4th Grade Guidance

Lego fun! Fourth Grade learned about communicating and listening. Students worked in pairs

attempting to build identical Lego structures using only verbal communication. We finished our lesson with a group discussion about what made the activity difficult, how they used communication to help their partner build the correct structure, and how they could apply what they learned when working with others. 

Amy Barker

School Counselor

2nd Grade Guidance

Do you bite hooks or do you swim around them? Second Grade talked about how to handle mean teasing and put-downs. We read Simon’s Hook, by Karen Burnett. We also watched a video message from Grandma Rose and practiced biting hooks and swimming around hooks. Which swimming around tool works best for you? do little or nothing, agree, distract/change the subject, laugh/make a joke, or stay away.

Amy Barker

School Counselor

1st Grade Guidance

Stand Tall First Grade!! First Grade talked about confidence. We read Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon, by Patty Lovell. Molly Lou Melon’s grandmother gives her wonderful advice about feeling confident and “standing tall”.  When she moves to a new school, she uses the advice from her grandmother to win over a big bully. After our story, the students completed an “empty faces” activity. They completed the drawing by showing how they look when they are feeling confident and standing tall.

We learned that you could stand tall when you stand up for yourself, stand up for others, try something new, or succeed when you thought you would fail.

 Their pictures are adorable!

Amy Barker

School Counselor

3rd Grade Guidance

Third Graders talked about Empathy and building a stronger feelings vocabulary. Third grade students worked on increasing their feelings vocabulary by playing “Feelings Jeopardy”.  Do you know another feeling word for Stunned? Is it bored, awed, caring, or confident?

Amy Barker

School Counselor

SK Guidance

Woodland SK learned about “melting down” and self-control. We read Miracle Melts Down, by Rosemary Wells. Miracle has temper tantrums when things don’t go her way. Her classmates help her find ways to control her meltdowns. We talked about how we all meltdown in different ways and identified feelings someone might experience when they are melting down (sad, mad, or worried). Each student then made their own toolbox and included helpful tools they can use when melting down. We concluded our lesson with each student sharing a favorite meltdown tool. 

Amy Barker

School Counselor

Meltdown Tools

Think of something silly.

Count to10.

Fold my hands.

Take 5 breaths.

Get water.

Sit down.

5th Grade Guidance

Angry Sandwich, anyone? Fifth Grade talked about Anger. Students warmed up for our activity by

identifying how they respond when angry. We learned how anger is often a secondary emotion. This means that there are other feelings we experience leading up to feeling angry. Each student thought of a situation when they felt angry and made an “Angry Sandwich” to demonstrate this.

Amy Barker
School Counselor

Why Classroom Guidance?

Classroom Guidance...meeting the needs of students through whole group lessons

Classroom guidance is a very important part of my counseling services in that it allows me to meet the needs of students in a classroom setting. There are many students who will not need individual counseling services. Visiting classes for lessons ensures that I am still able to build relationships with all students and help them build social skills. Many of my lessons are geared towards getting along with others, empathy, identifying feelings and handling feelings. Some of the items I use for my lessons include books, sticky notes, stuffed animals, art supplies, and Legos!