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Book Review: The Essential Moving Guide for Families

4/7/2015

7 Comments

 
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My school district has a very transient population - students move between our schools, to other local districts, out of state, and back again. For some children and families, they find a way to make the moves part of their routine. For others, every relocation evokes feelings of fear and resentment.

Regardless of your school district, you will always have students who move in and out of your building. This transition can be difficult, but hey, that's what school counselors are for, right? The problem is, it can be hard to cram every strategy into a phone call with the parent or in a session with the student. Sometimes, we need to offer extra resources for the family that they can absorb in their own time.
The Essential Moving Guide for Families: Practical Advice to Ease Your Transition and Create a Sense of Belonging is a wonderful resource to share with families. The book is divided into three main sections: Before the Move, Preparation and Moving Day, and Settling in After the Move. Each part provides insight and practical advice to help your family every step of the way.

Moving is a huge change - you are truly uprooting your life and trying to grow in new soil. If not tended properly, parts of your life may begin to wilt. There may be unexpected hurdles, weeds that threaten to grab hold of you, but with the right support and a little sunlight, you can bloom and flourish again. This book is that sunlight.
7 Comments

Book Review: Chocolate Milk, Por Favor!

4/6/2015

2 Comments

 
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Another great book from Maria Dismondy!

Chocolate Milk, Por Favor! is a story about a boy named Johnny who is angry when a new student, Gabe, arrives. Gabe comes to school in tears and doesn't speak English. Johnny doesn't understand why anyone would want to play with Gabe, especially since he can't talk to them, but slowly Johnny learns that actions speak much louder than words.

What makes this story even more special is that it's based on a real student in Maria Dismondy's class who moved to the United States just days before the start of 1st grade. As Maria Dismondy says in her book, "I believe acts of kindness are worth more than a thousand kind words. It's true; I witnessed it."
I was also impressed with a section in the back of the book called "Tips to Assist English Language Learners." This provides the readers with 10 easy ideas to help students feel welcome and supported in the classroom, such as pronouncing his/her name correctly or keeping your language short and simple.

Often, adults and children want to help, but need opportunities to discuss and practice these skills. Chocolate Milk, Por Favor! is a wonderful way to open a dialogue about helping English Language Learners feel comfortable in their new environment. I highly recommend this book for all classrooms!
2 Comments

Book Review: Girl Power Series

1/9/2015

39 Comments

 
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I recently read a book series by Erainna Winnett, founder of Counseling with Heart. The books focus on issues that girls often face, such as comparing yourself to others, dealing with cyberbullying, feeling pulled between two friends, and navigating the confusing world of back-handed compliments.

What I loved about all of these books is that the solutions weren't always easy. We tend to give students blanket suggestions for how to solve their problems, but most of the time, it's not a quick fix. The girls in these stories have to try a few things before they find a good solution, and even then, that solution might not be the fairytale ending that we crave. Sometimes, we lose friends who treat us badly. Sometimes, we have to focus on what we can do rather than how to change someone else's behavior.
Erainna's books also include follow-up activities on the last few pages, which is great for the school counselor on-the-go. It's Good to be Me even has an activity built into the story - how perfect is that?!

I would definitely recommend these books for your elementary school counseling programs. I would most likely use them in a small group setting and focus on one book per week. We'd discuss the topic and overall story, then complete a follow-up activity to check for understanding. I think these are great for 3rd-4th grade students, but you may find them beneficial for 5th and 6th graders as well.

Post a comment below to be entered into a drawing for your own autographed Girl Power book set. The deadline is January 16, 2015 and the winner will be selected at random (with a computerized tool). I'd love to hear how you'd use these books in your own school counseling program and/or the types of activities you've tried in your girl groups.
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Are you an author? Do you have a book that you would like me to review on my blog? If so, contact me at marissa@elementaryschoolcounseling.org. I'd be happy to check out your work and spread the word to my readers.
39 Comments

Book Review: Pickles and the P-Flock Bullies

12/30/2014

0 Comments

 
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I recently read a book called Pickles and the P-Flock Bullies, a story about a young Orca named Pickles and her new friend, Stitches, a harbor seal. The pair meet a group of seagulls who invite Pickles to join their group, but ridicule and push away Stitches. Pickles is left to decide if she should stick up for her friend or join the "cool" P-Flock seagulls.

