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 - Skills for School Success
Students in first grade take off in our counselor lessons learning ways they are everyday heroes! We discuss how many times people feel superheroes save the day but as we grow older, we learn super powers are just a fancy way to describe some one's personal strengths. Students identified the strengths they have including the power to be kind, be helpful, be smart as well as a variety of other gifts. Students created their own super hero mask and chest plate to display proudly the goal they have to practice their superpowers all year long!
Have you ever helped a child create a goal to build their strengths and share their gifts with others. Instead of a challenge to get better at a sport or a hobby, encourage your kids to bulk up their skills in kindness, empathy and helpfulness!
Students listened to the story Even Superheroes Make Mistakes to explore the ways they can use a growth mindset to turn a mistake into an opportunity to do better. We thought of all the ways we can change our mindset and develop a plan for the future when things do not go our way. Ultimately, we learn through this story that with a peaceful plan to calm our bodies, we can use our mind to solve any problem
Something fun to try... when a child fails it is just a First Attempt In Learning. Help to reframe this concept by celebrating small failures and help kids to see the learning in a fail. Also, acknowledge the mistakes you make and help encourage them to grow in learning.
October - Decision Making
Continuing on our superhero theme lessons, students listened to the story What Should Danny Do? a choose your own adventure book in which the main character uses his power to choose as his superpower to change his day from a bad day to a great day. Students in 1st grade love to make different choices for the main character and see how his day will turn out! We discuss how the power to control how a day goes is up to YOU!
Ask your kids... what is one way the power to choose has turned a bad day into a good day? Whenever a moment is challenging remember all the time left in your day to choose to have a great moment!!!
We continued on our theme and read the book Even Superheroes Have Bad Days. Students shared how when our day does not go the way we want we can choose to turn it around using helpful coping skills such as: deep breathing, going outside, exercising, talking to a friend as well as several other calming strategies. Students practice these strategies to help encourage them to take ownership of how they are feeling and ways to handle feelings that are unpleasant or challenging. Students played a fun game to practice these skills and use the strategy of laughter to brighten a day.
Pro-tip: make yourself laugh for 10 seconds straight and see how the brain helps you feel good as well as give some joy to those around you!
Did you know that October is Anti-Bullying month? We used this topic to explore with students how to identify bullying behaviors and how to stand up against bullying. Students practiced not only speaking up to a bully with a confident voice but also standing with a friend when another person is just being unkind. We practice scenario cards to understand positive ways and not so positive ways to help a friend deal with a bully.
Did you know that students learn from kindergarten on about the three aspects of bullying behavior to help determine if the behavior is mean or bullying? For behavior to be bullying it must be ongoing, purposeful/intentional, and involve an imbalance of power. The target of the bullying often experiences feelings of fear when near the bully. Unkind behavior is never ok but normal peer conflict helps students to build in resiliency as well as confidence.
November-Growth Mindset
Rising "After the Fall"
This week, our 1st graders went beyond the classic nursery rhyme of Humpty Dumpty to explore Dan Santat’s beautiful story, After the Fall. While we all know that Humpty fell off the wall, this book focuses on what happened next—how he dealt with his fear of heights and eventually found the courage to fly again.
Resilience: We defined this as "the power to get back up when things go wrong."
Courage vs. Fear: We discussed how being brave doesn't mean you aren't scared; it means you try even while you are scared.
The "Whole" Person: Through our puzzle-making activity, students learned that even when we feel "broken" or frustrated by a mistake, we can put ourselves back together and become even stronger.
Parents, 1st grade is a year of big transitions and new challenges (like reading harder books or trying new sports). You can help reinforce Humpty’s lesson of resilience with these strategies:
1. Share Your Own "Falls" Children often think adults find everything easy. Share a story about a time you were afraid to try something again—maybe a project at work or learning a new hobby. Tell them: "I was scared I’d fail again, but I decided to try one more time."
2. Focus on the "Effort," Not Just the "Egg" When your child encounters a "wall" (a difficult task), praise their persistence rather than the result.
