Counseling

I am lucky enough to have weekly classroom lessons with students in Kindergarden through Second Grade. In my 30 minute class lessons, I use the Second Step Social Emotional Learning Program to increase students’ school success and decrease problem behaviors by promoting social emotional competence and self-regulation skills. There are four units in the curriculum: skills for learning, empathy, emotion management and friendship skills and problem solving. In addition to Second Step, our amazing local resource, WISE, comes in to conduct Care for Kids lessons, which is a health-based early childhood healthy sexuality and abuse prevention curriculum. Mr. Minelli, MCS’s technology teacher, also comes in to co-teach for two lessons with me on internet safety based on Common Sense Media’s digital citizenship program. There are also supplemental lessons focused on kindness, being an up-stander (anti-bullying). Puppets, songs, and movement are all used to help practice these skills.

I visit each third grade classroom weekly. We use the Zones Of Regulation Program to increase students’ self-regulation skills and feelings vocabulary. This work builds upon the skills developed in the Second Step lessons in grades K-2. In addition to the Zones, our amazing local resource, WISE, comes to conduct We Care Elementary lessons, which focus on different topics related to healthy relationships. Mr. Minelli, MCS’s technology teacher, also comes in to co-teach for two lessons with Katie on internet safety based on Common Sense Media’s digital citizenship program. There are also supplemental lessons focused on mindfulness, kindness, diversity, and being an up-stander (anti-bullying). Role plays, stories, video clips and movement are all used to help practice these skills.

I visit each Fourth Grade classroom weekly. During classroom lessons, I work to help students learn about themselves as well as how to develop positive relationships with others. The classes focus on self-esteem, diversity, mindfulness, communication skills, social skills, kindness and being an up-stander (anti-bullying). Students use class discussions, role-playing, stories and writing to express themselves and practice their skills. In addition to the social emotional lessons, our amazing local resource, WISE, comes to conduct We Care Elementary lessons, which focus on different topics related to healthy relationships. Mr. Minelli, MCS’s technology teacher, also comes in to co-teach for two lessons on internet safety based on Common Sense Media’s digital citizenship program.

I teach five class lessons to the 5th grade classes during elective time. Each class meets five times throughout the year, for an hour and fifteen minutes. The health based curriculum is designed to help students learn about themselves as well as how develop positive relationships with others. I co-teach with the school nurse, Pam Hausler, during these lessons. We use elements of the Life Skills health/guidance curriculum to teach fifth graders about self-esteem, decision making, positive and negative stress, verbal/nonverbal communication, advertising, peer pressure, conflict resolution, assertiveness, tobacco/drug/alcohol use, HIV, and puberty. Students use class discussions, role-playing, videos and writing to express themselves and practice their skills. Mr. Minelli, MCS’s technology teacher, also comes in to co-teach for two lessons on internet safety during two 45 minute study hall times based on Common Sense Media’s digital citizenship program.

I teach five class lessons to the 6th grade classes during elective time. Each class meets five times throughout the year, for an hour and fifteen minutes. The health based curriculum is designed to help students learn about themselves as well as how develop positive relationships with others. I co-teach with the school nurse, Pam Hausler, during these lessons. We use elements of the Life Skills health/guidance curriculum to teach sixth graders about self-esteem, decision making, positive and negative stress, verbal/ nonverbal communication, conflict resolution, advertising, peer pressure, assertiveness, tobacco/drug/alcohol use, and reproduction. Students use class discussions, role-playing, videos and writing to supplement student learning. Mr. Minelli, MCS’s technology teacher, also comes in to co-teach for two lessons on internet safety during two 45 minute study hall times based on Common Sense Media’s digital citizenship program.