FORES Counseling Newsletter

Why is this important?

It helps students make informed decisions, become more independent, build confidence, and handle challenges by understanding their options and the consequences, preparing them for success in school and life.

Doing family challenges together helps build decision-making skills by creating a supportive environment where everyone can practice making choices and experience the consequences of those decisions.

Pursuit #1 - Create a Family "Bucket List"

• Activity: Have each family member suggest an activity to put on the family’s "bucket list" for the year. Then, as a family, prioritize the list and decide which ones to tackle first.
• How it helps: This teaches children how to make long-term decisions based on priorities and interests. It also helps with goal setting, learning how to evaluate different options based on importance and feasibility.

Pursuit #2 - Family Decision Journal

• Activity: Start a family decision journal where each member writes down a decision they made during the day and the reasoning behind it. Review the journal together and discuss the thought process behind each choice.
• How it helps: This encourages children to reflect on their decisions and think critically about their reasoning. It helps reinforce the habit of considering the impact of choices and learning from experience.

Pursuit #3 -

The Mystery Box Challenge

Materials Needed:

• A box (or several boxes if you want to add complexity)
• A variety of small items or objects (toys, objects from around the house, or even written prompts or challenges on pieces of paper)
• A timer (optional)

How to Play:

1. Create the Mystery Box: Fill a box (or multiple boxes) with a variety of items. These could be everyday objects, fun toys, or even challenge prompts like "Write a poem" or "Act like an animal for 2 minutes." You could also include options that have consequences, such as "Take a risk and choose the next box" or "Trade your object with someone else."

2. Set the Rules: The family will take turns choosing a box without knowing its contents. Before choosing, each person must make a decision based on the following:

   • Should they pick a box with a mysterious object (they won’t know what it is)?
   • Should they take a risk and pick a box with a challenge or mystery prompt?
   • Should they “pass” and let someone else choose, or “swap” a box with another person?

3. Make the Decision: Once the decision is made, they choose the box. After opening it, they’ll either face a fun task, get an item to use in the next step, or have to make another decision based on the content of the box (like completing a challenge or passing the turn to another person).

4. Reflect on the Decision: After completing the task, the group can discuss:

   • What made you choose this box over another one?
   • What did you learn about the choices you made, and how would you approach it differently next time?
   • Was it worth the risk, or do you wish you had chosen differently?

How It Teaches Decision-Making:

• Risk vs. Reward: Players need to weigh the potential risks of choosing a mystery box with unknown contents against the possible rewards of making a safe or predictable choice.
• Anticipation & Consequences: This activity builds anticipation, and each choice leads to an outcome, whether it’s positive or challenging. This teaches children that all decisions come with consequences, helping them become more mindful of their choices.
• Creativity: Because the boxes contain challenges or surprises, players will need to use creativity and problem-solving to decide what to do with the task or object they receive.
• Reflection: The post-decision reflection encourages children to evaluate their choices and how they might approach similar situations in the future, promoting critical thinking.

"What If...?" by Samantha Berger

This story is about a young girl who loves art but faces numerous challenges and setbacks. Each time something goes wrong, she must make decisions about how to keep going, and whether to adjust her approach or try something entirely new.

Teaches: The book explores resilience and how decision-making can help overcome obstacles, teaching kids that making choices in tough situations can lead to growth.

"The Most Magnificent Thing" by Ashley Spires

A young girl sets out to create the most magnificent thing but faces many failed attempts. Each failure requires her to make decisions about how to handle frustration and how to persevere.

"Should I Share My Ice Cream?" by Mo Willems

This book follows Piggie and Gerald as they navigate a situation where Piggie must decide whether or not to share her ice cream with her friend, Gerald.

"What If You Had Animal Teeth?" by Sandra Markle

This imaginative book explores various "what if" scenarios, asking children to think about how life would be different if they made decisions like animals do (e.g., having a lion’s teeth).

"The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Decisions" by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Brother and Sister Bear struggle with making good decisions in everyday situations. Whether it’s choosing what to wear or deciding how to spend their time, they learn important lessons about thinking things through.

"The Decision" by Shelley Davidow

A young character faces multiple decisions in a day, and each choice affects her emotional well-being and relationships. The book explores the power of decision-making in shaping our futures.

"Robo-Sauce" by Adam Rubin

A fun and quirky book about a boy who creates a robotic version of himself, and then has to decide whether to continue his experiment or live without Robo-Sauce. The book has an interactive element where readers make decisions about what happens next.

What are you doing?

What are you supposed to be doing?

Are you doing it?

What are you going to do about it?

Try using these questions at home for redirection and self reflection!

Are you looking for a way to volunteer at FORES? Please volunteer as a "Cowboy on Campus." We have volunteer opportunities for morning drop-off, lunch, recess and after school pick-up. If you would like more information, please visit www.cowboysoncampus.com! You can even submit questions through this website to get answers directly from a volunteer dad! You do need a cleared background check from within the last year (link below).You can also reach out to Ashley Collins at 830-357-4807 for more information.

Link to Background Check: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MzQ1Nzplbi1VUw==

Link to Sign-Up: https://forms.gle/Ro1ENy8RiBCBd9aY7

BISD College, Career and Military Readiness (CCMR) Week is happening February 10 - 14, 2025. We will have activities and lessons happening throughout the week. FORES will conclude CCMR week with Career Day on February 14th from 8am - 10am. If you are interested in presenting on Career Day, please complete the Google Form HERE

Mrs. Collins and Mrs. Malin are excited to invite you to join us for a Book Study on The Anxious Generation. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness is a 2024 book by Jonathan Haidt which argues that the spread of smartphones, social media and overprotective parenting have led to a "rewiring" of childhood and a rise in mental illness.

If you are interested in participating, please complete the Google Form HERE. We will be in touch with finalized dates and times.

FORES Unified Mustangs Club is hosting an Angelman Syndrome Walk to celebrate international Angelman Syndrome Awareness Day in honor of one of our very own FORES students!! Please helps us spread awareness, fundraise and celebrate one of our students by joining us! More information to come soon!