Instead of: "You're so smart!"
Try: "I am so proud of how you kept trying that puzzle even when it was tricky. You have great resilience, just like Humpty!"
3. The "Not Yet" Philosophy If your child says, "I can't do this," encourage them to add the word "Yet."
"I can't ride my bike... yet."
"I can't read this word... yet." This simple shift reminds them that they are in the middle of their story, just like Humpty was before he learned to fly.
4. Build a "Courage Wall" Humpty’s wall was a place of fear, but you can make one a place of triumph! Use the fridge or a bulletin board to post "I Did It!" moments—not just for big wins, but for times they were brave enough to try something that scared them.
5. Re-read the Rhyme Ask your child: "What happened to Humpty in the book that the old nursery rhyme didn't tell us?" This helps them realize that a "fall" is just a moment in time, not the end of the journey.
By teaching 1st graders that it is okay to be afraid, we give them the emotional safety to take risks. Like Humpty Dumpty, our goal is to help them see that "getting back up" is where the real magic happens.
December: Coping Skills
Even Superheroes Have Bad Days
This month, our students channeled their "inner hero" while reading Even Superheroes Have Bad Days by Shelly Becker. In this story, we learned a very important secret: having "super-sized" feelings like anger, frustration, or sadness is actually a superpower—if we know how to handle them!
Even the strongest heroes get overwhelmed, but they don't use their powers to destroy. Instead, we discussed how real-life heroes manage their "bad days" through:
The Power Pause: Taking a moment to stop before reacting.
Heroic Breathing: Using deep breaths to cool down the "internal engines."
Positive Choices: Understanding that while all feelings are okay, not all actions are okay. We have the power to choose how we respond.
You don’t need a cape to help your child navigate their big feelings! Here are a few ways to reinforce our "Super-SEL" (Social-Emotional Learning) lessons at home:
1. Create a "Power-Up" Menu Sit down with your child and draw a list of things that help them feel calm. Does your hero need to "recharge" by drawing? Do they need "super-strength" by squeezing a pillow? Posting this on the fridge gives them a visual reminder of their tools when they feel a "bad day" coming on.
2. Practice the "S-O-S" Breath Teach your child that when they feel like they might "explode" with frustration, they can use an S-O-S (Slow-Out-Signal).
Inhale slowly like you’re smelling a super-flower.
Exhale slowly like you’re blowing out a birthday candle. Doing this together during a calm moment makes it easier for them to remember when they are actually upset.
3. Use "Heroic Language" When your child is struggling, try to validate the feeling first to lower their "heat."
"I see your superhero muscles are very tense right now. It’s okay to have a bad day. What tool can we use to help you feel steady again?"
4. Spot the "Heroic Save" When you notice your child using a coping skill—even a small one, like walking away instead of shouting—point it out!
"That was a total hero move! I saw you take a deep breath when that puzzle got tricky. That took a lot of strength."
5. Model Your Own "Bad Day" Recovery Let your child see that you have big feelings too. Say: "I’m feeling a little frustrated because I can't find my keys. I’m going to take a 'Power Pause' for a minute so I can make a good choice."
By teaching our students that "feelings are okay, but choices matter," we are helping them build a foundation of emotional intelligence. They are learning that the greatest power they possess is the power to stay in control of themselves.
January: Conflict Resolution
Our students are beginning to learn peaceful conflict resolution skills through the Kelso’s Choices curriculum. This program teaches children how to handle small problems independently, safely, and respectfully using simple, age-appropriate strategies.
The first problem-solving tools students are learning include:
Talk it out – using calm words to share feelings and listen to others
Ignore – choosing not to react to minor or annoying behaviors
Walk away – taking space to stay calm and safe
Share and take turns – finding fair solutions together
Choose a different game – being flexible when a problem can’t be solved right away
Through modeling, role-playing, and discussion, students are learning that they have choices when conflicts arise and that not every problem needs adult involvement. We emphasize that feelings are okay, and that using a peaceful strategy helps everyone feel better and keeps learning and playtime positive.
