Thursday, April 12, 2018

Assertive Communication

I recently began using The Mouse, the Monster and Me to teach assertiveness.  The story uses an aggressive monster and passive mouse to show students the difference in communication styles.  You can purchase the book HERE.

The Mouse, the Monster and Me: Assertiveness for young people

Counseling Connections:


Assertive Communication Teaching Guide (page 14 starts lesson on The Mouse, The Monster and Me)




Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Friday Freebies (Recipes for Friendship)




Friendship Recipe: A writing activity for Valentine's Day

Back to School Friendship Salad by Explore Create Discover
Back to School Friendship Salad (Picture Recipe Card)

Friendship Salad by Learning is something to treasure
Back to School Friendship Activity

Friendship Recipe by V-Squared
Friendship Recipe

Valentine's Day Ingredients for Friendship by Lovely Literacy and More
Valentine's Day Ingredients for Friendship Writing

Friendship Pie Recipe Cards (Free) by Jessica Millar
Friendship Pie Recipe Cards

How to Make a Friendship Snack (Free) by My Pink Clipboard
How to Make a Friendship Snack: A Community Building FREEBIE
Friendship Pizza by Laura Lawson
Friendship Pizza
Friendship Treats by Especially Education
#especiallyeducation Friendship Treats


Counseling with Penguins

I am planning next weeks lessons and decided that it would be a good week to incorporate penguins in our lessons (it is freezing here in Illinois).  I've planned lessons covering the topics of self-esteem, empathy, problem solving, diversity and anger management.  These are three books that I will be using:
Product Details
 Purchase Pierre the Penguin HERE.

Pink!  
Product Details
Purchase Pink! HERE.


Product Details
Purchase Tacky the Penguin HERE.

Connections:

Tacky The Penguin Connections:

I Like Tacky Because... (Free)
Tacky the Penguin

Tacky the Penguin Companion Printables {Freebie}

Tacky the Penguin (Free) by Kinder Kids Kafe
Tacky the Penguin

Tacky the Penguin (Free) by Miz Riz Elementary Resources
Tacky the Penguin- character recording sheet!

Tacky the Penguin Vocabulary Practice

Purchase Tacky the Penguin HERE.

Pink! Connections:

My Pink Penguin (Free) by Sarah Cooley
My Pink Penguin Craftivity {FREE}

Pink! by Lynne Rickards {Reading Response Activities}
Purchase Pink! HERE

Helping Pierre the Penguin Connections:

Pierre the Penguin questions (Free) by Brooke Romp
Pierre the Penguin
Helping Pierre the Penguin (Free) by Creative Counselor
Helping Pierre the Penguin
Purchase Pierre the Penguin HERE.

More Penguin Connections:
Penguin Problems - TAKING OWNERSHIP OF MINOR ISSUES in School for Everyone


Tear Penguin (Free) by Traci Clausen  (I used this as a coping skill (tearing paper).
FREE Penguin Tear Craftivity

If I were a Penguin I Would .... Craftivity

Book for dealing with Divorce:  The Pink Penguin
Product Details

Penelope the Pink Penguin (confidence, self-esteem)
Product Details






Monday, December 18, 2017

Therapy Dough/Putty

I just went into a first grade classroom to consult with a teacher and she had therapy dough sitting on her desk.  I have never heard of it so I asked her a million questions!  She swears by this stuff and says it was worth the money so I just put in an order.  She had the beach scent and it smelled so good and kind of looked like sand.  I bought the beach scent for my mother-in-law and then I bought spice and ocean for my counseling room. 



There are also some kids versions:
Scented Putty: Lavender Fragrance for Calming Therapy and Play

Fun and Function Regulation Putty for Expressing Emotions & Strengthening Hands




Mindset Monday: A Perfectly Messed-Up Story (Perseverance, Mindset, Perfectionism)

A Perfectly Messed Up Story is about a boy named Louie whose story keeps getting ruined.  Louie feels like giving up but by the end of the story he is hopeful again.  I haven't used this book yet but plan to use it to teach students the impact of self-talk, both positive and negative.  I also think it will be good for discussions on attitude affecting behavior.  I'm thinking this book is best for early elementary students.  I always love when books come with a free educator's guide so I've linked that down below!
Description from Amazon:  Little Louie's story keeps getting messed up, and he's not happy about it!  What's the point of telling his tale if he can't tell it perfectly?  But when he stop and takes a deep breath, he realizes that everything is actually just fine, and his story is a good one--imperfections and all.

