Counseling Corner

Hello everyone and welcome back. I am very excited to start the year getting to know our students and families. I have been at McDougle from day one back in August 2004 when we first opened the school doors to our community. I work with a lot of our community members, families, students and educators.

I am married and have 4 children, 3 of them came to McDougle from Kindergarten through 5th grade. Needless to say, I am invested in our school. Communication is very important to me, so if you are in need of services please feel free to call, email or stop by to talk. There are many ways students can get to visit with me, self referral, teacher referral, parent referral even peer referrals. I have many groups I work with and I also see individual students as needed.

The first week of school is often a period of adjustment and excitement for students and their parents. Here are some ways parents can help their children navigate this important time:

1. Establish a Routine:

• Consistent Sleep Schedule: Ensure your child has a regular sleep routine to help them be well-rested for school.
• Morning Routine: Plan the morning routine in advance, including wake-up time, breakfast, and getting ready for school.

2. Organize School Supplies:

• Label Items: Label all school supplies, backpacks, and lunchboxes with your child's name.
• School Supplies Check: Help teachers out bring a box of tissues for the class to have.

3. Discuss Expectations:

• Talk About School: Discuss what they can expect in the first week, including meeting new teachers, classmates, and the subjects they will study.
• Set Goals: Help your child set academic and personal goals for the school year.

4. Emotional Support:

• Listen to Concerns: Be open to listening to any worries or fears they might have about the new school year.
• Encourage Positivity: Focus on the exciting aspects of going back to school, such as seeing friends and learning new things.

5. Stay Connected:

• Meet the Teacher: Attend any orientation or meet-the-teacher events to establish a connection with the school staff.
• Communicate with School: Ensure you're on top of any communications from the school, such as emails, newsletters, or announcements.

6. Prepare for the Week Ahead:

• Plan Meals: Prepare lunches and snacks ahead of time, and make sure they’re nutritious and something your child enjoys.
• Organize Outfits: Plan school outfits for the week to avoid any morning rush or stress.

7. Encourage Independence:

• Let Them Take Responsibility: Encourage your child to take responsibility for their homework, packing their backpack, and managing their schedule.
• Problem-Solving: Guide them through any challenges they face, but allow them to find solutions on their own.

8. Be Patient:

• Allow Time to Adjust: Remember that the first week can be overwhelming, so give your child time to adjust to the new routine and for some a new school.
• Positive Reinforcement: Praise their efforts and accomplishments, no matter how small, to build confidence.

9. Review and Reflect:

• End of the Day Chats: Talk about their day after school to review what they learned and how they felt.
• Plan for Improvements: If any issues arise, discuss how to handle them better the next day.

Supporting your child & teachers during the first week of school sets the tone for a successful and enjoyable school year.

1. Start with a Reflection

• Review Last Year: Discuss what went well and what could be improved from the previous school year. This reflection helps identify areas of strength and areas that need attention.
• Identify Interests: Talk about subjects or activities your child is passionate about and how they can build on those interests.

2. Set SMART Goals

• Specific: Goals should be clear and specific. Instead of saying, "Do better in math," a specific goal would be, "Improve my math grade from a B to an A."
• Measurable: Ensure the goal can be measured so progress can be tracked. For example, "Read 20 books by the end of the school year."
• Achievable: Goals should be challenging but realistic. Make sure the goal is within your child’s reach with effort and dedication.
• Relevant: The goal should matter to your child and align with their interests or long-term objectives. For example, if they love read, a relevant goal could be, "Join the school name that book club."
• Time-bound: Set a deadline for the goal. This could be by the end of the semester, the school year, or a specific date.

3. Break Down Big Goals

• Step-by-Step Plan: Help your child break down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps. For example, if the goal is to improve in math, the steps could be to review class notes daily, complete extra practice problems, and ask the teacher for help when needed.
• Set Milestones: Identify milestones along the way to check progress and celebrate small successes.

4. Balance Academic and Personal Goals

• Academic Goals: These might include improving grades, mastering a challenging subject, or participating more in class.
• Personal Goals: Encourage goals that promote personal growth, like making new friends, participating in extracurricular activities, or even to make better choices with behavior.
• Health and Well-being: Goals related to physical activity, nutrition, and mental health are also important. For example, "Exercise three times a week" or "Practice mindfulness daily."

5. Document the Goals

• Write Them Down: Have your child write down their goals and keep them in a visible place, like on their desk or in their planner.
• Create a Goal Chart: A chart or checklist can help your child visualize their progress and stay motivated.

