A repeat request from both my 3rd and 4th grade teachers is a lesson on time management. There’s a lot of different ways that this can go, but I focus on time spent in school…with a heavy emphasis on independent work time. This is the plan. Ask the kiddos what it means if someone says […]
Compliments Lesson Plan
As part of our 2nd grade social skills/friendship theme, we did a lesson on giving quality compliments. Without a stellar mentor text, we turned to Sesame Street. While the “short” version of this video focuses only on complimenting physical appearance, my co-counselor found this “extended” version that covers a broader variety of traits. We start […]
Teaching Talk it Out: I-Message Lesson Plans
This post contains affiliate links. A few years ago, our 3rd and 4th graders were just plain old mean to each other. Half the time, it was coming from them feeling wronged by the other person and believing that meanness was the appropriate response back. The single Kelso’s Choices lesson (written about here and […]
Teaching Kelso’s Choices
Kelso’s Choice are the best. They provide a common language (and visual) to use throughout the school in regards to “small problems” and conflict. A few years ago, my admin agreed to buy enough posters for every classroom and major common area (cafeteria, gym, etc.) to have one and I used some of my counseling […]
No Biggy! 1st Grade Lesson
This post contains affiliate links. This blog can be a little “big kid heavy” since I only service 2nd-4th, but my co-counselor does amazing work and I want to share some of her great ideas a swell. As part of the self-regulation theme she is using in 1st grade Life Skills lessons this year, she […]
My Mouth is a Volcano – Interrupting – 2nd Grade Lesson
This post contains affiliate links. Everyone knows that My Mouth Is a Volcano! is a gem of a book. It worked in perfectly to 2nd grade’s friendship and social skills theme; good listening is an important skill! We started off with an activity from Julia Cook’s activity book for the story – the most worthwhile […]
Social Filter Lesson With “I Can’t Believe You Said That”
Our 4th grade Life Skills lessons continued with a lesson on using your social filter, a favorite topic of mine. We started with a chat on what a filter is; most of my students didn’t know what this was. Those that did were able to tie it to a filter in fish tank. I asked […]
Seat Discs, Chair Bands, and Data
Y’all – this will be kind of a long post. And if you don’t dig data and/or research, this may not be your jam. But if you have really squirrely students? Or if you came into some school monies and want to find a great way to use it? Keep reading. As I mentioned in […]
The Invisible Boy Lesson Plan
This post contains affiliate links. We all love The Invisible Boy – it tugs on the heart strings whether we were invisible as students or the ones who overlooked other students. I’ve historically used this book with 3rd and 4th graders but this year, my co-counselor and I decided to try it out with our […]