You can support this learning by:
Asking, “Which Kelso choice could help with this problem?”
Encouraging calm words and listening during disagreements
Modeling problem-solving out loud: “I’m feeling frustrated, so I’m going to walk away and take a breath.”
Praising effort when your child tries a strategy, even if it doesn’t work perfectly
These skills take time and practice, and we celebrate progress over perfection. Thank you for partnering with us as we help children build confidence in solving problems peacefully—both at school and at home.
February- Conflict Resolution
As part of our ongoing social-emotional learning, students are continuing their work with the Kelso’s Choices curriculum, which teaches children how to solve everyday conflicts in safe, respectful, and independent ways.
Students are now learning additional peaceful problem-solving strategies, including:
Make a deal – working together to find a fair compromise
Wait and cool off – taking time to calm down before solving a problem
Apologize – taking responsibility and repairing hurt feelings
Tell them to stop – using a strong, respectful voice to set boundaries
Through discussion, modeling, and role-playing, students are learning that these tools help them handle small problems while keeping themselves and others safe. We emphasize that it’s okay to have big feelings and that taking time to calm down or speak up respectfully can lead to better outcomes for everyone.
You can support this learning by:
Asking, “Which Kelso choice could help right now?”
Encouraging children to use calm, respectful words to express needs or boundaries
Practicing waiting and cooling off together before solving a disagreement
Modeling apologies and compromise in everyday situations
Praising your child when they attempt a peaceful strategy, even if it’s not perfect
These skills take practice, and we focus on growth and effort rather than perfection. Thank you for partnering with us as we help children build confidence in solving problems peacefully at school and at home.
March- Digital Citizenship
This month, our 1st and 2nd graders are becoming Digital Citizens! Using the NetSmartz program, we are teaching our youngest students that the internet is like a big, exciting park—it’s fun to play in, but we have to follow the safety rules and know when it’s time to head home.
The "Safe Grown-Up" Rule: We discussed that just like we hold a grown-up’s hand when crossing the street, we should always have a grown-up nearby when we are using a tablet, phone, or computer.
Keep Your "Secret" Secrets: We taught students that things like their name, their school, and their age are "Secret Secrets." We never tell them to a screen or a game character.
The "Uh-Oh" Feeling: If a pop-up appears or a video gets "weird" or scary, we practiced the "Tell a Grown-Up Right Away" rule. We don't have to click anything; we just go get help.
Screen Time Balance: We talked about how our brains and bodies are like batteries. Screens can drain our batteries, but playing outside, reading, and talking to friends recharges them!
Parents, at this age, your child is developing the habits they will carry for years. You can help them find the joy in the "Real World" with these activities:
1. Create a "Charging Station" for the Family Designate a spot in the house (like a basket in the kitchen) where all devices "go to sleep" during mealtimes or an hour before bed. This models that family time is the priority.
2. The "I Spy" Digital Check When your child is on an app, sit with them for five minutes and play "I Spy." Ask: "I spy a button that looks like a house. What does that do?" or "I spy a place to type words. Is it safe to type your name there?" This makes safety a conversation, not a lecture.
3. Make a "Boredom Buster" Jar Together, write down 10 fun things to do OFFLINE on slips of paper and put them in a jar. When they ask for a screen, have them pull a slip instead!
Ideas: Build a blanket fort, have a 2-minute dance party, draw a picture for a neighbor, or play a quick game of Hide-and-Seek.
4. Practice "One-on-One" Minutes Set a timer for just 10 minutes of "Special Time" where all phones are put away and you follow your child’s lead in play. This reinforces that no app is as fun as 1-on-1 time with you.
5. The "Golden Rule" Online Remind your child that there is a real person behind every screen. If they are playing a game with others, we use the same kind words we use on the playground.
Our goal is to help our 1st and 2nd graders see technology as just one small part of their big, wonderful world. By encouraging "Green Time" (outside/nature) over "Screen Time," we are helping their social and emotional brains grow strong!