Counselor's Corner

Mrs. Jackie Sekunda

School Counselor

We kicked off the school year with guidance lessons that focused on identifying our own feelings and how to manage them. Grade 2 had a lot of fun taking a deeper look into what different feelings actually feel like and worked in groups to create projects to share with the class.

Once we were able to identify our feelings, we learned and practiced coping skills for those big, uncomfortable feelings. We continued our journey exploring empathy, inclusion, kindness, and appreciating differences.

In Kindergarten, we explored emotions with the engaging book Feelings Ninja by Mary Nhin. This story helps children understand and manage their feelings, encouraging them to identify and express emotions in healthy ways.

As a fun activity, we made Feelings Thermometers. These visual tools help children recognize their emotional "temperature," from calm and cool to heated and intense, and learned strategies to manage big feelings.

CECMHC | Ideas for Teaching Children about Emotions

Helping Kids Understand Feelings - Five for Families

How to help kids understand and manage their emotions

Second graders learned the important skill of identifying what emotions feel like inside their bodies. By learning to recognize physical sensations—like a fluttery stomach for excitement, tight shoulders for stress, or a warm face for embarrassment—they begin to connect their bodies and feelings. This helps them understand their emotions better and respond to them in healthy ways.

After designing their feelings bodies, classes took a tour of the feelings museum to learn about all different emotions.

Third grade students explored ways to calm their minds and build emotional resilience through engaging centers focused on coping skills. Each station offered a hands-on activity to help them practice strategies for managing stress and big emotions:

• Breathe Boards: Students traced soothing patterns while practicing deep breathing to feel grounded.

• Fidgets: With a variety of textures and movements, fidgets provided a fun way to focus and relax.

• Scented Clay Creations: Sculpting clay encouraged mindfulness through tactile play and creativity.

• Exercise Zone: Stretching, jumping, and light exercises showed how movement can boost mood and energy.

• Glitter Bottles: Watching swirling glitter helped students visualize calming their thoughts.

By trying these tools, students learned how to find what works best for them.

For a fun family night try making your own glitter bottles:

How To Make A Glitter Jar To Help Kids To Stay Calm

Coping skills are crucial for kids to learn because they help children navigate life's challenges, build emotional resilience, and develop a foundation for healthy mental well-being. Here are some reasons why they are so important:

• Emotional Regulation

• Stress Management

• Building Resilience

• Improved Relationships

• Academic Success

• Problem-Solving Abilities

• Boosted Self-Esteem

Teaching kids coping skills, such as mindfulness, deep breathing, problem-solving, or seeking support, provides them with tools to navigate life's inevitable ups and downs with greater ease and adaptability.

Coping Skills for Kids: 8 Exercises to Try | Psych Central

Coping Skills for Kids: Tips and Impact

50-Coping-Skills-for-Kids.pdf

Students in grades K-3 had varying lessons focused on kindness, empathy, and bullying prevention. Classroom lessons focused on the prevention of bullying by focusing on how we can be kind to ourselves and others.

Our 2nd-grade students had fun in Kindness Centers, where they learned how small acts of kindness can make a big impact! From writing uplifting notes to crafting kindness bookmarks and engaging in a kindness discussion circle, our students practiced empathy, teamwork, and creativity. These hands-on activities helped them see the power of kindness in action while building their social-emotional skills.

Being Kind Helps Prevent Bullying | StopBullying.gov

Can Kindness Overcome Bullying? | StopBullying.gov

Preventing Bullying through Kindness

Guidance lessons in grades 4,5 and 6 have just begun! Sixth graders will be exploring Naviance - a career and college readiness program that is used throughout our district until graduation from high school. Parents of 6th graders also have access to Naviance through a parent account so look out for an email with your registration information!

Please feel free to contact me with any issues or questions at JSekunda@NMerrick.org.

Naviance Website: https://student.naviance.com/auth/fclookup

Bring mindfulness into family life with activities everyone can enjoy. Start a daily “mindful moment” where the family sits together for 2-5 minutes, focusing on deep breaths or listening to calming sounds.

Try a gratitude circle at dinner, where each person shares one thing they’re thankful for.

Create a family nature walk ritual, encouraging everyone to notice sights, sounds, and sensations along the way.

Even playful activities, like a mindful scavenger hunt, help build awareness. These simple practices strengthen connections, reduce stress, and foster a more harmonious home environment.