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: Safety and Self- Advocacy
This month, sixth-grade students will participate in their first counseling lesson of the year. During this session, students will:
Review the role of the school counselor and the many ways the counseling department supports students.
Learn about safe reporting procedures for concerns such as bullying or situations that need adult support.
Identify trusted adults in the school community who can help when issues arise.
Explore the TIPS reporting tool available on Sycamore, which allows students or parents to confidentially (and, if preferred, anonymously) report safety concerns.
This lesson empowers students to speak up, seek help when needed, and take an active role in creating a safe, respectful, and welcoming school environment.
October: Healthy Habits
In 6th grade we will discuss healthy habits for student success. We will explore the following areas briefly and will work through real-life actions we can do to be successful as students practicing these healthy choices and habits.
Sleep habits
Screen time habits
Personal hygiene
Study skills and organization
Practicing kindness, compassion and gratitude
Using movement/exercise daily to positively impact our physical and mental wellness
Healthy eating
Relaxation/Coping skills
Model healthy behaviors
Healthy friendships
November: Navigating Social Dynamics in 6th Grade
As our 6th graders move further into their middle school journey, social interactions become more nuanced. This month, we focused on helping students distinguish between different types of social friction and, most importantly, how to respond with confidence and character.
It is common for students to use the word "bullying" for every negative interaction. In our lessons, we worked to categorize behaviors so students can choose the most effective response tool:
Teasing: Usually occurs between friends where there is a "level playing field." It is playful, lighthearted, and stops immediately if someone gets upset.
Mean Moments: Spontaneous, unkind actions usually fueled by anger or a bad day. It is hurtful, but it is not a pattern of behavior.
Bullying: A deliberate, repeated pattern of behavior where there is an imbalance of power. The goal is to control, exclude, or diminish another person.
We moved beyond just defining the problem to practicing the "Action Steps." We want our 6th graders to move from being passive bystanders to active upstanders.
1. For the Individual (Standing Up for Yourself): We practiced using a "Strong and Neutral" voice. Instead of getting emotional (which often gives a bully the reaction they want), we practiced firm boundaries: "I don't like that. Stop." or "That's not funny to me. Don't say it again."
2. For the Upstander (Standing Up for Others): We discussed the "Power of the Group." If a student sees someone being treated unkindly, they can:
Distract: Redirect the conversation or invite the target to walk away with them.
Support: Publicly state, "That's not cool," or "We don't do that here."
Report: Understand that telling an adult is not "snitching"—it is a courageous act to keep the community safe.
Parents, you are the most important coaches in your child's social development. Here is how you can support these skills at home:
1. Help Them "Label" the Incident When your child comes home with a story about a peer, help them categorize it before reacting. Ask: "Was this a one-time mean moment, or has this been happening every day?" This helps them determine if they need an "I-message" or if they need adult intervention.
2. Practice the "Strong Voice" Role-play at home! If your child is struggling with a peer, have them practice looking you in the eye and stating their boundary firmly. 6th graders often struggle with the "middle ground" between being too quiet and being aggressive.
3. Discuss the "Digital Footprint" In 6th grade, mean moments often migrate to group chats or social media. Remind your child that being a "Digital Upstander" is just as important. Encourage them to leave unkind group chats or speak up when they see "keyboard courage" being used to hurt others.
4. Model "Repair" Skills Everyone has a "mean moment" occasionally. When you make a mistake or snap at someone at home, model a sincere apology: "I was frustrated, but I shouldn't have used that tone. I’m sorry." This teaches them how to take ownership of their own behavior.
Our goal is to ensure that every 6th grader feels empowered to protect their own peace and the peace of their peers. By identifying these behaviors early and practicing our "Upstander" skills, we are building a school culture where kindness is the standard, not the exception.
December: Navigating Conflict and Communication
To help our students navigate the social complexities of the middle school years, our recent counseling lessons focused on Conflict Resolution and Assertive Communication. We explored how the way we respond to a disagreement determines whether a friendship is strengthened or damaged.
Conflict is a natural part of any relationship, but it requires a specific set of tools to resolve peacefully. We challenged our students to move beyond "winning" an argument and instead focus on "solving" the problem.
We used role-play to explore the different "modes" people enter during a disagreement. Understanding these helps students choose the right tool for the right situation:
Avoid: Walking away from a minor issue that isn't worth the energy.
Smooth It Over: Putting the other person’s needs first to maintain harmony (best for small, one-time issues).
Win at All Costs: Trying to "beat" the other person. We discussed how this often leaves the other person feeling hurt and damages the friendship.
