Blog Archives

Gathering Data for Small Groups

2/22/2015

This school year I started gathering more data on my small groups to assess how effective my sessions were for students. So far, so good!

I thought I'd share what I've created.

You can view all of my documents here. Enjoy!

8 Comments

Recent Additions

2/21/2015

4 Comments

Over the past few days, I've posted a bunch of new resources on the website portion of my site. Here are the recent additions:

1.

This is a classroom lesson for early elementary that discusses what it means to be excellent. I used the book Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great, which is hilarious! I HIGHLY recommend it! After reading the book together, students filled out cupcakes with their strengths, which went on a class poster (left).

You can find the full explanation of this lesson here.

2.

This lesson is geared toward middle to upper elementary and allows for a lot of whole group and small group discussions about anger and bullying. The angry bird theme is a great way to grab your students' attention, creating a buzz of excitement that you need for a lesson that involves so much reflection.

The full lesson can be found here.

3.

LEGOs and following directions go so well together - why didn't I see this before?!

I created a lesson for a third grade class to help them practice giving and receiving directions, while also emphasizing WHY it's important to do those things well.

The lesson, which can be found here, includes a PowerPoint (with a short video) and interactive worksheet (left).

4.

The Best Teacher Ever is a great way to discuss "gratitude," especially in a school setting.

For this classroom lesson, we read the book, then created cards and a special video message for the classroom teachers. It's a feel-good lesson that, as a bonus, boosts staff morale.

For more details, click here.

5.

This is a great opportunity to help students self-reflect. The idea of an iceberg came from a popular Challenge Day exercise where students think about what it means to live "above the water line," and stop hiding who they really are. We want to be comfortable in our own skin, because that is where we can feel true peace and happiness.

On this paper, students write what other people see (top of the iceberg) and what they hide (bottom of the iceberg). This can be an emotional activity, so be prepared for a longer session, if needed. You could also use this paper with small groups or classrooms.

For more ideas like this, click here.

6.

Need a creative way to recognize your students' positive behaviors? Then try a photo booth! You can make a customized backdrop quickly, easily, and inexpensively.

For more information about my school's photo booth project, click here.

4 Comments

A Little Perspective

2/20/2015

6 Comments

Ohio has started a new testing program called PARCC and AIR, which involves standardized testing over the course of 4 months. School counselors (and MANY other school and district personnel) are being pulled from their jobs to coordinate schedules and complete an overwhelming amount of paperwork. We also stop all services that may interfere with administering the tests. The rules of these tests are new, so that requires additional training that takes more support away from students. Our once energetic, positive climate has turned into a frantic buzz of stress and anxiety.

It's been a huge adjustment for me. Now, I have to walk around my building apologizing to students and staff for cancelling groups, rescheduling sessions, and skipping classroom lessons. I feel like a failure and a disappointment most of the time.

Now is the time for a little perspective. In the grand scheme of things, these tests don't matter. These limitations have been placed on all Ohio schools (and other states dealing with the same tests) and all we can do is take a deep breath and do the best we can with what we've been given. It doesn't mean that we stop fighting for our students - we just have to accept those things we cannot change immediately.

Last week, my school had a Valentine's dance for 4th-6th grade students (no dates, just fun). Before the dance, I was upset about the lack of time I had to be a REAL school counselor and was dealing with the stress of being pulled in too many directions - the last thing I wanted to do was add more to my plate by chaperoning a dance, even though it was my choice to do so. I cannot tell you how happy I am that I went to the dance. It was wonderful seeing my students in a more relaxed setting, dancing like goofballs and smiling like this was the best night of their lives. I was able to enjoy the people they are and not the "data" they represent on paper. This is why I wanted to work with children - they are fun and make my life brighter with their unique perspective on life.

I figured that many of you might be in the same boat, plugging the little holes before you are engulfed in a sea of negativity, stress, and responsibilities. So, here are some reminders about the beauty of our students:

1.

I read this back in November and couldn't stop laughing. It's all about jokes that kids make that don't exactly make sense. I guarantee a laugh!

2.	This post from August 2013 definitely brightens my bad days:

3.	I have a YouTube channel with a lot of playlists, but one that is particularly appropriate for this post is "Brighten Your Day."

6 Comments

Beautiful Oops

2/19/2015

0 Comments

Beautiful Oops is one of my favorite books! It's all about looking at "mistakes" in a different way - as an opportunity for creativity and a new perspective.

I've used this with students who struggle with perfectionism and anything that is unexpected. We started by reading the book, then I picked students at random to choose a "mistake" from my table (examples below). The students had to take their paper and turn it into something beautiful. Some of my students struggled, but all of them were able to complete the task. 1 student was absent, so there isn't a finished product for the crumpled paper.

We finished the session with an overall reflection on the topic.

0 Comments

Hero vs. Villain

2/16/2015

18 Comments

I loved this lesson! I used it with a 3rd grade classroom, but it could definitely work 3rd-6th.

I went through the PowerPoint (below), which involves students thinking about why we look up to heroes and what those heroes have to overcome to make the right choices. Also, the students must participate in an interactive "choose your own adventure" part of the presentation, where they must choose the correct response to a difficult school-based situation. Typically, students know the best choice, so for fun, I go through the negative responses to show that side as well.

I ended the lesson with a self-reflection paper (left).

You could also use the self-reflection paper in an individual or small group setting. When students understand their behaviors, they are more likely to control them, rather than be controlled by them.

PowerPoint
File Size:	1918 kb
File Type:	pptx

Download File

Reflection Paper (PDF)
File Size:	119 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Reflection Paper (WORD)
File Size:	55 kb
File Type:	docx

Download File

18 Comments

And the Winner is...

2/15/2015

0 Comments

Whitney, please contact me so I can get your mailing address and banner preference.

0 Comments

Giving Back

2/7/2015

20 Comments

As of 9:00 this morning, Elementary School Counseling.org's Facebook page has 3,013 likes! I am amazed! This is one of the best communities to be a part of because everyone is so supportive, generous, and creative - hey, we ARE school counselors after all.

I started this website to offer free resources for school counselors, both new and veteran, so that no one had to feel isolated or overwhelmed by this profession. It's not easy being a school counselor. We carry a lot so that others can take the breathers they need to grow and move forward. I am so grateful for all of you - you make the weight I carry a little lighter.

So, in the spirit of Elementary School Counseling.org, I would like to give back. As an extra "thank you" to my readers, I'm hosting a special giveaway.

A banner of their choice!
$25 Value

1. "Like" my Facebook page.
2. Write your favorite Elementary School Counseling.org idea, resource, or post in the comments section of this post.

I will select the number of winners based on the number of eligible entries I receive. For every 50 entries, I will select 1 winner. For example, if I had 100 entries, there would be 2 winners. If there are fewer than 50, there will still be 1 winner.

All entries must be received by 11:59 pm EST on Feb. 14, 2015.

20 Comments

Gathering Data for Small Groups

Recent Additions

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A Little Perspective

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Beautiful Oops

Hero vs. Villain

And the Winner is...

Giving Back

All entries must be received by 11:59 pm EST on Feb. 14, 2015.

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