Product Details

You can purchase A Perfectly Messed Up Story HERE.








Thursday, December 14, 2017

I Can Handle it! (emotions/problem solving)

I Can Handle It! by laurie Wright is a book that I plan to use for elementary students (pre-k-2nd grade).  I am going to use this book with my first grade students as a supplement to our second step lessons.  The book lists strong emotions, the problem that caused the emotion, and a list of ways to solve the problem.  Some of the solutions are "nonsense" solutions but there are many good solutions as well.  For example, one of the feelings is frustrated.  The situation that causes frustration is adults not listening.  Solutions listed include; I can say, "excuse me", I can write a letter, I can tell someone else.  I think this is a great introduction to problem solving and this book will encourage students to think of ways that they can handle situations that may cause strong emotions.  Also, this book uses a mantra (automatic thought) that can be used to think clearly about the situation and come up with strategies to solve it.  I have not introduced mantras to students in the past but after reading more about how they can be used to help students I plan to try it out.  The mantra used in this story is "I can handle it!".
Product Details
You can purchase I Can Handle It! HERE.

Connections:

If you don't use Second Step this would be a good lesson to use with this book: https://classroom.kidshealth.org/prekto2/personal/growing/feelings.pdf

I Can Handle It by Laurie Wright (FREE)
I Can Handle It

I Can Handle It - Song

How I Handled My Emotions Chart

Monday, December 11, 2017

Mindset Monday-Bubble Gum Brain

I recently ordered Bubble Gum Brain, by Julia Cook, and absolutely love this book!  My students are loving it as well (it may help that I let them chew gum while we read it).  You can also purchase an activity guide to go along with this book.  I did not purchase the activity guide so I can't say much about it.  Unfortunately, I don't think it was available when I purchased the book and I am out of funds for the school year (major bummer).  
Product DetailsProduct Details
Book Description:  Meet Bubble Gum Brain and Brick Brain:  two kids with two VERY different mindsets.  Bubble Gum Brain likes to have fun adventures, learn new things, and doesn't worry about making great mistakes.  Brick Brain is convinced that things are just fine the way they are and there's not much he can do to change them, so why try?  When Bubble Gum Brain shows Brick Brain how to peel off his wrapper, Brick Brain begins to realize just how much more fun school...and life..can be!  

You can purchase Bubble Gum Brain HERE.
You can purchase the activity guide HERE.

Connections:
This is a newer book so there are not a ton of resources to link to.  I imagine that as more people purchase this book we will see more lesson ideas out there.  For now I am going to post connections I have found on TPT:

Book Buddy for Bubble Gum Brain by Technology Tidbits (FREE)
Book Buddy for Bubble Gum Brain by Julia Cook

***I purchased this one and would highly recommend
Growth Mindset Bubble Gum Brain Lesson Plans and Activities

***I purchased this one and love it! ($3.00)
Growth Mindset Flipbook/Craft for the book Bubble Gum Brain by Julia Cook

Julia Cook's BUBBLE GUM BRAIN: School Counseling Growth Mindset Lesson by Whole Hearted Counseling $3.00.  (I have not purchased YET...I plan to get this one though).
Julia Cook's BUBBLE GUM BRAIN: School Counseling Growth Mindset Lesson

Bubble Gum Brain Literature Activities by Kristen's Kaboodle ($4.00)
Bubble Gum Brain Literature Activities

Bubble Gum Brain Resources- Growth Mindset by Structured Play ($3.00)
Bubble Gum Brain Resources- Growth Mindset

Growth Mindset Writing Activity by Primary Scouts ($3.00)
Growth Mindset Writing Activity