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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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, […]
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By Laura Driscoll | Behavior , Individual Counseling , Social Emotional Skills
I couldn’t touch my toes for years. Yoga is not a part of my life unless you count the pants. But even I know the value of integrating yoga in schools. Studies have shown that it helps decrease symptoms of anxiety and impulsivity, improves self-esteem and classroom behavior. The benefits hit home for me during my first […]
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By Laura Driscoll | Social Emotional Skills , Teacher Consultation
Responsibility and choice is the degree to which teachers allow students to make responsible decisions about their work in their classroom.Why It’s ImportantMaking student responsibility and choice a part of your classroom helps students:gain a better understanding of themselves as learners, struggle and plan in a controlled setting, and stay engaged with their work.It does not mean […]
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By Laura Driscoll | Individual Counseling , Social Emotional Skills
Kids are terrible at apologizing. Heck, adults aren’t much better. I’m sure, like me, you have found yourself demanding a child say sorry to another child only to have them not show the least sign of remorse. Putting the words in their mouth doesn’t seem to be working. So let’s try directly teaching them how to apologize. More […]
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By Laura Driscoll | Individual Counseling , Social Emotional Skills
Many of the students I have seen for counseling have been referred because they are struggling to control themselves when they get angry. As counselors, it can be tempting to create a behavior plan, practice some deep breathing with the student, and give their teacher a list of strategies. Voila, anger management intervention.How often has […]
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By Laura Driscoll | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Individual Counseling , Social Emotional Skills
Research has repeatedly shown that programs claiming to increase a child’s or teen’s self-esteem have failed to do so. These programs have opted for activities full of superficial affirmations, rather than activities that discover the underlying causes of self-esteem and target interventions there. Think of it like this. Say you run over a nail with […]
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By Laura Driscoll | Social Emotional Skills , Teacher Consultation
I walked into a classroom one day with a teacher telling a student they looked like a slob because his shirt was untucked. Not the kind of words that build up and encourage a child. We’ve all said something or been present when something is said to a student that makes us cringe. It can […]
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