K-2 Lessons

Every Kindergarten, First Grade and Second Grade class receives monthly counseling lessons. These lessons are typically 45 minutes and cover developmentally appropriate topics to support social-emotional growth, academic success and career readiness for all students.
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• Kindergarten lessons focus on helping students be "bucket fillers" in their words and actions; emotional regulation along with impulse-control using the Zones of Regulation, My Mouth is a Volcano & Personal Space Camp; Anti-bias including Inclusion - Same & Different and Celebrating Diversity, and community helpers lessons.
• First grade lessons focus on a being peacemakers as they solve their small problems; coping skills; Funny Tummy lessons,  Anti-bias including empathy, diversity & inclusion; and career exploration lessons.
• Second grade lessons focus on being an upstander and bullying prevention, coping skills;  Anti-bias including empathy, diversity & inclusion; and career exploration lessons.

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).

September Lessons

K-2 Introduction to the Counselor
A school counselor is an adult in the school who listens to you, helps you, cares about you, and teaches you.

Tips for Home:
Ask your child who their school counselor is!

October Lessons
Kindergarten
We read the Bucket Filling book and discussed what bucket filling looks like vs. what bucket dipping looks like. When you catch the littles filling buckets, you can tell them you noticed they were filling a bucket or use the term bucket dipping as a reminder how it makes others feel if they dip into someone else’s bucket.
bucket filler - saying and/or doing positive things to/for each other
bucket dipper - saying and/or doing negative things to/for each other
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1st Grade - Peace Club Lesson 1
All 1st graders will soon become members of the Peace Club (October-December lessons) 1st-5th graders at MPE are members of the Peace Club. PC is a fun opportunity to learn how to solve friendship problems (small problems) in a kind and peaceful way using 12 strategies including: - ignore, walk away, talk it out, apologize, forgive, share and take turns, go to another game, stick with friends, say “please stop”, wait and cool off, use your coping strategies, make a deal. We learn that students should try 3 strategies before they ask a trusted adult for help - “Try 3, then ask me”. I always ask students what have you tried to solve your small problem - it gives them ownership and instills confidence that they can solve small problems with always needing a trusted adults help.

2nd Grade - Let's Be Upstanders to Bullying Behavior
2nd grade students learn about and practice how to be upstanders to bullying behavior using role playing scenarios. Terms students are introduced to: 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. 

November Lessons
Kindergarten - Self Regulation
Self-control is difficult but oh so important! This month we are reading “My Mouth is a Volcano” by Julia Cook.  This book lets the children see what can happen when we don’t use self-control. After we read the book, we will explore strategies Julia Cook shares including: 1.gently holding our teeth together so their words are unable to come out; 2. let their breath out slowly, breathing all their words out and let them just float outside their body, waiting until it is their time to talk - then the student(s) can breathe the words back in when it is their turn to talk.

1st Grade - Peace Club Lesson 2
All 1st graders are now members of the Peace Club (October-December lessons) PC is a fun opportunity to learn how to solve friendship problems (small problems) in a kind and peaceful way using 12 strategies including: - ignore, walk away, talk it out, apologize, forgive, share and take turns, go to another game, stick with friends, say “please stop”, wait and cool off, use your coping strategies, make a deal. We learn that students should try 3 strategies before they ask a trusted adult for help - “Try 3, then ask me”. I always ask students what have you tried to solve your small problem - it gives them ownership and instills confidence that they can solve small problems without always needing a trusted adult's help.
During our November lesson, students will learn 4 new strategies including: go to another game, stick with friends, wait and cool off, and make a deal. In our October lessons they learned to solve their small problems by using strategies including: walk away from a problem, saying please stop, ignore, and share-n-take turns strategies!

2nd Grade - Coping Skills Lesson 1
Coping Skills/Zones of Regulation - Students will learn about and identify feelings or emotions that can be hard to control? What do you do when you have these feelings? Have you ever tried to control these feelings to help you feel better and make better choices? Students will be learn about managing their feelings utilizing and practicing coping skills.
Tips for Home:
Help your child be in charge of their feelings and own consequences. Ask your child questions to get them thinking – “What are some feelings or emotions you have that can be hard to control?”…”What do you do when you have these feelings?" ..."What are your favorite coping strategies?” Also, click on the link below for ZONES of Regulation information families can use at home!
ZONES of Regulation Resources
Family Information Presentation
Zones of Regulation FAQs
Zones Chart
Zones Visual
Supporting Self-Regulation in young children
Conscious Discipline Breathing Strategies
ZONES of Regulation Booklist to enjoy!

