Calm down techniques

This week 3rd grade is working on what to do when they get angry. They learned that anger is just a feeling, it isn't good or bad. But it's what we DO with our anger that can be bad.


Many students have their own techniques to calm down when they're mad at home, but these techniques usually don't transfer over to school very well (i.e. going into their bedroom, taking a nap, etc.).


We played a game practicing these techniques and students chose two they were going to work on this week.

DO 10  JUMPING JACKS

TAKE A WALK

TAKE A BIG BREATH IN THROUGH YOUR NOSE AND SLOWLY LET IT OUT THROUGH YOUR MOUTH

(REPEAT 2 MORE TIMES)

CLENCH YOUR FIST

(OPEN AND SHUT 20 TIMES)

PUT YOUR HEAD DOWN ON A DESK AND REST

GET A DRINK OF WATER

HOLD YOUR ARM OR LEG STIFF FOR A COUNT OF 12

COUNT BACKWARDS FROM 50

COUNT TO 25

HUM A FAVORITE SONG TO YOURSELF

THINK OF TEN OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO

PULL YOUR SHOULDERS UP TO YOUR EARS FOR A COUNT OF 12

THROW AN IMAGINARY BASEBALL 12 TIMES

TIGHTEN YOUR STOMACH MUSCLES FOR A COUNT OF 12

HOP ON ONE FOOT 20 TIMES

These techniques not only help with anger, but with stress also! Try these out with you students and see which ones you like the best!

Help! My child is acting out because they need attention! What should I do?

Give them attention!!!

We all know how busy life can get, but try to carve out some time for just you and that child to have some alone time together once a week. It doesn't have to take an hour from your day. Maybe just take them to get ice cream. Ask if they want to go on a drive, or a walk around the block. Play a quick board game with them. Something that tells them "I love you, and you are important to me". One on one time with children is vital, especially if they are struggling in any way at home or school.

One on one time will help the child feel secure, and not feel the need to act out to get your attention. They're going to get your attention either way, wouldn't you rather it be positive than negative?

Bully Blocker Program

October is Bully Prevention Month.

This year, we are implementing a new program to help keep all kids safe, and to encourage students to stand up for others.

Each class had a lesson (based on their grade) about what bullying is. They learned that most situations are just conflicts, and to be a bullying situation, it needs to be malicious, targeted and consistent.

 They learned how to stand up to bullies by using CAST:
C=Stay CALM and CONFIDENT
A=Walk AWAY from the bully
S=Tell them to STOP
T=TELL an adult

We talked to the younger kids (grades 1 and 2) about the difference between tattling and reporting, and showed them this fun video:

Tattle Rap

I then talked to the older kids (3-6) about what it means to stand up for others, and they watched this video:

Football player protects special needs girl from bullies

Next, I introduced all of them to our bully blocker program at school:

If they see someone being a bully blocker. (Telling the bully to stop, or helping the person who is being bullied), then can get entered into a drawing. Once a week I draw out 2 or 3 papers, and the person who saw the bully blocker gets a prize, along with the person who was the bully blocker!

We also had "No-name calling week", and we will have "Sit by someone new day"!

Talking about bullying at home is very important. Ask your kids if they see bullying at school. Talk to them about how laughing at bully's jokes actually helps the bully. Talk to them about cyber-bullying if they are using the internet at home.

Intro Lessons

In these first few weeks of school, I have been going into every classroom, and presenting my introductory lesson to all the students. I really wanted to emphasize what a school counselor does,  and demonstrate to them that I am available to all students, and am here to help!

For grades K-3 I have a counselor bag that the students pick out an item. Then they guess (or I tell them) what the item has to do with a school counselor.

Here are some examples:

I am like a firefighter, because I can help put out the fires in your life:

 

 School counselors can help you stay above water, so you don't sink:

 

 The nurse can help you if you scrape your knee, but I can help you if your heart is hurting:

 

The counselor is a good listener!

 

The counselor can help you wipe away your tears:

The counselor wants you to be a winner at school:

 

I then read 'The Pout-Pout Fish' by Deborah Diesen.

A discussion followed about how most of the time, we are in charge of how we feel. And having a good attitude is the best way to make friends, and helps school be more fun!

 

 

In grades 4-6, we are playing a family feud-type trivia game, where they have to answer questions about what a counselor does. A lot of the questions they know pretty well, but a lot of questions they didn't know!

 

 

 

 

 

 

School Anxiety

If you have a child who is anxious and scared to come back to school, you are not alone! Change is scary for our little ones, and they have lots of worries in their heads about school!

Worries could be: "Will I like my teacher? Will my teacher like me? Will I have friends in my class? Will school work be too hard? What if I miss my mom? Will I have time to go to the bathroom?"

The best thing to do is to validate your child's feelings! Even if we think they are silly worries, they are very real to them.  Rather than using a cliche response, “You’ll be fine” or “Don’t worry about it,” let your child know that you hear their concern, “It sounds like you’ve been giving this a lot of thought.”

There is a chance that your child may not show signs of school anxiety before the new school year starts.  Some children start to show signs later.  You may notice: unwillingness to get up for school; reluctance to talk about school; faking illness to stay home or a drop/change in grades or performance.

 It may seem easier to think, “she’ll be fine once school starts,” but it’s important to address your child’s worry and provide them with ways to handle feeling anxious.  If you are unsure how to help your child, it may be beneficial to contact me, and I would be happy to work with you and your child to come up with some solutions! 

Welcome back!!

I am so excited to be back for my 2nd year at Canyon and Foothills Elementary Schools! I just finished our first meeting and the staff are all coming up with great ideas to best help your child(ren) this year!
My goal with this blog is to keep parents up to date on counseling topics. I will post updates on what I am teaching in your students' classroom, as well as other topics that might best help your student to be successful at school. Some topics will be: friendship skills, bullying, anxiety, learning disabilities, anger, etc... I would also love to take your questions, and answer them! There are probably many parents in your community with similar questions.

If you haven't met me yet, here is a little bit about me:
I am originally from central California (Merced), and moved to Provo for college.
I got my undergraduate in Behavioral Science at UVU, and my Master's Degree in Psychology from Utah State.
I love soccer! I have played it since I was 5 years old, and have gotten to coach many teams also.
I have been married for almost 10 years to my husband, Matt, and we have a spunky 4-year-old girl named Amelia.
My previous work experience includes working with at-risk teens at treatment centers, working with teens and adults with disabilities, and working with foster children with behavioral disorders.

 

Random facts:
I will never turn down a doughnut.
I have three older brothers and no sisters.
I think I love Disneyland more than my daughter does
I was voted "most likely to become a teacher" in 5th grade
I love baking (not to be confused with cooking)
I played soccer for UVU (when it was UVSC)
My family is overly obsessed with BYU sports
I toured with my husband's band for 3 months when we were first married
I am fascinated with other cultures
I love kids and feel that every child has something to contribute