by schoolcounselingbyheart | May 20, 2012 | anger, feelings
You had to stay in for recess. Another kid took the seat you had saved in the cafeteria. Somebody uninvited you to their birthday party. You got in trouble, but nobody else got caught. A classmate called you a name. You got bumped by a swinging backpack.. Are you feeling angry? Well, not exactly . . .
As you know, anger is a secondary feeling that layers on top of one or more other uncomfortable feelings. In my experience, kids have limited success working on managing their anger unless they are (more…)
by schoolcounselingbyheart | Apr 30, 2012 | brain
Here are some great books that we use to teach kids about the brain in preparation for Healthy Brain/Screentime Turnoff Week. In first through fifth grades we use the Smartboard with pictures, info, and links to video and animations that show the brain, healthy and unhealthy neurons, and how neurotransmission works. We also use these books, and would use them more extensively in class councils if we didn’t have the Smartboard. (more…)
by schoolcounselingbyheart | Apr 29, 2012 | brain, substance abuse
Freebie Alert!
The kids at our school LOVE learning about their brains! As I mentioned in my last post, It’s Not Mania, It’s Brain-O-Mania!, I began teaching about the brain in a quest to help kids learn how to limit their screentime and increase the amount of time they spend engaged in exploring, playing, being active, reading, and other brain-healthy activities. Once I realized how fascinated and excited the kids are about neuroscience, I started incorporating it into other lesson topics — feelings, bullying, conflict resolution, personal safety, and substance abuse.
Last fall I discovered a great, FREE resource for teaching about substance abuse and the brain. (more…)
by schoolcounselingbyheart | Apr 25, 2012 | brain, screen time
This is my busiest time of the year! (Which might help to explain the lapse in blogging.) Classes, groups, and individual counseling are full steam ahead; we are deeply into the application and interview process for hiring multiple new teachers; kindergarten screening and middle school transition are looming; lots of kids are really struggling; and next week is our Healthy Brain/Screen Time Turnoff Week.
Ten years ago, our teachers began noticing some significant changes in kids’ ability to focus and persevere on their work. (more…)
by schoolcounselingbyheart | Apr 8, 2012 | Aspergers, autism, children's literature, classroom lessons, social thinking
The kids at my school are generally pretty accepting and understanding about their classmates’ learning differences and disabilities. They offer to help when appropriate, and are good about including others. They know the names of all the kids with significant disabilities, greet them in the hall and their classrooms, and some even volunteer to work with them. We spend a lot of time talking about how everyone learns differently, that we all have things that make us different, and that none of us likes to be picked on or excluded. They are usually patient about disruptive behaviors, especially if the student’s disability is obvious and/or a paraprofessional works with the student.
The difficulty comes when a not-so-obvious disability is combined with repetitive, disruptive or annoying behaviors (more…)
You had to stay in for recess. Another kid took the seat you had saved in the cafeteria. Somebody uninvited you to their birthday party. You got in trouble, but nobody else got caught. A classmate called you a name. You got bumped by a swinging backpack.. Are you feeling angry? Well, not exactly . . .
