Thursday, March 31, 2016

Second Step Connections

I use the Second Step Curriculum in all of my k-2 classroom lessons.  I really love Second Step and it requires little planning.  I do like to use other resources to supplement my second step lesson though and today I am going to connect you to some of my favorite resources.  I found some really great worksheets on the TPT store Behavior Savers.  
I love this Freebie from the Kindergarten pack:
Freebie...Second Step Kindergarten Belly Breath Worksheet
Here is a freebie from the 2nd grade pack:
Problem Solving-Making Responsible Choices-2nd Grade Secon

The other worksheets must be purchased but at $5.00 a packet they are very reasonably priced and include some great material!
SECOND STEP KINDERGARTEN-24 Lesson Worksheets

SECOND STEP 1st Grade-21 Lesson Worksheets

SECOND STEP 2nd GRADE-21 Lesson Worksheets

Paiges of Learning is another TPT store that sells supplemental Second Step Materials.  These packets are $3.00 each and she has a packet for 1st grade as well as one for 3rd grade.
Second Step Printable Pack {First Grade}

K-1 Second Step Song Lyrics

Book Connections (Skills for Learning)
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Book Connections (Feelings)
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When I Feel Angry (Way I Feel Books)
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Book Connections (Empathy):
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Book Connections:  Problem -Solving
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Book Connections (Playing Fair):
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Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Favorite Counseling Blogs

I LOVE reading posts from other school counselors so I am going to connect you to some of my favorite blogs today!

1.  Elementary School Counseling (Marissa's Blog)

  If you don't already follow these blogs they are definitely worth checking out!

Don't forget to follow Counseling Connections on the new Facebook page!

Monday, March 28, 2016

Follow Counseling Connections on Facebook!

I have created a Facebook page for Counseling Connections!  If you would like to follow this blog on Facebook you can do so HERE!


Mindfulness Monday (Anger)

Minfulness can increase a students self-awareness and increase their ability to cope with strong feelings. Mindful breathing is one way to manage strong feelings of anger.  Anh's Anger is a wonderful tool to use with children when teaching about mindfulness and strong feelings.  I recently used Anh's Anger with my second graders as we are talking about managing strong feelings.  In the story, a boy  named Anh is told to stop playing with his blocks because it is time to eat dinner.  Anh gets upset and begins to cry.  Anh's grandfather tries to comfort him but Anh gets even more upset, pushing his gradfather and knocking over the blocs.  Anh is told to go to his room to "sit with his anger".  As Anh sits in his room, his anger deescalates from a wild monster down into a small presence, until if finally dissipates altogether.  Ahn's anger reminds us that anger is part of all of us and that sitting and breathing can help us to transform it.
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After reading Anh's Anger I had students paint a picture of their anger (what it looks like and what it feels like).  In the book, Anh's anger looked like a red monster.

We then practiced mindful breathing and talked about how mindful breathing could be helpful to students at home and at school.

In the second book, Steps and Stones, Anh's anger resurfaces.  This time Anh is outside at recess.  Anh is having having a conflict with another classmate and Anh's ager shows up to suggest some unhelpful ways to solve the conflict.  Anh suggests that they slow down and they end up walking and breathing, counting their steps.  Along the way, Anh calms down and his anger begins to look less threatening.  This book teaches students that we can listen to our anger, but we don't have to react to it.  Taking a walk and breathing can be ways that we cool off.  Read 4 Health has a great lesson plan for Steps and Stones.
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Thursday, March 24, 2016

Counseling with Cupcakes (lessons on just about everything!)

I was organizing my bookshelves and noticed that I have quit a few counseling books with a common theme...CUPCAKES!  Who doesn't love cupcakes?!  I have books that teach lessons on self-esteem, problem-solving, coping skills, friendship, etc...

I love this lesson using the book Cupcake.  I found a worksheet companion on Marrissa's Blog and love it!  I use this book with students in K-2.  
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Another favorite is Peanut Butter and Cupcake.  This is an adorable book about friendship.  The story is about Peanut Butter, a lonely piece of bread, who sets out to find a friend but ends up being rejected by hamburger, egg, cupcake and many other characters in the story.  The main message of the story is that it can be hard to make friends but that you can't let yourself feel down or give up on yourself when other kids won't play with you.
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I found a Free Lesson on TPT to go along with Peanut Butter & Cupcake:
Teaching Friendship in the Classroom {FREE printables}
There is another Free Lesson from TheHappyTeacher HERE.
This packet is also free on TPT and a few of the pages work for counseling related lessons:
Peanut Butter & Cupcake

This one would be cute for a discussion on Following Directions
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sequence Paragraph
I also have Happy Birthday Cupcake and use it to teach the "thinking of solutions" and "exploring consequences" part of Problem Solving.  Happy Birthday Cupcake is about a cupcake who is planning her own birthday part.  Cupcake runs through a list of ideas (solutions) while her best friend, Blueberry Muffin, finds reasons why they won't work (consequences).  For example, If she has a beach party some of her friends might melt in the sun!  
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I don''t have Rude Cakes but I just ordered it and can't wait for it to come in!  This book is about not-so-sweet cakes with bad manners.  The main character is an annoying pink cake who uss hurtful words, never says please or thank you, doesn't listen to its parents, doesn't share and refuses to take turns. He also bullies a small cupcake at the playground.  Rude cake ends up learning the value of being polite and the story ends with the saying "Of course, no cake is ever too rude to change".
Rude Cakes
Lesson Using  Rude Cakes HERE.

What a Cupcake Can Do! looks like a cute book about self-acceptance.  The main character is a tiny cupcake who feels insignificant in comparison to the huge, fancy wedding cake in the bakery window.  Cupcake is focused on looks verses achievements until she finds out that the great thing about being a cupcake is that cupcakes can work together to make cupcake cakes.  You don't need to be big to feel special!
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More Connections:

This is a great idea for teaching coping skills:  My Cope-Cake
My Cope-Cake - free printable from OMazing Kids

This download for Kid Kindness Day is too sweet!  You put ways to be kind in each of the "sprinkles".  Free download from http://lewislearninglibrary.blogspot.com/


Cupcake Conversation Cards

Sweet Conversation Starters {FREEBIE}

If you have a student who has a food allergy or food sensitivity Why can't I have a cupcake? looks like a good resource:
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This would be a cute self-esteem activity to do with Jr. High students or with a life skills class

Cupcake Game: This looks like a cute game for pre-k or early elementary students.  The description on Amazon states that it is a simple and fun way for developing patience, learning to follow-directions, categorizing and recipe following skills.  The object of the game is to bake your recipe before the other players.  Players attempt to collect their ingredients and the fist to collect all of them wins.
eeBoo The Cupcake Spinning Game

Cute TEACHER APPRECIATION bulletin board idea from www.momschoolsupplies.com


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