What I found exceptional about this book is the honest conversation about how easily we can be manipulated by negative forces, such as bullies. When a strong personality invites you in, it's hard to refuse and even harder to stand up and call out their bullying behaviors. When in this difficult situation, Pickles finds herself joining in with the crowd, further humiliating her friend.
Pickles and the P-Flock Bullies is a book written with beautiful detail and imagery that your students will find themselves both relating to and enjoying. I would most likely share this with my 3rd grade classrooms and conduct a follow-up activity with foam fish, similar to this one.
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Students would sit in a circle, if possible, and take turns "fishing" out of the pile of foam sea creatures. There are a few ways that you could structure this activity, but I would probably number the fish so that each one corresponded with a specific type of question. Some of the questions would be about the story (summarizing, details, etc.), while others would be how the story applies to our day-to-day school lives. These could be situation-based questions to see if a student could decide how to respond to bullying or simply discussion starters to open up an honest class conversation about the topic.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book!

Are you an author? Do you have a book that you would like me to review on my blog? If so, contact me at marissa@elementaryschoolcounseling.org. I'd be happy to check out your work and spread the word to my readers.
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Product Review: The Career Game

9/27/2014

0 Comments

 
Those of you who follow Carol Miller's blog, The Middle School Counselor, you may remember her post about The Career Game. While I may work with a different age group, I think this  suits my elementary kiddos as well.

I've tried to expose my students to lessons about career exploration, but sometimes, it's hard to find engaging ways of introducing this topic to students who are so young.

I think that this game is a perfect option for elementary students, particularly 4th-6th graders.
I love the student workbooks! For my students, I think the best way to introduce them would be in a small group. This way, we could work on the pages session by session and spend time discussing each topic. However, I still think the books would lend themselves well to classroom lessons if you have the time to properly teach the material.

An extra feature is each student's web ticket, which allows them to convert their workbook scores into a list of jobs that match their interests. I still need to try that aspect with my students - we've been so engaged with the workbooks, we haven't moved on to the tickets...YET! :)
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Additionally, as the school counselor, you can view each of your student's workbook scores online, see which educational goal they chose, and view the jobs that were recommended for them. It's a great way to document the work you are doing with your students. Let's face it - many of us are working in districts that are financially struggling due to lack of funding and a struggling economy. We NEED to advocate for ourselves and the work we do for students so that we are deemed essential, not a fun "extra" in our buildings. Tools like The Career Game can help us teach a domain that may not typically be addressed in elementary school and show students, staff, administration, and parents why school counselors are necessary.

Check it out today! :)

Do you have a product that you would like me to review on my blog? If so, contact me at marissa@elementaryschoolcounseling.org. I'd be happy to check out your work and spread the word to my readers.
0 Comments

Film Review: Children of Military Families

9/6/2014

0 Comments

 
You may remember a film review I wrote a little over a year ago about Professor Child's wonderful films, Children and Grief and Children and Divorce. I recently watched another film called Children of Military Families.

This production is just as great as the other two! The film stars real children discussing the real struggle of having a parent in the military serving overseas. There are a variety of age groups and ethnicities, and feature both male and female children. The advice and stories feel truly authentic, not scripted or forced the way many resources can be.
I have numerous students who struggle with the stress, fear, and confusion that can come with a parent who has been deployed (or will be deployed). It can be difficult to find quality materials for these individuals and their families; I am so excited to share this new film with my school community!

I highly recommend that you check out these films at Professor Child's website and consider purchasing your own copies. Trust me. They are worth it! Although the topics are intense, the films are hopeful and remind you that you are not alone.

