Section V

Our guidance curriculum is centered around the four content areas as identified in the Texas Model for comprehensive school counseling programs: interpersonal effectiveness, intrapersonal effectiveness, personal health and safety, and post-secondary education and career readiness.  Each of these is systematically and intentionally planned through monthly guidance lessons during the school year which is one of the program's goals- to meet with each class monthly for a guidance lesson. During the month of October, we focus on personal health and safety and post-secondary education and career readiness by utilizing ChildBuilder's Stand Strong Stay Safe lessons as well as celebrating Red Ribbon Week and College and Career Week.

The CharacterStrong curriculum enables us to focus on interpersonal and intrapersonal effectiveness with students. Through the constant use of data (needs assessments, anecdotal notes, parent/teacher conferences) the lessons are designed to meet the specific needs of each class while focusing on our monthly character trait which connects to our district mission to empower students to reach their fullest potential by providing necessary social/emotional skills. In addition to the monthly guidance lesson, students also have a morning meeting created by the counselor which is centered around the monthly character trait. 

Our character trait for the month of February was Honesty. While applying their knowledge and skills of perseverance from the previous month students were able to dive deep into what it means to be honest, what happens when we are not honest, and then identify when they see honest in action with their peers. Before the honesty lesson students reported they would lie if they thought it would hurt someone’s feelings or get them into trouble. After the lesson the students reported that when put in a situation to be honest they are more likely to tell the truth. 

This month's focus for 3rd grade is practicing Honesty to help with emotion advocacy and supports the intrapersonal effectiveness skills needed for self-awareness and self-management. The students then wrote I Statements for feelings related to being worried, nervous, anxious and distracted. They then wrote and shared how they would like to feel. With a partner they made their I Statements into paper airplanes. They then got to toss their plane across the room. The students then picked up a plane and with their partner read the I Statement of their classmate and brainstormed ideas of how they would feel if they were in their shoes. This activity helped the class understand one another, use I Statements to express how they feel and how they want to feel, and be honest with not only each other but themselves. It’s not always easy to be Honest in our words, actions, or thoughts with others or with ourselves. Practicing Honesty with ourselves allows us to identify emotions, be aware of our emotions, regulate emotions, and advocate for our emotions. 

To ensure the needs of all students, staff and the community are being met, there is consistent and constant collaboration with all stakeholders to develop, implement and evaluate the school counseling program for our campus. Providing opportunities to partner with families through our weekly newsletters, Coffee with the Counselor, family nights, College and Career Week, and other activities is key to building and maintaining relationships which we believe is the foundation of success for students. In each of the weekly newsletters, resources and information is shared based on the guidance curriculum and ideas to implement at home to further understanding of the monthly character trait. Through the newsletter, morning announcements, morning meetings and guidance lessons, the monthly character trait is reinforced continually. There is a partnership of all stakeholders who work together to support student success in a safe and positive environment.