Guidance LessonsWhat it is and how your child benefits...
Teachers can and do implement social and emotional learning while they are keeping up with rigorous academic standards. However, they can occasionally request that the counselor teach a specific lesson related to concerns they have in the classroom. This partnership allows for deeper connections to the material and repeated exposure through fun and meaningful lessons. It gives me as the counselor a chance to connect to a larger group of the kids I serve, and it gives the teacher a chance to learn new strategies and techniques along side the kids. Kids learning about Personal Space |
Types of LessonsSkills Streaming. Adapted from Skills Streaming, Inc., these lessons cover classroom survival skills, such as active listening and following directions as well as coping with stress and anxiety. Teachers can pick lessons based on their classroom needs. Lesson One: Active Listening Lesson Two: Following Directions Lesson Three: Ignoring Distractions Lesson Four: Effective Communication Strategies Lesson Five: Using Self-Control Lesson Six: Effective Problem Solving Lesson Seven: Handling Test Anxiety Zones of Regulation. The Zones is a systematic, cognitive behavior approach used to teach self-regulation by categorizing all the different ways we feel and states of alertness we experience into four concrete zones. The Zones curriculum provides strategies to teach students to become more aware of, and independent in controlling their emotions and impulses, managing their sensory needs, and improving their ability to problem solve conflicts. (grades K-3) Lesson One: What Zone Am I In? Lesson Two: Zone Tools Lesson Three: Size of the Problem Lesson Four: The Problem Solving Wheel Social Thinking. The process of uncovering hidden rules and understanding the difference between expected and unexpected behaviors will help children succeed in the classroom and in their peer relationships. This curriculum helps children interpret the deeper meaning behind what others do in the world and how to use effective communication to achieve their social goals. (grades K-3) Lesson One: Whole Body Listening Lesson Two: My Thoughts and Feelings Lesson Three: The Group Plan Lesson Four: Personal Space Camp Lesson Five: Hidden Rules…Expected and Unexpected Behaviors Lesson Six: Flexible and Stuck Thinking Assertive Kids. There are many well-developed, researched based curriculum tools that empower kids to be safe, kind, and self-aware. Pulling from Kid Power International, No Bully, and Kids Empowered, I have a series of lessons designed to build confidence in each child's ability to self-advocate and contribute to a positive school climate. (grades K-5) Lesson One: Circles of Connection (understanding the various relationships in life and how to engage appropriately in different situations) Lesson Two: The School Zone (defining the appropriate way to interact with others in a school setting) Lesson Three: Tattling vs Telling (understanding situations that warrant adult intervention between those that can be handling between peers) Lesson Four: Using I-Statements (using effective communication strategies to solve problems) Lesson Five: Personal Powers (identifying safe people in their lives, creating a safety plan, using a confident voice, and asking for help when needed) Lesson Six: Tricky People (getting out of uncomfortable situations, putting your safety plan to action) Lesson Seven: Boundaries (what they are and why we need them) Lesson Eight: Building Positive Peer Relationships (key social skills self assessment and reflection) Lesson Nine: Becoming Assertive (how it differs from avoidance and aggression) Lesson Ten: Bullying, Mean Moments, Rudeness, and Conflict (how to identify each and take steps to get help when needed) Lesson Eleven: Relational Aggression (what it is, how it hurts, and what to do) Lesson Twelve: Being an Upstander (recognizing problematic behavior in others and standing up for what is right) Growth Mindset Promotion. Helping kids develop resiliency through targeted activities that emphasize the power of "yet," the importance of growing through our mistakes, and sharing research that shows that the mind is a muscle, capable of change. (grades 3-8) Lesson One: Your Brain is a Muscle Lesson Two: The Power of Yet Lesson Three: One Hard Thing Challenge Emotional Intelligence. An individual's ability to recognize and regulate their own emotions and have insights into the motivations and experiences of others leads to successful life experiences. While there are many models of emotional intelligence - some driven by traits others by abilities -- it is generally agreed that the following domains can be effectively explored with young people to help strengthen their EI: self-awareness, emotional regulation, self-management, social awareness, social skills, and responsible decision-making models. By practicing key social skills, we can strengthen emotional intelligence (grades 3-8) Lesson One: What are social skills and why do I need them? Lesson Two: Self-awareness Lesson Three: Identification of positive qualities in self and others Lesson Four: Practicing basic skills through games (maintaining eye contact, reading body language, asking questions) Lesson Five: Choosing Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Optimism Lesson Six: Practicing advanced skills (being assertive, handling criticism) Lesson Seven: Responsible decision making (role playing tricky social situations) Executive Functioning. Executive functions refer to the brain processes needed to sustain problem-solving toward a goal. Executive functions are organized into three domains: working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. Highly developed executive functions are positively correlated with academic success, maintenance of healthy relationships, and overall well-being. (grades 5-10) Lesson One: Goal Setting/Planning & Progress Monitoring & Success Story Sharing Lesson Two: Creating a Caring, Supportive and Encouraging classroom community Lesson Three: Cognitive & Memory Skills Lesson Four: Performing Under Pressure/Managing Test Anxiety Lesson Five: Building Healthy Optimism Lesson Six: Organization Tips and Strategies Partners Against Hate. Designed to build a school environment that understands the importance of diverse voices, recognizes hate and injustice, and creates a safe environment for all learners. (grades 5-12) Lesson One: Who Am I? Lesson Two: Who Are You? Lesson Three: Who Are We? Lesson Four: What is a Stereotype? Lesson Five: Promoting Peace Mindful Classrooms. Mindfulness is the practice of focusing ones attention on the here and now so that conscious effort can be made to be present and intentional in actions, thoughts, and feelings. (grades K-12) Lesson One: Breathing Lesson Two: The Artful Pause Lesson Three: Your Mindful Moment Lesson Four: Seeing, Touching, Tasting Mindfully Digital Citizenship. Covers eight different themes related to becoming a digital citizen (grades 3-12) Lesson One: Communication and relationships Lesson Two: Being safe online Lesson Three: Digital Drama Lesson Four: Cyberbullying Lesson Six: Digital Footprint Lesson Seven: Creative Credit and Critical Thinking Lesson Eight: Privacy and Security Resilience Methods for Substance Abuse Prevention. Involves trusted reliable information on the various illicit substances, explorations into reasons for drug and alcohol use, skills streaming for avoiding peer pressure, stress and anxiety management techniques. Hearing voices from the community (local teens and young adults, young people in recovery, drug and alcohol counselors, court and law enforcement officials, etc.) is a critical component of a successful program. (grades 5-12) Lesson One: Knowledge is Power Lesson Two: Students as Experts Lesson Three: Teen Panel Lesson Four: Community Panel Lesson Five: Resiliency (Connection, Mindfulness, Refusal Techniques) |