Notes from 2013 MSCA Spring Conference Elementary Level Sharing Chad Kinnett ACE study (Adverse Childhood Experience). Lots of interesting information and facts about the influence of trauma on development and the health consequences later in life. Can be used as a tool for identifying at- risk students and identifying resources to help address areas of treatment. Great overview of the study is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3we5gm131k&feature=youtu.be Lisa Meyer Has gone paperless this year, using her I- Pad for everything! Website: Savvy School Counselor (Great resource for lots of ideas!!) Book Series: Weird Tough and Dare Author: Erin Frankel Comes with a Leader s Guide. (Lisa uses this for 4 th and 5 th grade.) E- Books has Apps for I- Pads.download the books and show them through the projector. Allows you to zoom in on pictures. (Example: Zoom in on the pictures and have students discuss what they think about what they see before disclosing the name of the book, or the actual text on the pages in the book. Facial emotional recognition skill building.) Encourages counselors to look into Apps for I- Pads. Shannon Toney- - Created a journal for every student to fill out during the first 5-10 minutes of the guidance lesson. Examples: Circling the face of the feeling that describes them. Writing or drawing about why they are feeling that way. Shannon.toney@hardin.k12 Smile File Books for kids who have Autism or need help with social skills and flexible thinking. The Social Detective We can Make it Better The Community for Children, Let s Talk About Touching curriculum. Advocating for Native American Kids who have been sexually abused. Seem to be ashamed and hesitant to talk about their abuse. Blog: Elementaryschoolcounseling.org (Lots of resources and ideas!) Story Bird - - Website where you can create your own stories. Samples of artwork for illustrating can pick what you like. Pick an artist that you like, and then it gives you access to pictures by that particular artist. Database of created books by people who have made their books public. (Some are great, and some might be terrible!) Great for a group to teach cooperation having to agree on the words and pictures. If you would like a soft- cover, hard- cover copy of your book, you can purchase them. Also can purchase pdf form.
Dare to be Wacky Calendar Used in a group of girls who are dealing with relational aggression and self- esteem issues. Allows girls from the group to come and report incidents, which is then recorded right on the calendar.discussed at the next group session. Website: wedolisten.org The We Do Listen Foundation Howard B. Wigglebottom Series.many books and activities on specific topics. Songs, posters, hand- outs, etc. Bulletin Board: Kindness garden Students give examples of kindness, write it on bright flower printouts that they decorate take them and fill a bulletin board!! Bowl and balloon make it look like a Crystal Ball. Act like you can predict the future Any question: What am I going to do when I get older?? Well, I predict that you are going to do something amazing!! Can actually, have the kids try to predict the future based on observed behaviors. Ex. The teacher says you can have five minutes extra of recess if you are quite What do you think the future holds?? Well, we are really noisy right now, so I don t think we will. Use different examples to lead to different outcomes! Todd Parr Book on Diversity Activity draw a picture with one color. Read book. Draw another picture using way more colors! Explain how more fun and interesting that is!! Book: Simon s Hook Great book about not getting put- down by put- downs! Analogy: Don t bite the hook Strategy sandwiches Paper cut- outs of pictures that look like sandwich parts. Bread, lettuce, tomato, meat, etc. (Tanya found these at the dollar store, but could be produced from scratch.) Movie ACTION clap board.used for role- playing. Just makes it fun!! Survey monkey. To get feedback from teachers and parents. Have to realize ahead of time that might not be positive, but at least it is HONEST. If you would like examples of the questions that she uses or the technique for delivery: kirschmant@billingsschools.org Feedly A website that keeps you notified of any new posts on your blogs that you follow. So you don t have to check them one at a time and scroll through them to find the new posts manually. Booksthathealkids.com
Optical Illusions Specifically those that, when you glance at them, you can potentially see at least two things. Project them and ask them to share what they see either write them down, turn to their partner and share. Obviously, they pick up on the fact that, even though it is the same image, you might see it completely different than someone else. It isn t always about the NEED to be right, but being willing to accept that you BOTH might be right! Called it: Right- fighting and you can never win!! The Conflict Escalator handy tool, which utilizes common language. Progression of how conflicts evolve end goal is to get off the escalator. Book: Schools Where Everyone Belongs Stan Davis Practical Strategies!! (Very easy to read!!) (Game type product) Attitude adjustment in a box For kids who cannot say anything positive about any category school, family, friends, etc. Gives them tasks which force them to do something or say something positive. Child s Work Child s Play is the company which distributes this product. (Game type product) Remote Control Impulse Control Helps slow down thinking Please Stop, I Don t Like That Very basic story. For kids who have a habit of not using their words and choose to tattle right away. Freckle Face Strawberry Book that teaches uniqueness Brought strawberries in for the kids had them describe them gave strawberry facts. The Kids Book of Questions (Choose a number between 1-260 flip to that question.) Student answers the question and then counselor answers the same question. Great for initial counseling session to get to know this student and break the ice! Conversation starter posters. Can be made from scratch. I ll never forget If I give someone flowers, I would give Another great tool for initial counseling session or group session. 1976 Angus Communications J Using the theme Angry Birds to teach about Anger Management. Has found numerous resources on the internet Pinterest. Donorschoose.org Good resource to get funding for projects.
Book Finklehopper Frog About encouragement, being special, acceptance. Color sheet with a rainbow to fill in each colored stripe with descriptions about yourself. Newer versions Second Step lessons which includes videos. Book Mind Coach Teaches kids about how their thoughts negative thinking. Analogy of their negative thoughts being like ants and how they should step on them. Brake the book up into sections and talk about the key points rather than reading the whole book at one time. Written for kids and teenagers, so used with upper grades. Pixar s Night and Day Use it for perception. The fear of the unknown fear about not knowing about someone which leads to discrimination. Leads to appreciation and acceptance. You can purchase the Pixar cd s Shorts Partly Cloudy Ron Clark Story Teacher from North Carolina. Amazing story about a really tough class. Uplifting and inspiring. Great ideas for teachers and parents also ideas that School Counselors can connect with. Book End of Molasses Classes Also has a movie which is fantastic. Ron Clark Academy. Conferences where you can watch his style of teaching. Quote bulletin board kids like to come and check what the most recent quote is. Brightspots.com Sentence starters deck of cards. Online resource Facebook: School Counselor Central University of Montana is launching an online School Counseling program put a bug in teacher s ears who might be interested in getting that endorsement. Impulse Control Game Really works!! Out of a counseling resource catalog. Poster of homophones Place it where they are waiting in line to go into the cafeteria. Maybe have 3 at a time for a certain period of time teachers have noticed an improvement in students learning and memorizing these. Beginning of the year.have students take 20 minutes to write about themselves. Maybe include what they like and what they do well. Research says it improves their academic progress by 10%. Let s Chat Keychain $6.99 Simply
Take to the lunchroom, sit at any table ask a questions from the keychain and write down students answers. Create a quiz for the teachers! J Good for making contact with every student in school at least once!! Prizes for staff. Talk jars Girl s Talk, Boy s Talk, Choices Answer question instead of saying HEAR for roll call. Free Spirit Publishing Class lesson How do you want to be remembered? Start with a blank white board and ask students to name mean behaviors that they do not like. Leave the middle blank. When they are done sharing, write in the middle, How do you want to be remembered?? Promotes discussion Than erase one of the words and replace it with a positive character. Pass out markers and have students choose a word to erase and watch as they erase MEANNESS!!