Guidance Curriculum Highlight
Anxiety
In planning the school counseling curriculum for the 2024-2025 school year, the School Counselor evaluated data and considered feedback from teachers, staff, and parents regarding students experiencing anxiety. To address this issue, the School Counselor developed a program aimed at supporting students' social-emotional needs, incorporating various components to help manage anxiety. Prior to conducting guidance lessons, the School Counselor reviewed coping skills for anxiety suitable for both the school environment and home. Lessons were created specifically for 3rd and 4th-grade students. Lunch groups were established to discuss test anxiety, and the CIS coordinator integrated topics of social anxiety and test anxiety into her lunch group lessons. In addition to group sessions, individual counseling sessions were offered, along with outside referrals for students experiencing anxiety. One-minute interventions were introduced to allow students to practice coping skills as needed. To further support students, a sensory walk was added in the nurse's office for those who frequently visit due to anxiety. The School Counselor also organized "Destress Fest" for 3rd and 4th graders, which provided opportunities for students to practice and develop coping skills in preparation for the STAAR test. By the end of the school year, students who participated in lunch groups or individual sessions were able to identify and apply at least three coping skills. Overall, there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of anxiety-related office referrals.
Pre/Post Anxiety Student Survey
Pre: Pencil/Post: Yellow Ink
Mapping anger and Anxiety Levels Activity
Mapping Anxiety Trigger Activity
Stress and Anxiety School Counselor 3rd and 4th grade Guidance Lesson
CIS Lunch Group lesson
Pre and Post Test Anxiety Student Survey
Pre: pencil/Post: Blue ink
Sensory Wall Decals for Frequent Nurse Visitors for Anxiety
Destress Fest Station Activities
I Spy Bottle Station
Breathing Stick Station
Gratitude Journal Station (PTO volunteers)
Scented Bottles Station (YMCA Volunteer)
Destress Fest Exit Ticket
Practicing physical activities and positive thinking with Inner Fire
I Spy Station with CIS site coordinator Lori Brown
Destress Fest Exit Cards
Sentence Stems
I can ___________when I feel stressed.
I can ____________ when I am anxious.
I can ___ to help me cope with anxiety.
During Destress Fest, a student wrote IDK on his exit ticket. The next day, I pulled the student aside to review his coping skills, and he noted that jokes help him cope with stress and anxiety.
Student Sharing Affirmations
Author Visit and Read Aloud
Student Sharing Affirmations
Guidance Lesson Schedule
CIS Weekly Sign Up Schedule Example
CharacterStrong Campus Plan
Character Strong Morning Meetings Monthly Calendars for each grade level (English and Spanish)
Morning Announcements
Septemeber 2024-2025 Sample
Special Morning Meeting PowerPoint, August 2024- 2025:
Character Strong Walkthrough, How to Be a Cub, and PBIS
ChildBuilders Lesson
Character Strong Morning Meetings
Collaborating with Stakeholders
Barbara Cockrell Elementary ensures the needs of all students, staff and the community are being met, and there is consistent and constant collaboration with all stakeholders including teachers, students, administration, school nurse, faculty, district specialists, parents, PTO, and our community; to develop, implement and evaluate the school counseling program for our campus. By fostering collaboration and actively seeking feedback, the school counseling program analyzes data to identify areas for improvement, ensuring that all domains effectively meet the needs of our students. Our stakeholders' input is essential for enhancing our counseling services. The school counselor assesses school needs and collaborates to ensure stakeholders are involved in making the school counseling program effective. There is a partnership of all stakeholders who work together to support student success in a safe and positive environment. The school counselor leans on current data to ensure program efficacy. The school counseling program promotes active and continuous communication via newsletters, surveys, emails, and phone calls. The school counselor is committed to making the school counseling program a significant part of the school and an is continually assessing growth. Each year campus improvement goals are developed working with stakeholders to ensure that each one of our students will experience academic, social, and emotional success while feeling like they belong to our school family.
Cockrell Daily Newsletter
Parent Cockrell Connection Newsletter
Monthly Toilet Talk Campus Newsletter
Counselor and CIS Parent Campus Newsletter