Compromise: Both people give up a little bit of what they want to find a middle ground.
Win-Win: Brainstorming creative solutions so both people get exactly what they need.
Negotiate: Talking through the terms of an agreement until both sides are satisfied.
Having a strategy is only half the battle; students also need the communication skills to execute it. We practiced:
Active Listening: Using eye contact, nodding, and "reflecting" (e.g., "So what I hear you saying is...") to ensure the other person feels heard.
Refusal Skills: How to say "No" firmly and respectfully when pressured to do something that goes against their values or makes them uncomfortable.
You can reinforce these high-level social skills at home by using the following strategies:
1. Identify the "Mode" When a conflict arises between siblings or even between you and your child, pause and ask: "Which strategy are we using right now? Are we trying to 'Win at All Costs,' or can we find a 'Win-Win'?" Simply naming the behavior can de-escalate the tension.
2. Practice the "Reflection" Mirror At the dinner table, practice active listening. Have one person share a story, and the next person must summarize what they heard before they can share their own story. This builds the "empathy muscle" required for peaceful resolution.
3. Role-Play "The Respectful No" 6th and 7th graders often struggle with the fear of being "uncool" when refusing a peer. Practice Refusal Skills at home by giving them "scripts":
"No thanks, I’m not into that."
"I’d rather not. Let’s go do [Activity B] instead."
"My parents would ground me forever if I did that, so I’m out."
4. Celebrate the Compromise When you see your child successfully negotiate a solution with a friend or sibling, call it out! "I am so impressed with how you both negotiated who got the front seat today. That was a great Win-Win."
By practicing these skills in a safe environment, we are helping our students build the confidence to handle real-world social pressure with grace and integrity.
This January, our 6th-grade counseling lessons focused on a critical developmental milestone: Building and Maintaining Healthy Relationships. As students move through middle school, their social circles expand and become more complex—ranging from deepening friendships and family dynamics to working with coaches and navigating early interests in dating.
We explored the idea that every strong relationship is built on three non-negotiable pillars. For 6th graders, we emphasize that these pillars are the foundation of personal integrity:
Trust: The "security" of the relationship. It’s the confidence that a friend or partner will be honest and protect your privacy, especially in a world of social media.
Communication: Moving beyond small talk to share needs and boundaries openly. It also involves "Active Listening"—hearing what the other person is saying without immediately planning a comeback.
Respect: Honoring a person’s right to have their own opinions and boundaries, even if they differ from your own.
In 6th grade, social pressure can sometimes make "red flags" look like normal behavior. We empowered students to be "Social Detectives" and identify behaviors that signal a relationship is becoming unhealthy:
Controlling Behavior: Someone trying to dictate who you can talk to or how you spend your time.
Digital Boundary Crossing: Demanding your passwords, checking your private messages, or pressuring you to stay on FaceTime/calls when you want to hang up.
"Just Kidding" Put-downs: Using sarcasm or public "roasting" to humiliate you, then claiming you are "too sensitive" if you get upset.
Pressure: Any situation that makes your "Guard Dog" (amygdala) feel unsafe or forces you to compromise your values.
We emphasized that if a student sees these flags, the most courageous thing they can do is Consult a Trusted Adult. We identified several "Safe Adults" at school who can help them navigate these complex social waters.
As your child seeks more autonomy, your role shifts toward being a "Social Coach." Here is how you can reinforce these 6th-grade skills:
1. Practice the "Respectful No" 6th graders often fear that setting a boundary will end a friendship. Practice assertive refusal skills together. Help them find phrases that feel natural, like: "I’m not comfortable with that," or "I need some space right now, let’s talk later."
2. Discuss "Green Flags" in Media When watching shows or movies, ask: "Is that a 'Green Flag' relationship? Do they actually listen to each other, or are they just reacting?" This helps them build a "Social Radar" for what healthy peer interactions actually look like.
3. Value "Self-Respect" as the Foundation We discussed that the most important relationship is the one they have with themselves. Encourage your child to pursue hobbies and interests that build their own identity. A student with high self-regard is far more likely to recognize when they are being treated poorly by others.
4. Keep the "Digital Door" Open Digital relationships are a huge part of 6th grade. Reiterate that if a group chat or a specific person makes them feel anxious or pressured, they can come to you without fear of losing their device. Focus on "problem-solving" rather than "punishing."
By providing 6th graders with this "social compass," we are helping them build the confidence to choose friends and partners who respect their boundaries and support their growth.