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 Career Day. 

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 January was Perseverance. The content area of focus was intrapersonal effectiveness with students utilizing effective executive functioning skills as the student competency (1.B). The goal was for students to be able to engage in effective problem solving. Before the lesson, 15% of students knew the meaning of perseverance.  At the end of the lesson, 95% of students knew the meaning of perseverance (data below). During the lesson, we discussed the meaning of perseverance and identified personal long-term goals and action steps to achieve those goals. We also talked about the importance of flexible thinking because things can always change when planning for the future. Before the lesson, 5% of students had an understanding of flexible thinking. After the lesson 90% of students knew the meaning (data also represented below). All third and fourth grade students left the guidance lesson with a long-term goal and action steps to work toward their goal.

Content Area: Intrapersonal Effectiveness

Student Competency: 1.B Students utilize effective executive functioning skills

Goal: 1.B.iv Students will be able to engage in effective problem solving 

Understanding the definition of perseverance:

Understanding of what it means to be a flexible thinker:

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, family nights, career day, 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. 

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