You can purchase a digital version of the film (available for immediate digital download) or a DVD. Additionally, Professor Child offers a FREE workbook that includes over 50 pages of thought-provoking discussion questions and creative exercises. The workbook is divided into 12 chapters that correspond directly with the film, which makes things even easier for busy school counselors. Plus, did I mention it's FREE?! ;)

Are you a director, writer, or production company? Do you have an educational film that you would like me to review on my blog? If so, contact me at marissa@elementaryschoolcounseling.org. I'd be happy to check out your work and spread the word to my readers.
0 Comments

Product Review: Bouncy Bands

3/6/2014

2 Comments

 
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We've all been there. We've had students who fidget, who rock in their seats, who fall out of their seats...

Sometimes it can be a bit daunting to come up with a support plan that fits their specific needs because frankly, hyperactivity and other sensory needs are not easy fixes. Medicine can be a helpful addition, but it's not the only answer and it's not always an option for our families and students. So, what do you do with a kid who is painfully wiggly, almost like they are ready to crawl out of their skin?

Well, Bouncy Bands may be for you.
Bouncy Bands slide onto the legs of a desk, allowing the student to bounce his/her feet and apply pressure without making noise or disturbing the learning process. They are safe, effective, and affordable. The best part, as explained in the Bouncy Bands FAQ section, you can use the Bouncy Bands template to make your own. This means that even more students can benefit from a product like this one.

At my school, we are lucky to have support from students, staff, and parents regarding sensory breaks and classroom-based supports. We have students using a variety of sensory aids, so these "extras" are not seen as weird and typically do not draw negative attention. My students love the tension and release that a band provides; it helps them focus when focusing is usually a struggle.

If you are at a school with few sensory supports, I still think Bouncy Bands could be introduced quite easily. They are inexpensive and simple enough to have larger sets (and therefore, fewer "that's weird" or "that's different" reactions). They are quiet, which is a major selling feature. They are also easy to remove and reuse.

Want to try out Bouncy Bands for yourself? Simply visit the order page of the Bouncy Bands website for more information.

Do you have a product that you would like me to review on my blog? If so, contact me at marissa@elementaryschoolcounseling.org. I'd be happy to check out your work and spread the word to my readers.
2 Comments

Book Review: Spoonful of Sweetness

1/19/2014

9 Comments

 
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Elementary School Counseling.org is another stop on the Spoonful of Sweetness book tour! I was lucky enough to get an early viewing of this adorable book and speak with the author, Maria Dismondy, about it.

Spoonful of Sweetness is a book designed for children ages Birth-3 years. As Maria explains, "It is my effort to incorporate early intervention, encouraging parents to teach simple character traits in the book from the very start of their child's life. It is my hope that if we can start young, children will be equip with important social and friendship skills to use when they enter school."

I believe this book does just that.
As school counselors, we work with families of our school-age students, but often, there are younger siblings who tag along at problem-solving meetings, conferences, and school events. Parents see us a resource, so it makes sense to have other, non elementary-specific ideas in our back pockets.

This book is a wonderful reading suggestion for a family struggling with challenging behaviors. If they recognize the issues their older child is having in school, they may be panicking, hoping to prevent similar problems for their younger children.

Other Ideas for Elementary School Counselors:

*Read the book with kindergarten-1st Grade students in a small group or classroom setting. Explain that babies learn important manners when they are younger, just like we are learning now. Then, brainstorm what "big kids" need to practice, writing their ideas on the board. Finally, students get to pick their favorite from the list and make their own book page. This way, the class has their own, age-appropriate version of Spoonful of Sweetness for their class library.

*In an individual, small group, or classroom setting, reflect with older students (5th-6th) about how they've changed since kindergarten. What is their classroom environment like now compared to then? Do they act differently? Reflect on the manners they see from various age groups at school and the role that the oldest students play. Use Spoonful of Sweetness as an extra resource to remember and discuss early childhood. Finally, have students create posters in small groups (or individually) that highlight the manners they feel are important for their age group and/or school as a whole.
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How Would You Use Spoonful of Sweetness?

Write your idea(s) in the comment section of this post! You will be entered to win a free, autographed copy of Spoonful of Sweetness. Deadline: January 31, 2014.
9 Comments

Audiobook Review: The Tale of Aladdin and Bubblebee

7/22/2013

0 Comments

 
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I took a summer class a few weeks ago that discussed how to integrate the arts into our core curriculum. One of the activities that we practiced was a visualization technique, which involved listening to a story and then using that story to spark either written or visual arts (i.e. painting, drawing, etc.) expression.

