Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Engage and Excite New Students: A School Tour for Welcoming New Students

                                         

Hey there, get ready for an awesome adventure like no other! It's that time of year when we warmly welcome new students to our incredible school. And to make their introduction to our vibrant campus extra special, we've got something super cool planned—an Amazing New Student School Tour Adventure!

Meeting the new fish in our school:

So here's the deal: instead of a typical tour where we simply walk around the school, I turned it into an epic quest that will ignite the imagination of my students! But before we dive into the adventure, we kick things off with a fun "get to know you" activity. We all gather together in my office, excited to meet our new friends. After our activity, I explain to the kids that I have a special treat for them—delicious Goldfish Crackers! But guess what? Our special surprise has mysteriously gone missing! Don't worry, though, because our playful friend, who loves a good mystery, has left us a clue to begin our exciting adventure...


I pull out my iPad and we scan the QR code on the fish to find the following clue:


The kids get so excited and I ask, "Hmm, where is a place in our school with a lot of books?" We follow the clue, eager to find our treat, and it leads us to our first destination—a hidden spot within the school filled with wonder and excitement. As we step into this extraordinary place, prepare to be amazed by what you see and experience. It's like stepping into a whole new world within our school walls, where magic and discovery await at every turn – the Library! This gives me the opportunity to explain that the library is now called "The Learning Commons".

As we continue our journey through the school's hallways, guided by the clues left by our playful friend, we encounter fascinating sights and uncover hidden secrets along the way. Each clue brings us closer to our ultimate goal, revealing where our treat has gone! 

Throughout the tour, we learn about important people and places that make our school truly special. From our related arts teachers to our front office staff, these are all members of the faculty who are important to know! We end up visiting all of these places: 
  • Library/Media Center
  • Main Office
  • Health Room
  • Art Room
  • Gym
  • Music Room
  • Lunch Room
  • Playground/Recess Area
  • School Counselor's Office

A Splashy Ending to an Unforgettable Adventure:

Finally, our thrilling tour ends with a fantastic surprise waiting for us back in my office! It’s that special treat carefully prepared to celebrate our successful adventure and warmly welcome our new friends to the school community. We take a few moments to reflect on the incredible journey we've shared and to savor the excitement and sense of belonging that comes with being part of our school family.

Each treat has this poem on it...







A New Circle of Friends

We've joined together
as the new year begins...
A year full of learning
while we become friends.
We'll share and be kind
as we work and play.
And our friendship will grow
with each passing day.






Bubbling Benefits:

Meeting with new students and taking them on a school tour has so many benefits:

  • Welcoming Atmosphere: The tour creates a warm and inclusive environment, ensuring new students feel valued and part of the school community from the start.
  • Familiarization: The tour familiarizes new students with the school layout, helping them navigate with confidence and reducing any initial confusion or anxiety.
  • Introduction to Important People: New students meet teachers, staff, and fellow students during the tour, establishing early connections and fostering a sense of belonging.
  • Engaging and Exciting: The interactive nature of the tour, with clues and surprises, keeps new students engaged and excited, setting a positive tone for their school experience.
  • Fun Learning Experience: The tour presents information about the school's history, traditions, and unique features in an enjoyable and memorable way, enhancing students' understanding of the school's culture.
  • Teamwork and Collaboration: Through group activities during the tour, new students collaborate, fostering teamwork and forming friendships.
  • Sense of Pride: The tour instills a sense of pride and ownership in the new students, as they learn about the school's achievements, values, and contributions to the community.
  • Memorable Experience: The tour creates lasting memories, making new students' early days at the school special and providing shared experiences for bonding.

Overall, as School Counselors, we want to provide a smooth transition, ensuring new students feel excited, supported, and familiar with their new school. By meeting with them in their first few days, it sets the stage for positive relationships, academic success, and a rewarding journey throughout their time at the school.


Ready to Use Resource: 


Don't miss out on this awesome chance to create a super welcoming and fun experience for your new students. Shop here for this resource:

Looking for more activities to do with your new students? Check this fun activity out!





Friday, March 16, 2012

Friendship Small Group Lesson: Strategies to Solve Conflicts with Friendship Fortune Tellers!


Conflicts are an inevitable part of daily life, even for children. However, it is crucial to help children understand that conflicts can be resolved with ease. In my Friendship Small Group, I focus on equipping children with the necessary tools to solve friendship problems effectively. 

