by schoolcounselingbyheart | Nov 25, 2012 | abuse, children's literature, classroom lessons
Many people have asked if I would share the sexual abuse lessons that I teach in grades K-5, and I am most happy to oblige. Deciding how best to teach about sexual abuse prevention can be a daunting task. It is such an important topic, but so loaded – because of the content, because of the potential for concern from parents, for cultural reasons, and perhaps even because the issue of sexual abuse may hit close to home for the person who is teaching about it. But despite this, kids MUST be taught how to respond to situations in which they are being groomed for abuse or abused! Otherwise they will not know what to do! We spend a lot of time and effort teaching them how to behave in various school settings, and in a variety of situations – what to do when conflicts, bullying, or peer pressure arise, how to make good choices, and be ready learners. We teach them these skills because otherwise we cannot be sure they will know what to do. The same is true for sexual abuse prevention – we must equip our students with the skills that they need to respond to and report abuse. It can feel overwhelming to think about how to develop lessons, and even more so to think about how to deliver them. Don’t worry! Almost everyone is nervous when they first teach about this topic. It gets easier with time and experience. When you get to the heart of it, and set aside your own anxieties, you will find that it’s no different than teaching about any... read more
by schoolcounselingbyheart | Nov 18, 2012 | This wacky job!
SuperCounselor is thankful for all of her kind and faithful readers who no doubt understand that the recent dearth of posts is directly related to all the superheroics that she has had to perform in this pre-holiday season. (She knows you’ve been being superheroic yourself! ‘Tis the season, after all.) She promises that she will actually finish and post some useful stuff soon, but right now she’s got two more crazy days of school, and company’s coming, so all she has time and energy for at the moment is something easy, like introducing you to her family. (Wait, did I say her family was easy????) This year, SuperCounselor will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner at her house. (Surprise! She doesn’t actually live at school, although sometimes it feels that way.) She is so thankful for her family members, who have helped make her the superhero she is today. (Perhaps you’ll be able to tell how!) Here’s who will be sitting around her table . . . Her parents, Mary and Fred. Yup, they mated. And school has never been the same! Her Auntie G, who always helps SuperCounselor remember that she already has all the tools she needs to help her solve difficult problems. (And sometimes gives her awesome shoes!) Uncle Cesar. He’s a little hard to hear sometimes, because he tends to whisper, but SuperCounselor learned a LOT of tricks from him! Grandpa. To emulate him, SuperCounselor tries. Yes, hmmm. Grandma. SuperCounselor learned all about peace and social justice at Grandma’s knee. Grandma may have to cancel her visit, because she’s been busy volunteering in the aftermath of Hurricane... read more
by schoolcounselingbyheart | Oct 31, 2012 | self care, trauma
Those who are dealing with the physical, financial, and emotional aftermath of Hurricane Sandy face a long struggle, with many months, perhaps even years, of unwanted changes and unforeseen hurdles. The challenge of clean-up and recovery is daunting, but not impossible. Here in my community, rebuilding from Tropical Storm Irene, which devastated many parts of Vermont, is still underway. There was quite a bit of anxiety as Sandy approached. The trauma experienced 14 months ago was on the minds of many; for some the trauma was retriggered. Thankfully, we escaped the worst of it this time, but not everyone was so lucky. Here are some resources that you can use if your students and coworkers have been affected by a hurricane. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has a fantastic collection of resources you can use to support your students/families, coworkers, and yourself in the aftermath of the hurricane. Resources include guides for parents (in English and Spanish), teachers, and service providers, activities for children, and Trinka and Sam: The Rainy Windy Day, a gentle story/coloring book (PDF in English and Spanish) for children who have experienced a hurricane. The Sesame Street Hurricane Kit has four video episodes about a hurricane – preparation, aftermath, and clean-up – in which Big Bird’s nest is destroyed and the neighbors pitch in to help each other stay safe and recover. It provides great (and comforting) explanations about what a hurricane is, how people prepare and clean up, and the feelings that can occur. It is appropriate for older kids as well as Sesame Street’s targeted audience. The first episode is available on... read more
by schoolcounselingbyheart | Oct 28, 2012 | self care
Happy Halloween! Make sure to balance all the TRICKy situations you have to handle with some TREATS for yourself! Thanks to the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare for this ghoulish reminder! You might also be interested in: Quiet Reflection: Getting Ready by Doing... read more
by schoolcounselingbyheart | Oct 27, 2012 | career
