Students in all grade levels will have age-appropriate lessons in the following areas:
Self- Awareness
Identifying Feelings
Identifying Traits
Social Awareness
Recognizing others feelings
Empathy
Disagreeing with others
Respect for other people’s feelings and belongings
Self- Management
Monitoring Stress and coping skills
Growth Mindset - Developing Grit
Showing Self Control
Goal Setting
Responsible Decision Making
Communicating
Appropriate behavior
Following rules
Safety
September Lessons:
During our September classroom lesson, students will explore the following areas:
Roles of the School Counselor
Curriculum topics for the year
Ways to schedule an appointment.
Identifying trusted adults in the school
Ways to report concerns of safety for oneself or others
Reasons to report safety concerns to a trusted adult
TIPs reporting tool on sycamore
Ways to identify if behavior is bullying
Ways to practice healthy habits
October:
Coping Skills:
Working out your Mental Wellness Muscle:
Goals:
Identify ways to work out your mental muscle but focusing on the 5 dimensions of health (physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, and social)
Identify ways to practice healthy habits for self-care and stress management
Ways to help yourself or a friend when you feel overwhelmed.
November:
Anti-bullying and Kindness Initiative:
1. Understanding Bullying and Its Impact
Define what bullying is, including its various forms (verbal, physical, social, and cyberbullying).
Discuss the effects of bullying on individuals and communities, including emotional, mental, and social consequences.
Emphasize that bullying is never the fault of the victim and that everyone has the right to feel safe.
Teach strategies for confidently setting boundaries and asserting oneself respectfully.
Role-play scenarios where students practice responding to bullying with calmness and strength.
Encourage students to seek help from trusted adults when needed and remind them that asking for help shows courage, not weakness.
Define what an upstander is: someone who actively supports someone being bullied rather than remaining a bystander.
Discuss specific actions upstanders can take, such as directly addressing bullying if safe, providing support to the victim, or reporting the behavior.
Explain the importance of safety and considering the context when deciding how to stand up.
Discuss how small acts of kindness can make others feel included and valued, building a positive community.
Encourage students to look for opportunities to show empathy, such as inviting others to join in activities or offering a supportive word.
Reinforce that kindness creates a ripple effect, where one positive action can inspire more.
Promote the idea that everyone contributes to the school's culture and that respectful, inclusive behavior helps prevent bullying.
Have students brainstorm ways they can work together to make the school a place where everyone feels respected and supported.
Encourage them to reflect on how their actions—both big and small—impact the overall environment.