December 2021 Classroom Guidance

 

December 2021 Classroom Guidance

The topic of this month is Conflict Resolution

Kindergarten

• Reviewed what the words “Conflict” and “Resolution” mean

• Read the story “The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Friend” By Stan and Jan Berenstain then discussed the conflict and resolution

• Brainstormed a variety of strategies to try to minimize the conflict

• Practiced pre-made scenarios and how to apply one of eight strategies 

First Grade

• Read the story “Click, Clack, Moo Cows that Type” By Doreen Cronin then discussed

• Reviewed the concept of conflict 

• Discussed five different conflict resolution strategies

• Practiced which strategies to apply to pre-made scenarios

Second Grade

• Read the story “The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs” By Jon Scieszka and discussed

• Discussed the types of feelings that can accompany conflict

• The importance of using I statements “Talk it out” strategy

• What your body and voice should look/sound like when trying to resolve conflict

• Reviewed ten different conflict resolution strategies

• Practiced I statements together (I feel….when you…could you please….)

Third Grade

• Reviewed the concepts of conflict and resolution

• Read the story “The Zax” By Dr. Seuss and discussed

• Reviewed communication styles (passive, aggressive, assertive)

• Reviewed common roadblocks in conflict that delay resolutions

• Discussed how to make conflict better vs bigger

• Reviewed a variety of helpful steps to implement when going through conflict

Fourth Grade

• Reviewed ways to escalate and de-escalate conflict

• Reviewed common roadblocks in conflict that delay resolutions

• Discussed and reviewed ten different conflict resolution strategies

• Discussed the danger of assumptions and understanding that there are typically two sides to every story

November 2021 Classroom Guidance

November 2021 Classroom Guidance

Jewish Family Services Safe-Touch Program was presented (by JFS) to all grade levels building wide per a law that was passed in July of 2019 called "Erin's law".  It requires that all public schools in each state implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program.  

Kindergarten and First Grade

• To distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate touch.

• Three basic safety skills: say NO to an inappropriate touch; run away to a safe place; and tell a trusted adult.

• If sexual abuse were to happen to them, it is not their fault.

• To understand that private parts are those parts of the body covered by a swimsuit.

• That there are no secrets about abuse.

Second Grade and Third Grade

• To identify instinct and feelings.

• Three basic safety skills: say NO to an inappropriate touch; run away to a safe place; and tell a trusted adult.

• If sexual abuse were to happen to them, it is not their fault.

• To distinguish between a secret about touching and a surprise.

• To understand that sexual abuse can occur with people they know and trust.

• To learn effective communication skills with different subjects.

• To identify people who can help.

Fourth Grade

• To listen to their feelings and act upon them.

• To recognize physiological responses when in danger.

• Three basic safety skills: say NO to an inappropriate touch; run away to a     

safe place; and tell a trusted adult.

• If sexual abuse were to happen to them, it is not their fault.

• To identify tricks of potential abusers.

• To practice telling someone about a difficult subject.

• To identify people who can help.

October 2021 Classroom Guidance

 

October 2021 Classroom Guidance

The focus for this month is making safe and healthy choices.  

Kindergarten

• Discussed many examples (pictures) of safe/healthy choices vs unsafe/unhealthy choices

• Reviewed importance of sleep, exercise, healthy food choices, brushing teeth, hand washing, face mask placement etc)

First Grade

• Discussed what the words “healthy and safe mean”

• Reviewed “Boo Bad and Ghostly Good” choices

• Brainstormed numerous types of safe and healthy choices

• Stressed the importance of labels on items in regards to safety (danger in assumptions and touching or ingesting something that isn’t clearly labeled).  

Second Grade

• Reviewed safe (responsible) choices vs unsafe (not responsible) choices 

• All choices have consequences (positive and negative)

• Read the story “A Bad Case of Stripes” By David Shannon

• Discussed the concept of Peer Pressure

• Reviewed a variety of refusal skills

Third Grade

• Everyone has the power to make choices

• It’s important to take responsibility for the choices we make with our body an our words

• All Choices have consequences

• Discussed the concept of Peer Pressure 

• Reviewed Seven different strategies to “Just Say No”

Fourth Grade

• Watched a Kid President Video regarding the importance of choices then discussed

• All Choices have consequences

• Reviewed safe/healthy/good choices vs unsafe/unhealthy/poor choices

• Reviewed five step process of making a choice (including stop and think, options, pros/cons, consequences etc.)

• Discussed Peer Pressure and the variety of feelings that often accompany it

• Reviewed seven tips of resisting peer pressure

• Practiced in small groups using pre-made scenarios applying the five step process and refusal skills

September 2021 Classroom Guidance

 

September 2021 Classroom Guidance

Welcome back to the 2021-2022 School Year!  This is the first lesson of the year therefore we will be doing a quick introduction of myself as well as the School Counselor’s Role.  We will also review basic coping skills that students can try on their own. 

Kindergarten and First Grade 

• School Counselors are helpers

• We all have feelings 

• Reviewed different types of feelings (some are comfortable others are uncomfortable

• Read “B is for Breathe” By Dr. Melissa Munro Boyd

• Discussed variety of coping strategies shared in the story

Second Grade

• School Counselors can help in MANY ways

• We all have feelings

• Reviewed a variety of feelings, when we might have them and helpful ways to manage them (coping skills)

• Practiced grounding and breathing strategies

• How to meet with the School Counselor

Third and Fourth Grade

• School Counselors support students in a variety of ways

• Reviewed a video sharing how our brain controls our emotions (upstairs and downstairs brain)

• Reviewed coping skills

• Practiced belly breathing, 478 breathing, stopping and counting

• How to meet with the School Counselor