- Mills Park Elementary School Counselors
- WCPSS Elementary School Counselors
- Mission and Vision Statements
- Meet the Counselors
- Student Support Services
- Annual Calendar
- K-2
- 3-5
- Small Groups/Lunch Bunch
- Parent Programs/Resources
- Kindergarten
- Magnet and Middle School Information
- Warms the Heart
- Character Education
- Thank you
3-5 Lessons
Every Third Grade, Fourth Grade, and Fifth grade class receives monthly counseling lessons. I visit each class each month and teach a 45 minute lesson. The topics I will teach this year will be to support social-emotional growth, academic success and career readiness for all students.
Every lesson is aligned with Mindsets and Behavior Standards created by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) as well as Social Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies and North Carolina Guidance Essential Standards (NCGES).
- Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade lessons focus on bully prevention, social emotional learning, academic support, anti-bias, and transition to middle school (5th grade only).
Every lesson is aligned with Mindsets and Behavior Standards created by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) as well as Social Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies and North Carolina Guidance Essential Standards (NCGES).
March Lessons
Grades 3- 5
March Lessons
***Main Point: Each grade level has a different topic, however the theme can be the same. Every child is unique and has amazing qualities they bring to us daily. Help students realize their strengths and passions.
3rd Grade - This lesson is “Strengths and Obstacles”. During this lesson we talk about the word empathy and identify strengths the students have. Together they identify a problem they can solve using their strengths and their plan of action.
4th Grade - This lesson is titled, “I Like Myself.” We will talk about positive qualities about ourselves and work on giving and receiving compliments.
5th Grade - This month we begin our Transition to Middle School Unit. The focus this month is on electives. I will share information about middle school electives during a whole class lesson and will meet with students 1:1 to select their electives.
How parents can help:
1. Help your child identify their skills and feel proud of them.
2. Talk about things you are passionate about and help your child find things they are interested in.
3. Develop an interest in what your child is interested in. This shows that you care about their interests and helps them feel proud about who they are.
March Lessons
***Main Point: Each grade level has a different topic, however the theme can be the same. Every child is unique and has amazing qualities they bring to us daily. Help students realize their strengths and passions.
3rd Grade - This lesson is “Strengths and Obstacles”. During this lesson we talk about the word empathy and identify strengths the students have. Together they identify a problem they can solve using their strengths and their plan of action.
4th Grade - This lesson is titled, “I Like Myself.” We will talk about positive qualities about ourselves and work on giving and receiving compliments.
5th Grade - This month we begin our Transition to Middle School Unit. The focus this month is on electives. I will share information about middle school electives during a whole class lesson and will meet with students 1:1 to select their electives.
How parents can help:
1. Help your child identify their skills and feel proud of them.
2. Talk about things you are passionate about and help your child find things they are interested in.
3. Develop an interest in what your child is interested in. This shows that you care about their interests and helps them feel proud about who they are.
February Lessons
***Main Point: Demonstrating empathy is an important skill for students to learn. I work on teaching empathy through a variety of lessons that also talk about being fair, equitable, and learning how to be an advocate for themselves and others.
3rd Grade - This lesson is titled, Helping Mrs. Muddled. The students learn about the words - fair, equitable and solutions. Together they come up with different solutions to common day problems in the classroom that contain advantages and disadvantages of others.
4th Grade - This lesson is titled, “Labels”. It is a very interesting lesson that discusses the importance of getting to know someone for who they are, not what they assume they are like. Treating people as individuals is a way to be fair and equitable.
5th Grade - This lesson is titled, “What’s Your Superpower”. The students learn about famous people who have been an advocate for themselves or others. They then talk about being an advocate and if they had a superpower, how could they use that power for good.
How parents can help:
3rd Grade - This lesson is titled, Helping Mrs. Muddled. The students learn about the words - fair, equitable and solutions. Together they come up with different solutions to common day problems in the classroom that contain advantages and disadvantages of others.
4th Grade - This lesson is titled, “Labels”. It is a very interesting lesson that discusses the importance of getting to know someone for who they are, not what they assume they are like. Treating people as individuals is a way to be fair and equitable.
5th Grade - This lesson is titled, “What’s Your Superpower”. The students learn about famous people who have been an advocate for themselves or others. They then talk about being an advocate and if they had a superpower, how could they use that power for good.
How parents can help:
- Discuss empathy with the students as the situations arise. Help them become empathetic for others by modeling empathy for them. This can start by you showing empathy for them when they express an emotion about an event. Help share in that feeling over the event.
- Help your child learn to be advocates for themselves by praising when they request help or explain the why behind what they are asking to do.
January Lesson Summary
January Lessons - Coping Skills Lesson 3
***Main Point: Students need help to learn how to self-regulate when their emotions are taking control. They need to use coping skills, know what coping skills are best for them, and how to advocate for help.
