for Hate® at Woodlawn, please contact the school counselor, Carissa Marquis (cmarquis@pps.net).  With your help, we will make our school community a safe and welcoming space for all. 

Counseling Lessons for the month of November and December

This month we are starting our Gratitude unit with our Slumberkins® friend Honey Bear. Honey Bear teaches students about Gratitude. This topic is important to support students inbuilding feelings of happiness and appreciation for the people and things around them.

During these lessons your student will:

• Listen to Honey Bear’s Story, “Honey Bear, I’m Grateful For You.”

• Learn how to show gratitude to others.

• Learn about all the gifts earth offers us and and ways to show gratitude to the earth

Counseling Lessons for the month of October

Carissa Marquis, School Counselor

This month we are starting our Self-Acceptance unit with our Slumberkins friend Yak. Self-Acceptance

is all about loving yourself just the way you are. There is room for children to strive to do their best,

but also love themselves along the way. These lessons are aimed at helping students increase their

determination and self-esteem as they learn to accept themselves just the way they are.

Yak’s lesson helps students:

•         Understand Yak’s story “Yak Struggles with Mistakes.”

•         Learn the importance of positive self-talk and being kind to ourselves, especially during

·       challenging moments.

•         Learn how to navigate making mistakes and how to use these opportunities as moments to learn

·       and grow.

•         Learn to use imagination and art to create a safe a positive place in our mind to think about

·       when needed.

Opportunities for connection at home:

1. Play Compliment Catch

Grab a ball to play catch, but every time a person tosses the ball, they have to say something kind about themselves. This is a fun and playful way to practice positive self-talk.

2. Play Cheerleader

Take turns with your child engaging in a challenging task, perhaps building with blocks/bricks or

drawing something difficult. While one person is doing the task, the other person gets to be the

“cheerleader.” The cheerleader’s job is to say positive things to help encourage the other person to

get through the hard task. This is a great way to model positive self-talk in the face of a challenge.

Here are some positive phrases to try out:

• “Woo-hoo, you’re doing it!”

• “Yikes! That was hard, good thing you are good at trying hard things!”

• “It’s alright! Try again.”

• “I believe in you!”

• “It’s okay to make mistakes, try your best!”

Counseling Lessons for the month of September

Carissa Marquis, School Counselor

We are starting our Growth Mindset unit with our Slumberkins® friend Narwhal. Narwhal’s lessons are about Growth Mindset, a way of thinking that embraces challenges as opportunities to grow. These lessons aim to help students learn and practice grit, determination, and teamwork. The more we teach, model, and encourage this mindset at home and school, the more we set students up for success.

Narwhal’s lesson helps students:

• Understand Narwhal’s story “Narwhal Uses Teamwork.”

• Understand the difference between a Fixed Mindset and a Growth Mindset.

• Learn strategies to help support the difficult moments when facing a challenge, like asking for help, learning from mistakes, and trying a new way.

• Set goals and celebrate the progress and process.

Opportunities for connection at home:

1. Support and Encourage a Growth Mindset

The way we encourage and praise children can have a big impact on what they think is important. If we praise effort over outcome, children learn that the hard work that goes into projects is worth celebrating. 

2. Set a goal and track the progress, but praise the process

Goal setting is a positive way for kids to work to achieve something they set their minds to. When setting goals, talk with your child about what steps might be needed to achieve this goal. Celebrate the progress, the hard work, and the mistakes every step of the way!

3. Share with your child about goals you have set and achieved and how you met them.

What hard work did you have to do to accomplish your goal? What mistakes did you learn from along the way?

For more information about Narwhal’s story, visit Slumberkins.com.