Sharing Personal Experiences:
To begin our Friendship Small Group sessions, I encourage children to share their own experiences of having conflicts with friends and SUCCESSFULLY resolving them. By doing so, children reflect on their problem-solving abilities and develop self-awareness that this can be done! This sharing session creates a safe environment where children can also learn from one another.

Exploring Strategies:
In our lessons, I introduce a variety of conflict-resolution strategies to the group. Utilizing a Smart Board, I display these strategies, ensuring the students are familiar with them. While some strategies may be known to the students already, we focus on explaining the "Chance" strategy. This approach emphasizes fairness, ensuring that each person involved has an equal opportunity. To bring this concept to life, I allow the students to play a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors or Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum in a Dish, allowing them to experience firsthand how these Chance solutions can be applied to resolve disagreements in various situations. We then engage in a discussion about the specific scenarios where these strategies can be effectively utilized.


Applying Strategies:
After familiarizing the children with different strategies, I encourage them to apply these approaches to real-life situations. In a group setting, students take turns presenting social scenarios and selecting a problem-solving strategy to address the issue at hand. I emphasize that there is no one "right" way to solve a problem. I also use this opportunity to introduce using "I" messages, which promote assertive and respectful communication.

Creating Problem Solvers:
To make the learning experience more engaging and hands-on, I allow the students to create their own Friendship Problem Solvers. These problem solvers are reminiscent of the ones many adults may remember from their own childhood. I like to pre-cut the Friendship Problem Solvers to save time and ensure clean edges. The children then personalize and decorate their problem solvers, which in turn, fosters a sense of ownership and pride in their creations.




Teaching kids about friendship and conflict resolution is beneficial to all. By equipping them with problem-solving strategies, we empower them to handle their conflicts, build lasting friendships, and a harmonious school community.

Ready to Use Resource:


If you would like this FREE resource, you can find it at my...

Looking for more Conflict Resolution lesson ideas? Check this one out:






Thursday, March 15, 2012

Mr. Potato Head Dresses for Success









It is Career month at my school.  We typically focus on Careers through Classroom Guidance and conclude the focus with a Career Week where we have a Dress-up Day, Vehicle Day for the younger students, and Career Speaker Day for the older students.  This year I made an interactive bulletin board to get the kids thinking about career exploration.

I'm not sure how many Potato Heads I have around my house, but I got to thinking...I love how Mr. Potato Head has increased his wardrobe over the years.  I think of the many different hair pieces and accessories we have such as Pirate Potato Head or Spider Spud.  We just may have more Potato outfits than Barbie outfits!












As I pondered about playing with Mr. Potato Head, I came up with an interactive, dress Mr. Potato Head in a Career Outfit Bulletin Board!

I started by cutting out a basic Mr. Potato Head figure out of brown construction paper.  I just drew these free hand. Then I cut out the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, mustache and hands and attached them all to the Potato body.  Next I cut out three different pairs of boots - brown, black, and white; as well as, one pair of flippers.  I decided to dress Mr. Potato Head with different career hats.  Each career also has one tool that they use.  For instance you could dress Mr. Potato Head as a Magician by giving him a top hat and a magic wand.

I made three suitcases and labeled them: Work Hats, Work Tools, and Work Boots.  After having all the pieces laminated, I attached velcro dots to the back of the individual pieces and stored them in their appropriate suitcase.  Now Mr. Potato Head has interchangeable career outfits! I came up with the following Career Hats and Career Tools/Hand-held objects:
  1. Astronaut - Space Helmet with microphone and a Walkie Talkie
  2. Chef - Chef Hat and a Pie
  3. Scuba Diver - Scuba Mask and Snorkle
  4. Detective - Shirlock Holmes Hat and a Magnifying Glass
  5. Magician - Top Hat and a Wand
  6. Construction Worker - Hard Hat and a Hammer
  7. Police Officer - Police Cap and Handcuffs
  8. Doctor - Medical Headlight and a Medical Bag
  9. Mail Man - Mail Man Hat and a Letter to Mrs. Potato Head
  10. Plumber - Plumber Cap and Plunger
  11. Fireman - Fireman Helmet and a Hose

























As soon as the kids saw my new bulletin board, they swarmed it like a hive of bees!
I'm hoping it doesn't get torn up or I might just have to quote Mrs. Potato Head,
 "Don't make me get out my angry eyes!" 