3rd Grade - “I Can High Five” - This lesson reviews self-discipline and coping skills. Students will identify coping strategies, positive self-talk and adult resources at home or at school as well as advocating for help. The students come away with a visual showing a specific coping strategy, a safe place or calming space, a positive self-talk statement, a trusted adult, and a way to ask for help.
4th Grade - “Relaxation” - In this lesson, students will review self-discipline and coping skills and practice several coping strategies such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and one minute vacations.
5th Grade - “Resources and Test Anxiety” This lesson combines a review with "Feeling Better with 8 Simple Steps” and a lesson helping students cope with anxiety, specifically test anxiety. Each student receives a poster and takes a pretest for test anxiety. The students who score in the high anxiety range for test anxiety will be invited to a small group.
How parents can help:
***Main Point: Students need help to learn how to self-regulate when their emotions are taking control. They need to use coping skills, know what coping skills are best for them, and how to advocate for help.
3rd Grade - “I Can High Five” - This lesson reviews self-discipline and coping skills. Students will identify coping strategies, positive self-talk and adult resources at home or at school as well as advocating for help. The students come away with a visual showing a specific coping strategy, a safe place or calming space, a positive self-talk statement, a trusted adult, and a way to ask for help.
4th Grade - “Relaxation” - In this lesson, students will review self-discipline and coping skills and practice several coping strategies such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and one minute vacations.
5th Grade - “Resources and Test Anxiety” This lesson combines a review with "Feeling Better with 8 Simple Steps” and a lesson helping students cope with anxiety, specifically test anxiety. Each student receives a poster and takes a pretest for test anxiety. The students who score in the high anxiety range for test anxiety will be invited to a small group.
How parents can help:
- Ask to see the materials they brought home from the counseling lesson.
- Give your child some breaks if their emotions are escalating.
- Encourage your child to use coping strategies and model when you need to use them.
December Lesson Summary
December Lessons - Coping Skills Lesson 2
***Main Point: As students get older they need to take responsibility for their actions, however that is not always easy. They need to understand how coping strategies can play into helping them as well as reframing their thoughts and feelings. Thoughts, Feelings and Actions are all connected.
3rd Grade - “Think, Feel and Act” - This lesson teaches students that our thoughts, feelings and actions are all related and if you are mindful about them, you have better control over your actions resulting in more positive outcomes. A simple change in either your thoughts or feelings can help you make better decisions regarding your behavior.
4th Grade - “Charting a New Path” - This lesson teaches students to identify situations that cause them to have elevated emotions and recognize they are in control of the path they are going to take. They recognize triggers and identify coping strategies to use to lower the intensity of their feelings to help them make better decisions with their actions.
5th Grade - “We Have a Problem” This lesson teaches students steps to solve problems on their own. It includes skills such as I messages (I feel ____, when_____ because _____.), listening skills, taking responsibility, brainstorming solutions, choosing a “win/win” solution and making sure you end your problem with an affirmation, forgiveness, or thank you.
How parents can help:
***Main Point: As students get older they need to take responsibility for their actions, however that is not always easy. They need to understand how coping strategies can play into helping them as well as reframing their thoughts and feelings. Thoughts, Feelings and Actions are all connected.
3rd Grade - “Think, Feel and Act” - This lesson teaches students that our thoughts, feelings and actions are all related and if you are mindful about them, you have better control over your actions resulting in more positive outcomes. A simple change in either your thoughts or feelings can help you make better decisions regarding your behavior.
4th Grade - “Charting a New Path” - This lesson teaches students to identify situations that cause them to have elevated emotions and recognize they are in control of the path they are going to take. They recognize triggers and identify coping strategies to use to lower the intensity of their feelings to help them make better decisions with their actions.
5th Grade - “We Have a Problem” This lesson teaches students steps to solve problems on their own. It includes skills such as I messages (I feel ____, when_____ because _____.), listening skills, taking responsibility, brainstorming solutions, choosing a “win/win” solution and making sure you end your problem with an affirmation, forgiveness, or thank you.
How parents can help:
- Help remind your child they are in control of their actions and to work on changing their thoughts and feelings to end with more positive behaviors.
- Praise positive actions specifically and as frequently as possible.
- Model positive self talk and point out when you work through difficult feelings.
- Ask your child who the trusted adults are in their life. Help build those adult resources for your child.
November Lesson Summary
Coping Skills - strategies people use to help regulate their emotions. (Help when their emotions get big and overwhelming.)
***Main Point: All people need to understand that there are times when they need to use coping skills to help regulate their feelings or emotions. For example, if you get anxious before speaking in front of others, often taking a few deep breaths or positive self talk can help you get through the situation. It is important to learn to advocate for yourself when you need to use coping strategies.