6. Review and Adjust

• Regular Check-ins: Schedule regular times (weekly or monthly) to review progress. Ask questions like, "How are you doing with your goal?" and "What challenges are you facing?"
• Be Flexible: If a goal turns out to be too easy or too hard, don’t be afraid to adjust it. The goal should always be motivating and achievable.

7. Celebrate Achievements

• Acknowledge Success: When a goal is achieved, celebrate the accomplishment. This could be with a small reward, a special outing, or simply a heartfelt acknowledgment of the hard work.
• Reflect on Learning: Encourage your child to reflect on what they learned from the process of setting and achieving the goal.

8. Set New Goals

• Continuous Growth: Once a goal is achieved, encourage your child to set a new one. Continuous goal-setting fosters a growth mindset and helps them strive for ongoing improvement.

Setting goals helps students stay focused, build confidence, and develop a sense of responsibility for their learning and personal growth. By guiding them through this process, parents can empower their children to achieve success throughout the school year.

1. Create a Safe Space

• Open Environment: Let your child know that it’s okay to talk about their feelings and that they won’t be judged or dismissed. Encourage them to share openly by showing that you’re interested in what they have to say.
• Be Available: Make sure they know they can come to you at any time, whether they’re feeling happy, sad, angry, or confused.

2. Normalize All Emotions

• Validate Feelings: Let your child know that all emotions are normal and okay. Explain that everyone experiences a range of emotions, and it’s healthy to express them.
• Use Examples: Share examples from your own life to show that you also experience a wide range of emotions. For instance, “I felt really frustrated today when I got stuck in traffic.”

3. Teach Emotion Vocabulary

• Name the Emotions: Help your child identify and label their emotions by providing them with the right vocabulary. For younger children, start with basic emotions like happy, sad, mad, and scared. For older kids, introduce more complex emotions like frustrated, anxious, or disappointed.
• Use Books and Stories: Reading stories together that focus on emotions can help your child recognize and name their feelings. Discuss the characters’ emotions and relate them to your child’s experiences.

4. Encourage Expression

• Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage your child to talk about their feelings by asking open-ended questions like, “How did that make you feel?” or “What’s going on in your mind right now?”
• Active Listening: Listen attentively without interrupting. Show empathy by nodding, maintaining eye contact, and repeating back what they’ve said to show you understand.

5. Help Them Understand Their Emotions

• Discuss Triggers: Talk about what might have caused their emotions. For example, “It seems like you’re upset because your friend didn’t share. Is that right?”
• Explain Physical Reactions: Help your child understand how emotions can affect their body. For example, “Sometimes when we’re scared, our heart beats faster.”

6. Teach Healthy Ways to Express Emotions

• Model Calm Behavior: Show your child how to express emotions in a healthy way. For example, if you’re angry, say, “I’m feeling really upset right now, so I’m going to take a few deep breaths to calm down.”
• Discuss Safe Outlets: Teach them that it’s okay to cry when they’re sad, talk about their feelings when they’re upset, or take some quiet time when they’re overwhelmed. Encourage activities like drawing, journaling, or playing to express emotions.

7. Discuss Problem-Solving

• Work Through Emotions: When your child is experiencing a difficult emotion, guide them through the process of understanding and addressing it. For example, if they’re angry because of a conflict with a friend, ask, “What do you think we could do to make things better?”
• Teach Conflict Resolution: Help them learn to resolve conflicts by expressing their feelings calmly and listening to others’ perspectives.

8. Promote Empathy

• Discuss Others’ Feelings: Encourage your child to think about how others might be feeling in different situations. For example, “How do you think your friend felt when you didn’t share your toy?”
• Practice Kindness: Teach them the importance of kindness and understanding towards others, which can help them build stronger relationships.

9. Acknowledge Positive Emotions Too

• Celebrate Joy: Talk about happy emotions as much as you discuss challenging ones. Ask them what makes them feel happy, excited, or proud, and encourage them to savor those moments.
• Express Gratitude: Encourage your child to recognize and appreciate the good things in their life, which can help foster a positive outlook.

10. Revisit Conversations as Needed

• Ongoing Dialogue: Keep the conversation about emotions open and ongoing. Check in with your child regularly about how they’re feeling, especially during significant changes or stressful times.
• Adapt to Their Growth: As your child grows, their emotional needs and understanding will evolve. Be ready to adapt your conversations to their age and maturity level.

11. Seek Additional Support When Needed

• Know When to Ask for Help: If your child is struggling with their emotions in a way that affects their daily life, consider seeking help from a school counselor, psychologist, or other mental health professional.

By maintaining an open and supportive dialogue about emotions, parents can help their children develop emotional intelligence, resilience, and healthy ways to cope with their feelings.

Email: smillsap1@kleinisd.net
Location: 10410 Kansack Lane
Phone: 832.484.7563