Counseling Connection

With Mrs. Cordova, Young Elementary Counselor

May 2024

MAY Guidance Lessons

This year FLEW by! It has been such a privilege getting to be part of your student's journey! They are all unique and incredible human beings. Take time to really enjoy these last few weeks of your child being in this grade level!

To wrap up the year, in guidance we are finishing up our unit on Problem Solving. We are getting deep into how to solve problems that we might have caused and how to play fairly with one another.

We have also been gearing up for our annual Career Day on May 8th! We had the opportunity to hear from some pretty amazing community members who took time out to tell us all about their awesome careers!

Our 3rd-5th grade students are getting to have conversations about what they might want to be when they grow up and are researching some careers they may not know much about! This is always such a fun topic to talk about!

YES Career Day- May 8th!

A BIG thank you to the following groups that came to present on our Carer Day! We appreciate you SO MUCH! 💛

Decatur Police Department
Decatur Fire Department
Rosie & Jake Hayes
Wise Dental
DHS Athletic Director- Coach Huff
Texas Search and Rescue- Chris Hodges

Ideas for Family Fun/Activities and Connection

Check out these fun ways to connect and spend time with your children/family!

Sign your child up for swim lessons 🏊‍♂️
Learn a new sport together ⚾️
Play restaurant! Have your child create a menu, cook the food together, dress up and pretend you are at a fancy restaurant 👨‍🍳
Make family friendship bracelets 🫶
Make a Summer playlist together 🎶
Complete a fun Summer reading challenge 📕 (see ideas below)

Community Resource Spotlight

Decatur Cares

This is a local organization that helps those in need in our community. They are great about getting the word out regarding food pantries that are available plus informing the community of other local resources.

They just started this amazing summer food program that provides groceries to families of DISD students completely FREE. All you have to do is register and show up on their designated days!

See more info below! ⬇️👀

You can also register using this link ➡️ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdy-yyARYrbGHHJK0u97aSw6Y7Fsx5_jm3odYy08GRJl8MUXw/viewform?usp=sf_link

You can learn more info about the Decatur Cares organization on their Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/decaturcares/

Coping skill

Des-escalation Strategies

Sometimes our children have big feelings and they miss the opportunity to catch themselves before it becomes too much. In this event, having some de-escalation strategies in your tool box is helpful. When a child is in this state their logical, thinking brain has shut off and their feeling brain has taken over. They cannot rationalize their choices or behavior.

So doing things like acting calm in their storm, showing them you are listening by repeating what they have said, and giving space if it is safe to do so will allow them to deescalate more quickly. Once they are more calm, their thinking brain will kick in again and then you both can discuss what happened.