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Effective Anger Management Strategies for Children: A Guide to Regulating Emotions


Hey there! As an elementary school counselor, I've had my fair share of experiences helping children navigate their emotions. Today, I want to chat with you about a common emotion that often challenges our little ones: anger. It’s such a natural thing that happens to all of us and it is important to help our kids understand anger and learn strategies to manage it. So, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and let's dive in!

What's the deal with anger?

You know what’s coming when you see a child’s face turn red, their fists clench, and they start stomping around...yup, that's anger! Anger shows up when kids feel frustrated, threatened, or treated unfairly. It's a natural response, but it can sometimes get overwhelming. Our job is to help them understand and express anger in healthier ways.

How can we help children manage anger?

  • Encourage Emotional Expression: We need to create a safe space where kids can freely express their anger without judgment. Teach them different ways to communicate their feelings, like using words or even getting creative with drawing or writing.
  • Self-awareness: Help children identify what triggers their anger and recognize the signs that show they're getting upset. Once they know the warning signs, they can take steps to manage their emotions before things get out of control.
  • Teach Relaxation Strategies: Introduce calming techniques like deep breathing exercises, visualization, or even the grounding strategy. These strategies give kids the power to regain control and find their inner calm when anger strikes.
  • Encourage Problem-solving: Let's teach kids problem-solving skills! Encourage them to think of alternative solutions to their anger-inducing situations, consider other people's perspectives, and find compromises that lead to positive outcomes.

Why teach anger management skills?

Now, you might be wondering why all this effort is worth it. Well, let me tell you about the amazing benefits:
  • Improved self-regulation: When kids learn to manage anger, they gain better control over their emotions. That means fewer meltdowns and more stable emotional well-being.
  • Supercharged social skills: Anger management skills promote empathy, understanding, and effective communication. Kids become pros at resolving conflicts peacefully, leading to healthier relationships.
  • Academic success: With a calmer mind, kids can focus better in class, leading to improved concentration and academic performance.
  • Long-term well-being: Equipping kids with anger management skills early on sets them up for a lifetime of positive mental health. They'll have healthier ways to cope with stress and navigate life's challenges.

The Smart Fish

In one of my favorite lessons on anger management, I like to share a metaphorical story called "The Story of the Smart Fish." Although I didn't write this story myself, I discovered it to be a powerful tool for teaching anger management to my group.


The story goes like this: There's a fisherman who fishes in the same spot every day. The fish in that area eventually realize that the bait isn't actually a tasty dinner but rather brings danger. So, they decide to become "Smart Fish" and resist taking the bait, day after day, no matter how much bait the fisherman uses. Eventually, the fisherman grows tired of not catching anything and moves on to a new fishing hole.

I find that students really connect with this metaphor because they can relate it to situations where others are "fishing" for a reaction from them. We go through the story together and compare it to what others may do to provoke anger in them. The "bait" in this case refers to mean words. Even if you ignore those mean words the first time, people may come back and add more "bait." It may take several times of ignoring the "bait" before the people move on to a new fishing hole.

To illustrate this lesson, I use a Smart Board to visually depict The Story of the Smart Fish and ways to ignore the bait and avoid the danger of getting angry. Here are three strategies we discuss:

  • Become a brick wall: Imagine yourself as a solid brick wall. Even if someone tries to push you, if you remain firm and do not budge, they won't get what they want. By showing that their words or actions don't affect you, you take away their power.
  • Remember that it takes two to play: When someone tries to provoke you, remember that it takes your participation for them to succeed. If you choose not to engage or react, they will eventually move on to someone else who will.
  • Remember the truth: In moments of anger, it's essential to remind yourself of the truth. Negative words or actions from others don't define you or change your worth. Holding onto positive self-beliefs and good feelings will protect you from the bait that others may throw your way.

To culminate the lesson, we engage in a hands-on activity where we create "Smart Fish" using old computer CDs. I was fortunate enough to receive a stack of CDs from our computer teacher, who no longer needed them for an older program. We upcycle them for projects like this. I print out the strategies to ignore the bait on CD labels and glue them onto the CDs. Then, students get creative, decorating their Smart Fish with fins, sequins, and markers.


This activity serves as a tangible reminder of the strategies we discussed and helps students internalize the concept of not taking the bait. Plus, it's a fun and interactive way to wrap up the lesson, leaving the students with a visual representation of their newfound anger management skills.

