Classroom Guidance Lessons:    Classroom Guidance consists of a variety of lessons, activities, and themes presented to your child on a rotational schedule. Topics for Classroom Guidance Lessons includes: Character, Safety Awareness, Friendship Skills, Career Awareness and Exploration, Conflict Resolution, Bullying Awareness, Self-Esteem, Problem-Solving Skills, and much more. Lessons are planned to appropriately address the developmental levels of students. Please talk with your child about what he or she is learning in Classroom Guidance.

Small Group Counseling

In addition to classroom visits ,I provide individual and small group counseling. Participation in individual  and small counseling can be initiated by referrals from teachers, parents and often the students themselves . After an initial visit, a form will be provided and signed by the parent's  for permission to continue counseling as needed .Small group counseling usually occurs  once a week, during their lunch time for six to eight weeks. Depending on the amount of student interested in participating in specific groups, groups will be offered a couple times during the school year. Some of the topics for small group counseling are: friendship, social skills, changing families, anger management,adoption,and  grief. The smaller groups are usually 6-8 students who benefit from a safe setting where they can work on self awareness, communication skills, sharing and helping  with other students who are experiencing similar experiences in their lives. Some of the techniques I use are games, stories, work sheets, books and dvd's.  The  small group setting provides an opportunity for students to practice the new skills we will be working .If there are not enough students for a group, I will provide individual counseling for a student. The goal of school counseling is to help enhance a students learning by providing new skills to prevent future problems. Here is some samples and descriptions of groups offered this year. I will also provide groups for other topics as needed.

Anger Management Feeling angry or mad is natural and normal, however it is how we manage and deal with these feelings that make for a successful day. In this group we will use activities to help focus on exploring our triggers, defining how anger affects our bodies and relationships, and learn skills to identify  when these feelings start to happen and apply techniques for self control  and help in reducing our frustrations.

Changing Families  This group is offered for students whose parents are  going through a separation or divorce. The students benefit from being with other children who are going through the same experience, and may be at different stages in the process. They  find comfort when they realize they are not the only ones  in their class and they  are able to share  their own experiences and learn how to work through their feelings as their family changes.

Diary of a Whimpy Kid ( new)! This is an exciting new group offered for 4th grade and 5th grade boys. The style of the book is journaling and students enjoy this series. The group will use the book to discuss and share their experiences as they go through the years where there can be changes in our friends and relationships with classmates.

Chrissa , and Chrissa Stands Strong (new) This is a new group for 4th and 5th grade girls. The story is about a 4th grade girl and her friends and how they deal with bullying. This is an opportunity for 4th  and 5th grade girls  to discuss and share their experiences with friendships and to learn strategies when facing difficult situations with others and to find courage to stand tall and strong.

Parent Permission Forms Please print out the permission form, as follows. If you are interested in a small group indicate the group(s) you are interested in for your child and send in the small group permission  form with your child. If you are interested in individual counseling, please fill out the  individual permission form and send in with your child. Thahk you.

Why would I want to visit a School Counselor?

  Here are some reasons a student might want to talk to the school counselor:

• "I'm getting picked on at the bus stop and I don't know what to do about it."
• "My best friend isn't talking to me and it's making me really sad."
• "I want to show you what I did in class. I'm very proud of it."
• "I'm new to this school, and I miss my friends!"
• "My parents are fighting."
• "I just want to talk to someone who won't laugh at me."
• "I am having a hard time getting organized!" 
• "The work is harder this year."
• "We had a problem at recess. Can you help us work it out?"
• Yesterday Sarah played with me and today she is playing with Amy."

   Here are some reasons parents might want to talk to the school counselor:

• "Evan doesn't want to go to school in the mornings."