Halloween is just around the corner, so what better time to share a career resource that is bound to inspire gasps of horror and perhaps even send you off screaming in terror? Oh yes, this one’s a nightmare, all right, but all wrapped up in a very pretty package! Seconds after I finished my last post, Role Models – On Paper!, about a nifty new career resource, I got a blast-from-the-past reminder about a career resource from my childhood that I had managed to completely block from my memory, thank goodness! A Mighty Girl (a wonderful website that highlights books and movies that empower girls) posted on their Facebook page about What Shall I Be: The Exciting Career Game for Girls. FLASHBACK!!!!! The object of the game was to be the first to “become a career girl.” Look at all the wonderful options and broad career choices that a girl could choose from: ballerina, nurse, model, airline hostess, teacher, or actress! Imagine the possibilities! The game helpfully included information about the education girls would need to enter these professions: ballet school, drama school, charm school, nursing school, airline training school, or, if you wanted to be a teacher, college. What Shall I Be didn’t just suggest careers and let girls know what kind of training they would need, it also helped girls match up their skills and personality traits with each career: Confession time: I am so old that I actually remember this game. Lots of my friends had it and I played it a number of times. I always wanted to be the actress because, in my opinion,... read more
by schoolcounselingbyheart | Oct 25, 2012 | career
Here’s a creative way to share career information – paper dolls of a civil engineer, construction manager, emergency responders, and chemists, complete with accessories like blueprints, laptop, oxygen mask, Bunsen burner, and career related attire – lab coat, clean room suit, helmets, and noise-protection earmuffs! The project Paper Dolls for My Daughter was developed by Hannah Holt, an engineer, children’s book author, illustrator, blogger, and mom. Hannah decided to create these paper dolls in an effort to inspire girls and women to consider careers in science, technology, and other fields that have more traditionally been considered appropriate for men. As a student and new professional, Hannah experienced her share of negative comments about her career choice, and she wants to “change the conversation” about what is possible for girls. (Read more about her story here, and check out her other nifty ideas at her blog, Lightbulb Books.) Each page features two characters and descriptions of what they do on the job. The characters are all girls, but boys will find them fascinating too. They can be used as paper dolls or as illustrations – either way, they will invite careful examination. Hannah has plans to create more characters, and invites requests. I asked her if she would consider a neuroscientist (learning about the brain is a BIG deal at my school) and she added that exciting career to her list! You can download PDFs here. I’m really looking forward to using these paper dolls in my career lessons – maybe as inspiration for kids to create their own paper dolls/illustrations (including work accessories and tools) of careers they’re... read more
by schoolcounselingbyheart | Oct 17, 2012 | online safety, personal safety
Most kids and parents would never dream of leaving their front doors wide open so that anybody could walk right into their homes. And yet, many unwittingly do just that. Strangers, advertisers, predators, unkind classmates, and bullies slip directly into homes, bedrooms, backpacks, and pockets, browsing through photo albums, diaries, activity schedules, and other personal details about kids’ lives. Sometimes they leave something behind – perhaps a taunt or threat – and sometimes they take something with them when they leave – a photo or information that can be used to hurt the kid. Generally, parents and kids are well-informed about being safe in the physical world, but unfortunately, they are not always as cautious in the online world. When teaching Internet safety to my students, I talk about the concept of computers, phones, and other connected devices as doors directly into the room they’re in. This always leads to a lively discussion, but I’ve never had a clear way to SHOW as well as tell them about this idea. Similarly, I have shared this idea with parents through newsletters and presentations, but always wished there was a way to illustrate it more dramatically. Now I can, and so can you! Below is a must-view video that perfectly illustrates this concept. It starts with a girl posting a large sign with her picture and personal details outside her house and then leaving the front door wide open when she goes back inside. A variety of people walk by and look at the picture. A group of girls belittle it and take a picture – obviously they are collecting information... read more
by schoolcounselingbyheart | Oct 14, 2012 | testing, This wacky job!
Administering standardized tests means that you have no time at all to accomplish the myriad things on your to-do list, much less teach classes, run groups, see individuals, or deal with the inevitable crises that arise when you are unavailable. It does, however, give you plenty of time to plot revenge, even if you are also scribing and reading all the allowable bits. Who, you might ask, is deserving of SuperCounselor’s particular brand of justice? Well, today it’s the the Kingpin of the Testing Mafia, the guy who decided that it was a fine idea to make eight-year-olds who, for good reason, are not yet anywhere near the “proficiency” level expected of their age peers, spend 12 hours over three days being reminded that they are “less than.” Or, in the words of some of them, “too stupid.” While SuperCounselor was stewing about this, she decided to test her own proficiency in math. Here are some of her calculations: A kid who is 8.5 years old has been alive for 74,460 hours. 74,460 hours of life divided by 12 hours of testing means that she has spent 0.16% of her life testing. A Testing Mafia Kingpin, who is, say, 50.5 years old has been alive for 442,380 hours. 0.16% x 442,380 hours = 70.8 hours of the Kingpin’s life. So here’s SuperCounselor’s plan: 1. The Testing Mafia Kingpin should be made to sit in a small, windowless room, and do rocket science for 70.8 hours over three days – a mere 23.6 hours per day. But don’t worry, he’ll be fine. He can have stretch breaks and snacks! 2. ... read more