The Tale of Aladdin and Bubblebee: How it All Began is a great audiobook for this type of activity. Bubblebee is a non-violent superhero who helps a genie who is stuck in his lamp. As a reward, Bubblebee receives three wishes, but instead of using these wishes on himself, he asks the genie to give him the skills needed to make the world a better place.
In addition to the story itself, the audiobook has calming music playing in the background, which could help students relax, especially those who may have excess energy and anger. The character voices, narrator, and audio effects also add to the overall story, helping it come to life.

I would use this technique with younger students, K-1, in a classroom setting. Students can listen to The Tale of Aladdin and Bubblebee and demonstrate their understanding through art. Since it's an audiobook, I would take frequent breaks to assess understanding and help illustrate the story using puppets and/or having students act out parts of the book.

Check out this resource today!

Are you an author? Do you have an audiobook that you would like me to review on my blog? If so, contact me at marissa@elementaryschoolcounseling.org. I'd be happy to check out your work and spread the word to my readers.
0 Comments

Film Review: Professor Child

6/21/2013

2 Comments

 
Last night, I watched two fabulous educational films from Professor Child, a company created by three mothers, Rory Kidder, Jenni O’Keefe, and Sharon Richards. The mission of Professor Child is to empower children during difficult life events. As the founders explain, "children have a powerful voice that is relatable, healing and hopeful. Ultimately, we want children to know they are not alone in what they are experiencing and that much can be learned by simply listening to another child’s story" (Professor Child, About Us). 

Their documentary-style films feature a variety of children who have all experienced a specific topic. The children share their stories, what has helped, what they wish for, advice for other kids, and more. 

As an added bonus, each film comes with a free companion workbook to provide opportunities for further discussion and reflection. 

Children and Grief

In this film, children share their stories of losing a loved one. Some kids are dealing with the loss of a parent, while others with a sibling, uncle, or grandparent. Each child's experience and response to death is different, which allows the viewer to see a little of him or herself in the film. This is crucial because many children (and even adults) feel alone as they manage their grief; it is an incredibly private, yet universal, experience.

While not particularly "sad" in an over-indulgent sort of way, still be prepared to have strong emotions come to the surface as you listen to the heartfelt stories. A+

Children and Divorce

This film, while similar in structure, has a different sort of feel. There is not a huge variety of experiences or ethnicities as we see in "Children and Grief," but the stories are still meaningful and quite helpful.

The children in this film describe their personal experiences with divorce, what it means to them, how it has changed their lives, what has helped, and more. I especially enjoyed hearing the advice that the kids gave, which could have a tremendously positive impact on children at various stages of the divorce process. A

Why You Should Purchase Your Own Copies:

As school counselors, we are responsible for helping children cope with a variety of difficult circumstances. It can be a challenge to start a group about grief or divorce. Maybe the group dynamics, personality wise, are off. Maybe you don't have enough students in a particular grade level to start a group and therefore, cannot offer this service. Maybe students who could join the group feel uncomfortable speaking about their situation in front of others and would prefer individual counseling. So, what can you do to help students dealing with divorce or grief know that they are not alone? Well, I think these films are a wonderful resource to fit this particular need.

You could show the film based on the chapters that best address your students' needs or use the chapters for different group sessions as an introduction to the day's lesson.

Also, you can look forward to future films from Professor Child called "Siblings and Autism" and "Children of Military Families."

To purchase one or both of these films ("Children and Grief" and "Children and Divorce"), visit Professor Child online. You can order a DVD or a digital copy. Plus, you can download both companion workbooks for FREE. I strongly recommend these resources for your elementary school counseling practice. Check them out today!

Are you a director, writer, or production company? Do you have an educational film that you would like me to review on my blog? If so, contact me at marissa@elementaryschoolcounseling.org. I'd be happy to check out your work and spread the word to my readers.
2 Comments
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    My name is Marissa Rex and I am a 1st Grade teacher and an elementary school counselor from Ohio. I hope you enjoy my site!

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