Laura at Social Emotional Workshop

About the Author

Laura is a former school psychologist passionately trying to bring social-emotional learning to every student at every tier. Click here for hands-on resources for the classroom and counseling.

Mar 05

A Feelings Thermometer is the Ultimate Counseling Tool

By Laura Driscoll | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Individual Counseling

Feelings thermometers or scales are an essential tool in your counseling office. I can’t think of something else I reached for or referenced more often with students. They are reusable, research-based tools that help kids put a situation in perspective, build self-awareness,develop a self-management plan, and connect thoughts, feelings, and actions.Phew, talk about a workhorse. For most elementary or […]

Help children change their negative thinking with sequences counseling activities for small group counseling or individual counseling.

Jan 15

Helping Children Challenge Negative Thinking

By Laura Driscoll | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Group Counseling , Individual Counseling

Children, just like adults, are prone to negative thinking. Their negative thinking can lead them to be avoidant, have meltdowns, get into fights, and take other negative actions. The concept of thoughts can be a little abstract for children. Certainly more difficult to understand than feelings and behaviors. When helping children change their thinking, I make […]

Teaching students to give and accept compliments.

Jan 07

Teaching Compliments to Build Empathy

By Laura Driscoll | Group Counseling , Social Emotional Skills

This winter focus on giving and receiving compliments. Genuine compliments can be a great way to build a positive classroom culture. When students learn how to give and accept compliments, they are also building empathy. Teaching compliments is an easy way to build a positive community.Giving ComplimentsStart by defining what a compliment is.A compliment is […]

Jan 03

Set Goals Together with Students

By Laura Driscoll | Individual Counseling , Social Emotional Skills

Do you set goals with students in counseling? In individual counseling, I try to weave SMART goals into a student’s sessions. It helps them feel in charge of their progress and be partners in their progress. There are a number of ways that you can introduce and use goal setting. I find that the secret sauce […]

How we talk about mental illness and mental health affects our students beliefs and actions. We need to stop casually using psychological disorders to describe our bad mornings.

Oct 08

Leave Mental Illness Out Of It. Changing Our Language

By Laura Driscoll | Social Emotional Skills , Teacher Consultation

I don’t think mental illnesses should be used to describe our daily stresses. Someone’s serious challenge shouldn’t also describe how I feel about spilling coffee on my shirt. I’ve spent the last couple months reflecting on this, and I’m asking us all to do the same. I think it is important for the children we […]

Strategies for defiant behavior. Defiant students can be challenging in a classroom. Preparing for defiant behavior, developing relationships with hard to reach students, and having a set of strategies to handle noncompliant behavior is key.

Oct 02

Classroom Strategies for Defiant Behavior

By Laura Driscoll | Behavior , Teacher Consultation

Defiance is an inevitable and generally not a welcomed part of a classroom. You are spending your day getting through your content, building community, and regularly demanding that students do tons of tasks. From time to time, they are going to have different ideas. Even walking down the hallway can be a struggle without one of […]

Aug 30

6 Ways to Make a Calm Corner Work

By Laura Driscoll | Behavior , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Social Emotional Skills

Calm corners are such an incredible tool to have in your counseling office or classroom. It provides a safe place for students to use and improve their self regulation skills. To make calm corners work there are a couple skills and rules that need to be in place.Going to the SpaceWhen introducing the space, it […]

Aug 07

Help Your Students Develop Coping Skills

By Laura Driscoll | Individual Counseling , Social Emotional Skills

In counseling, you work with students to develop coping skills. You introduce different strategies. They practice them perfectly in role play. Then when they actually need these coping strategies, they don’t use them. They didn’t stick. Part of the reason they didn’t stick, is because we didn’t teach them effectively. With so many social emotional skills, […]

Jun 04

Personalize Behavior Plans for Student Buy-In

By Laura Driscoll | Behavior

A lot of time and effort goes into behavior plans, but we often overlook student input and involvement. When we personalize behavior plans, we make them meaningful and motivating to struggling students. Personalize Behavior PlansOne of the biggest factors to students buying into a behavior plan is their own input. Make sure they agree with the […]

May 21

Finding Counseling Ideas on Social Media

By Laura Driscoll | Group Counseling , Individual Counseling

Over the past couple years, I’ve managed to shift my social media feeds from people I don’t remember from high school to incredible ideas for counseling and the classroom. Counseling ideas on social media are everywhere if you know where to look, and how to remember them after you scroll by. PinterestFollow Stellar PinnersSome people treat […]

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