3rd Grade - “Riding the Wave” - This is a visual that discusses how a small emotion such as frustration can turn into a big emotion such as furious and take over your actions causing negative consequences. It is important to learn some key coping strategies to help you as the intensity of an emotion increases.
4th Grade - “Coping Skills” - Using the framework of Zones of Regulation we will select coping skills that help us in each of the following zones: Blue, Stuck on Land, - bored, sad; Green - Smooth Sailing - ready to learn, happy; Yellow - Rough Seas Ahead - excited, frustrated; Red - Rough Seas - mad, out of control. It’s OK to be in each of these zones, but you need to use coping strategies to help you gain control so your actions will not result in negative consequences.
5th Grade - “Breaking the Chain” STudents learn that events lead to physical feelings, thoughts, feelings/emotions, actions/behaviors and then consequences. It is important to know you are in charge of your actions so along the way you may need to break the chain and replace some negative thoughts, feelings or actions with positive ones so that the result is a positive consequence.
How parents can help:
1. When your child has big emotions, stop and take a break. Have them visualize something calming or soothing, or try taking deep breaths. Sometimes they need 5 minutes to do something relaxing before they can move one.
2. You can also ask them what are ways they like to help them with big feelings such as when they are anxious, frustrated or mad. Then suggest those same strategies as you see their emotions building.
***Main Point: All people need to understand that there are times when they need to use coping skills to help regulate their feelings or emotions. For example, if you get anxious before speaking in front of others, often taking a few deep breaths or positive self talk can help you get through the situation. It is important to learn to advocate for yourself when you need to use coping strategies.
3rd Grade - “Riding the Wave” - This is a visual that discusses how a small emotion such as frustration can turn into a big emotion such as furious and take over your actions causing negative consequences. It is important to learn some key coping strategies to help you as the intensity of an emotion increases.
4th Grade - “Coping Skills” - Using the framework of Zones of Regulation we will select coping skills that help us in each of the following zones: Blue, Stuck on Land, - bored, sad; Green - Smooth Sailing - ready to learn, happy; Yellow - Rough Seas Ahead - excited, frustrated; Red - Rough Seas - mad, out of control. It’s OK to be in each of these zones, but you need to use coping strategies to help you gain control so your actions will not result in negative consequences.
5th Grade - “Breaking the Chain” STudents learn that events lead to physical feelings, thoughts, feelings/emotions, actions/behaviors and then consequences. It is important to know you are in charge of your actions so along the way you may need to break the chain and replace some negative thoughts, feelings or actions with positive ones so that the result is a positive consequence.
How parents can help:
1. When your child has big emotions, stop and take a break. Have them visualize something calming or soothing, or try taking deep breaths. Sometimes they need 5 minutes to do something relaxing before they can move one.
2. You can also ask them what are ways they like to help them with big feelings such as when they are anxious, frustrated or mad. Then suggest those same strategies as you see their emotions building.
October Lesson Summary
Anti-bullying - Grades 3 - 5
Vocabulary:
bully - someone who is repeatedly mean (verbal or emotional) to a specific target or victim using their power over them in a harmful way.target or victim - someone who is getting bullied
upstander - someone who sees the bullying and does something about it
bystander - someone who sees the bullying and doesn't do anything - this is not a positive - we share that at the very least, tell your parents and have them call someone at the school
***Main Point: If a student feels they are getting bullied or believe someone else is, they need to report it. It is not tattling, it is keeping someone safe.
How parents can help:
Vocabulary:
bully - someone who is repeatedly mean (verbal or emotional) to a specific target or victim using their power over them in a harmful way.target or victim - someone who is getting bullied
upstander - someone who sees the bullying and does something about it
bystander - someone who sees the bullying and doesn't do anything - this is not a positive - we share that at the very least, tell your parents and have them call someone at the school
***Main Point: If a student feels they are getting bullied or believe someone else is, they need to report it. It is not tattling, it is keeping someone safe.
How parents can help:
- Remind students to always say and do kind things.
- Report any bullying situations to the classroom teacher, school counselor or administrator.
- Review what to do if they are bullied: report the bullying, stand up to the bully, walk away.
September Lesson Summary
Grades 3 - 5:
Who is the School Counselor? This lesson will ensure the students know a little bit about me, I get to learn about them and they will learn how to contact me if they need anything. A school counselor is an adult in the school who listens to you, provides classroom lessons, teaches small group, and meets with students individually for short-term needs.
Tips for Home:
Ask your child who is their school counselor and how they can help them!
Who is the School Counselor? This lesson will ensure the students know a little bit about me, I get to learn about them and they will learn how to contact me if they need anything. A school counselor is an adult in the school who listens to you, provides classroom lessons, teaches small group, and meets with students individually for short-term needs.
Tips for Home:
Ask your child who is their school counselor and how they can help them!
