Counselor Corner

Check out the Counselor Corner S'more to see what your child is learning in Counseling class each month and to find other helpful tips and resources for your whole family!

Click the picture to the left to understand more about the role of the School Counselor.

The counselor teaches lessons in the classroom twice each month. This space is used to share what students are learning the first half and the last half of the month in counseling class. You can check out the counseling calendar here to see what days your student has counselor. You are encouraged to talk to students about what they learned and how they can apply that learning at school and at home.

FIRST HALF OF MONTH

K, 1st, 3rd and 4th Grades

Students will be focusing on the Why Try? curriculum for the next several weeks. The first lesson will focus on learning that actions have consequences, how a choice can sound or look fun but can actually be a negative choice, how some choices can hurt the student or others, and students should be able to stop, think and choose when faced with a choice.

SECOND HALF OF MONTH

2nd Grade

Students will be focusing on the Why Try? curriculum for the next several weeks. The first lesson will focus on techniques for maintaining motivation, even in difficult circumstances.

5th Grade

Students will be focusing on the Why Try? curriculum for the next several weeks. The first lesson will focus on techniques for overcoming challenges.

This year, this portion of the counseling newsletter will be devoted to suggesting ways to spend time with your children. Some research indicates that JUST 10 minutes a day OR 30 minutes a week of time free from electronic and other distractions and dedicated to your children can improve behavior, confidence and self-worth. Give it a try and experience the results!

Here is a list of some of our February favorites! You can also Google activities and locations near you or create your own!

• Valentine Scavenger Hunt
• Scented Valentine Sensory Dough
• Go for a winter hike
• Catapult science for kids
• Heart tissue paper by numbers craft
• Rainbow heart suncatchers
• Straw rockets
• Animal tracking
• Indoor obstacle course
• DIY snow
• Make frozen bubbles

Grounding techniques help children and adults calm down, focus, and connect with the present moment. They can be especially useful when children are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or agitated. Grounding techniques are a valuable tool for helping people manage their emotions and promote their well-being. With consistent practice, they can become a reliable coping mechanism in challenging situations.

5-4-3-2-1 Exercise: Ask the person to identify 5 things they can see, 4 things they can touch, 3 things they can hear, 2 things they can smell and 1 thing they can taste.

A-B-C Game: Go through the alphabet, asking the person to name something in their environment that starts with each letter.

Nature Walk: Encourage the person to pay attention to their surroundings, noticing sights, sounds, smells and textures.

Belly Breathing: Place a stuffed animal/object on the person's belly and ask them to take deep breaths, making the object rise and fall.

Stretching: Encourage the person in gentle stretches, such as reaching for the sky or touching their toes.

Counting: Ask the person to count backward from 10 or forward from 1.

Positive Affirmations: Repeat statements with the person, such as "I am safe," "I am calm," or "I can handle this."

School Counselor

Jeffries Elementary

Email: tmlivingston@spsmail.org
Website: https://tmlivingston.wixsite.com/jeffries-counseling
Location: 4051 South Scenic Avenue, Springfield, MO, USA
Phone: 417-523-3960