December Lessons
Kindergarten

This month we are learning about personal space and why it is important - because it shows respect for others, makes everyone feel safe, and everyone feels happy. We will read the book “Personal Space Camp” written by Julia Cooke. I love this book because it creatively addresses the complex issue of respect for another person's physical boundaries. The book does a wonderful job communicating the idea of personal space in a manner that connects with students. Students will become familiar with words like:
comfort bubble - about the size of a hula hoop - the students use hoola-hoops to make their own personal space while we are on the carpet reading
personal space - each person’s physical boundaries where they feel comfortable
personal space line-up - if you put your arm straight out ahead of you, your fingertips will barely be able to touch the shoulder of the person in front of you and your comfort bubbles will not be broken.

1st Grade
1st Grade is completing their final Peace Club lesson this month. PC is a fun opportunity to learn how to solve small problems in a kind and peaceful way using 12 strategies including: - ignore, walk away, talk it out, apologize, forgive, share and take turns, go to another game, stick with friends, say “please stop”, wait and cool off, use your coping strategies, make a deal. We learn that students should try 3 strategies before they ask a trusted adult for help - “Try 3, then ask me”. I always ask students what have you tried to solve your small problem - it gives them ownership and instills confidence that they can solve small problems without always needing a trusted adult's help.
During our December lesson, students will learn 4 new strategies including: APOLOGIZE, FORGIVE, SHAKE-IT-OFF, and TALK-IT-OUT. In our October & November lessons they learned to solve their small problems by using strategies including: walk away from a problem, saying please stop, ignore, and share-n-take turns, go to another game, wait and cool off using a favorite chill skill or coping strategy, stick with friends that are being kind, and make a deal if you cannot agree with a classmate or friend!

2nd Grade
During December we are continuing Coping Skills lessons with a focus on “chill skills” or “coping strategies or tools.” Students will understand the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and identify calming strategies.
The students review what they learned last month about feelings or emotions and what to do when you are in rough seas or the red zone (strong feelings that make it harder for you to reach your goal). Our vocabulary is “self-regulation” and “mindfulness.” We practice mindfulness using our 5 senses while practicing deep breaths. Identify 5 things you can see Identify 4 things you can feel Identify 3 things you can hear Identify 2 things you can smell Identify 1 thing you can taste We play a game that helps students practice taking breaks when they need to manage their emotions instead of their emotions managing them: a sip of water, take a walk, sit in a quiet place, read a book, think happy thoughts, draw, write, talk to a friend or trusted adult, etc.

Tips for home:
If your child or student is experiencing heightened emotions encourage them to use one of their "coping strategies" or “chill skills.”

January Lessons​
Kindergarten
Our January lesson will focus on learning more about the Zones of Regulation along with our favorite Coping Skills. Students will learn how to manage strong feelings through practicing and using their coping skills. We will read and discuss the book “How Do Dinosaurs Show They Are Mad" by Jane Yolan and Mark Teague. They will practice rainbow breathing which traces the shape of a rainbow as they breath in and breath out, star breathing which is breathing in and out and you trace each side of a star, spot pattern breathing, popsicle breathing, mountain breathing, sun breathing, heart breathing, counting, positive self talk, thinking of a happy place or an event, talking to an adult, taking a break or find a quiet place, and more! When a student experiences emotions or feelings - big or small, remind them they can manage those feelings by using their favorite coping skill or “chill skill”!

1st Grade
This month First Graders will be reading about and discussing coping skills because let's face it...life can be a challenge - that's why it is so important to help children cultivate tools and tricks that can support them through big and small feelings. We will read the book "Find Your Calm" by Gabi Garcia which teaches children how to tap into their sense of safety when worry or anxiety creeps in. That is where using healthy coping strategies come into play. Healthy coping strategies or "chill skills" as we sometimes call them will not  necessarily get rid of the challenging, stressful situations (especially those we don't have control over), but they can help children to make better, more empowering choices so that children can better see the silver lining, cup-is-half-full perspectives and possibilities. Moreover, using healthy coping strategies can help us build our strengths and resiliency!

2nd Grade
Our lesson this month is learning about inclusion with a focus on empathy. Students will define empathy - understanding someone else’s feelings so much that you feel it too. We will discuss the 5 Skills of Empathy - Look and Listen, Remember, Imagine, Ask, Care and read the book “Stand in My Shoes” by Bob Sornson. The book explores the importance of the social skill - understanding how other people feel. It also helps students develop the concept of empathy through reading about 10 examples of empathy shared in the book. The main character - Emily learns that recognizing other people's feelings is important to being a good human being.