Remember, as we equip children with the tools to manage their anger, we empower them to navigate challenging situations with resilience and emotional intelligence.

Tips for managing anger in the classroom:

As a counselor, I love sharing tips with teachers to create a peaceful classroom environment. Here are a few suggestions:
  • Emotional check-ins: Start the day with a quick emotional check-in, where kids can share how they're feeling. It builds a sense of community connection and encourages open communication.
  • Setting clear expectations: Establish classroom rules that promote respect and empathy. Consistent expectations help kids understand how to handle anger appropriately. And remember, fair consequences are key!
  • Teach coping strategies: Incorporate anger management activities into your lessons. Discuss how characters in stories handle their anger or people from history. Try mindfulness exercises, role-playing conflict resolution, or even journaling writing prompts. The crucial thing is to ensure that your students feel supported when they experience these intense emotions. By providing a safe space and implementing these strategies, we can help kids regulate their emotions and acquire valuable skills not only in the counselor's office but also in the classroom.
  • Seek support: Don't hesitate to collaborate with school counselors or mental health professionals. They can organize workshops or bring in guest speakers who can offer additional guidance on anger management.

As educators, we have a crucial role in helping our children understand and handle their anger. By providing support, understanding, and teaching them effective anger management skills, we empower them to navigate their emotions with confidence. So, let's embrace these strategies and guide our kids toward a happier and more balanced emotional journey. Remember, we're in this together!

Looking for more Anger Management Strategies? Check out this post!



Wednesday, February 22, 2012

"Paws" for Career Awareness & Exploration Research Booklet

                                       

Unleashing Excitement: 

Get those tails wagging with excitement because this month, our lesson is all about careers, just like fetching sticks or chasing squirrels! We want our younger students to sniff out the countless opportunities that lie ahead. So, instead of just giving them a boring career lesson, they are getting a "pawsome" opportunity to research in the computer lab, where they can explore their interests and some howlingly cool careers. Our amazing computer teachers are the top dogs and have handpicked safe websites for our little explorers. We've got quite a collection, but for today's adventure, we'll be digging into the "Paws in Jobland" site!

Sniffing Out Opportunities: 

Kids will have their ears perked as they do the "Job Finder" online survey. The best part is that all the questions and careers are read out loud to them, making it super easy for everyone to follow along! Once they've finished the survey, they'll be taken to a cartoon community where they'll discover the highlighted career clusters. 

A "Pawsome" Adventure: 

They get to "sniff" out specific careers in their chosen clusters! Just by clicking on the cluster, a list of awesome careers will appear. They can watch a fun slideshow video that explains the ins and outs of each career. And they can "fetch" information for two exciting careers to fill their mini career research booklets!







Bone-a-fide Ways to Encourage Career Awareness:

Expanding Paw-sibilities: Introduce your primary students to many different jobs and careers, so they can discover new possibilities and explore their interests.

Early Sniff-out: Help young learners understand what adults do for work, showing them the different jobs people have in the world.

Tail-wagging Exploration: Encourage students to explore their interests and hobbies, and show them how these can relate to future careers.

Goal-fetching: Teach students the importance of setting goals for their education and future careers, and motivate them to work towards achieving their dreams.

Motivation with Bark-worthy Relevance: Connect what students learn in the classroom to real-life situations and careers, making their education more meaningful and exciting.

Pawsome Aspirations: Inspire students to dream big and believe in their own potential by introducing them to a variety of careers.

Canine Confidence: Boost students' confidence by helping them recognize their strengths and talents, and showing them that they have something valuable to contribute to the world.

Fetching Life Skills: Develop important life skills such as problem-solving, communication, and teamwork through career exploration activities.

Family Pack Engagement: Involve families in career discussions and activities to provide additional support and guidance for students.

Wag-tastic Planning: Teach students the importance of planning for their future, helping them make informed decisions and set goals for their education and career paths.


Craft Your Own Career Research Booklet:

So, get ready to embark on a bone-a-fide journey of career discovery like no other! Your tails will be wagging with excitement as you download this FREE Career Research Booklet! To make these awesome career research booklets, just print and fold them in half twice to make quarter-sized booklets. 


You can get this Paw-some Freebie here:


Looking for more Career Awareness and Exploration Ideas? Check these out!