Posted in Individual Counseling Resources

Think Sheet

School counselors are often asked to work with students through situations and the choices they made – what happened and what was your response to the situation? This TPT free worksheet is super helpful in exploring that exact idea of whether or not our responses were healthy, positive, and effective. I cut off the parent and student signature at the bottom if I use this in individual counseling so that my students can talk about their choices in a safe place, but if behavior in the classroom or during guidance is an issue I may fill this out with a student to bring home or provide this worksheet to the teachers and staff at my school so that they can utilize this worksheet as a classroom management strategy.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Think-Sheet-Classroom-Management-807186

Advertisement
Posted in Classroom Guidance Lessons

Social Skills Series

Social skills are a great thing to go over in guidance class as it helps to improve the interactions between all students in your school, thus preventing some issues from ever developing. A pre/post test would be a great place to start, in addition to a few lessons I have used from TPT as a social skills series for k-5 classes. Depending on the time you have for guidance, you can combine 2 of these lessons each day.

Day 1: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Skills-Lessons-for-Conversations-Free-Lessons-3655470

Day 2: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Friendship-Cards-Social-Skills-Prompts-190109

Day 3: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Skills-Card-Game-1864928

Day 4 K-2: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Skills-Activities-Annoying-Others-1868856

Day 4 3-5: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Perspective-Taking-Social-Skills-Lessons-3627307

Day 5: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Skills-WHY-BINGO-1971593

Day 6: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Skills-Rubrics-Self-Esteem-Pack-Freebie-1164832

Classroom Connection: Share this with teachers and specialists at your school so that they can make the social skills connection that you’re using in your classroom – https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Skills-Losing-a-game-1067886

Posted in Classroom Guidance Lessons

The Anti-Test Anxiety Society

I found a great (free) lesson on TPT to accompany the book The Anti-Test Anxiety Society by Julia Cook. I love and use so many of Julia Cook’s books as she does such a great job of exploring issues on the elementary level, and this is no exception. Check it out!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Anti-Test-Anxiety-Society-Guided-Notes-FREEBIE-4463097

Posted in Classroom Guidance Lessons

Last Day of School – Letter to Students Next Year

The teachers at my school thought this activity was super cute and loved hearing what their students thought was important for next year’s students to know (their teacher loves coffee, to listen to direction the FIRST time, to eat school lunch on chicken pasta days, etc.). The students also loved to hear their names and their teachers names in the book when I personalized it as I read. I hope you enjoy this super easy and cute activity for the last week of school!

Lesson Title: Last Day of School – Letter to Students Next Year

Grade(s): K-2

ASCA Standards:

  • A:A1.5 Identify attitudes and behaviors that lead to successful learning

Learning Objectives:

  • Students will be able to identify skills and information that help students to be successful in the grade that they are in

Materials:

Lesson:

Begin by summarizing what the first day of school was like and what skills students used to be successful this year, or follow the script below:

Today we are going to reflect on what the first day of (student’s current grade) was like and the skills and tools you used to be successful. What was the first day of school like for you? (call on a few students to share) Some of you may have been excited, or nervous, or you may have experienced many different emotions at a time. The first day of school is a big deal because first impressions, or the first time you meet someone or experience something, is very important! That impacts how you view that person/experience for a long time. We want to be sure that when our classmates and teachers meet us that they can see that we are wonderful people who are excited and ready to learn! It can also be a little scary because each year more is asked of you and you have more responsibility and independence, or doing things with less help and guidance. We are going to read a story about the last day of school and think about everything that you have learned this year, what you are excited for this summer and next year in (next grade), and lastly I want you to think of what it might be good for a student who will be in (teacher’s name)’s class next year to know in order to be successful.

Read The Last Day of Kindergarten by Nancy Loewen and substitute the grade, teacher’s name, and student’s name with relevant names for the class you are teaching. Students love to hear their teacher’s name in the story!

Hand out the Dear Student, Welcome to _____ Grade activity and ask student’s to fill it out with information that might be helpful for a student going into that grade to know. Provide an example to the class. Offer these handouts to the teacher to provide to her students next year or allow the students to bring these home.