Tips for home:
Look for moments at home to teach your children about empathy, set examples for them. Recognizing other people's feelings is important to being a good human being.

February Lessons
​Kindergarten 
ln this months lesson students learn that each of us have things that are the same as others and each of has things that are different from others. Students will discuss what does that mean to them. They will define what it means to be the same and what means to be different? Same means that two things are are alike. Different means that two things (or people) are partly or totally unalike. The take away for students will be that they can like people who are similar to them, or different from them, and be friendly to everyone. To finish our lesson students will color their BeYOUtiful Butterfly and have fun looking at their neighbors butterfly to see what colors they see, does their neighbors butterfly look just like their butterfly, and how did all the butterflies look before they colored them (the same)?

1st Grade - Funny Tummy Feelings Lesson 1
Funny Tummy Feelings is a school-based child abuse prevention program that empowers children to safeguard themselves against the danger and trauma of physical and sexual abuse.  The following items will be covered during the lesson: trust what your body is telling you about your FTF (emotions); if someone tells you a secret, you get to decide whether or not to keep the secret; your special people can help you if you talk to them; and you have a right to say no, even to a grown up, if someone is asking you to do something harmful or something that makes you feel unpleasant. An opt-out letter was sent home to all parents/guardians January 2023.

2nd Grade
​Last month we began talking about inclusion, more specifically how to show empathy. This month we will continue to learn about inclusion. We will discuss what inclusion means? Students will be invited to share a time they included someone else. How do you think they felt to be included? Is it fair for some kids to get left out? What are some reasons that kids might be left out? Finally, we will discuss the steps to inclusion:
1. Look around and notice
2. Get the person's attention
3. Ask questions for example, "Do you want to play with us or me?"
4. Explain what you are doing.
5. Make sure they feel welcomed.

Tips for Home:
Ask your child who their special people are that they could talk to if they have a big problem! You are probably one of them, that is a big responsibility so make sure you are listening!

March Lessons
Kindergarten
Whole Body Listening
This month we are reading "Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen." I invite you to re-read the book with your child by following the link wedolisten.org
The book is about a rabbit who experiences all kinds of problems by not using his listening ears...but not just his ears...Howard does not listen with his whole body...his ears, eyes, his mouth, his body, and his brain. These are the 5 things we all can do to listen with our whole bodies. Kindergarten students will practice whole body listening through a coloring activity and a fun game of CLAP-DOWN...SNAP-UP!

1st Grade - Funny Tummy Feelings Lesson 2
Funny Tummy Feelings is a school-based child abuse prevention program that empowers children to safeguard themselves again the danger and trauma of physical and sexual abuse.  The following items will be covered during the lesson: trust what your body is telling you about your FTF (emotions); if someone tells you a secret, you get to decide whether or not to keep the secret; your special people can help you if you talk to them; and you have a right to say no, even to a grown up, if someone is asking you to do something harmful or something that makes you feel unpleasant. (An opt-out letter was sent home to all parents/guardians January 2023)
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2nd Grade
Walk In Someone Else's Shoes...Diversity, Disability, Inclusion, Fair, Equal
The Lesson this month continues the discussion of inclusion with a focus on diversity, disability, inclusion, fairness. We discuss the 5 skills for Inclusion:
1. Say hello - Most people like to be greeted. When you see someone new, say hello in a friendly voice.
2. Find something in common - When others look, sound, or act differently than us, we might think we don’t have anything in common - look for those things in common.
3. Adapt when needed -  People with disabilities can do almost everything that you can do but sometimes they need a slight change.
4. Help when asked or ask to help
5. Compliment strengths - Sometimes people with disabilities might feel like everyone concentrates on what they can’t do. Everyone loves to receive a compliment.
 
Tips for Home:
Have a family discussion about how all people are unique and different in their own way. We all have different needs and different talents, and this makes the world more beautiful and interesting. Being different is fair but it is not fair to make fun of people's differences or to make them feel unhappy about their unique traits...that is mean and it is not fair.

April Lessons
Kindergarten
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1st Grade

2nd Grade

Tip for Home:
"When I see through my eyes, I think we are different. When I see through my heart, I know we are the same."...Zoe Zantamata

May Lessons
Kindergarten
Students will learn about various careers and community helpers who wear hats and what they do!

1st Grade

2nd Grade
Students will have fun completing a career interest survey and discover career interests based on Holland's 6 career types - Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Enterprising, Conventional, and Social!

Tips for Summer Break
Have fun! Play outside! Play games! Enjoy movies! Run through the sprinklers! 
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