Back in the Habit

 

Ever feel like you are running through life on a treadmill?  Going nowhere fast?  Maybe it’s just me! I started this blog 3 months ago, and at the start I had this brilliant idea that I would hit the ground running.  After my first couple of weeks writing, that run turned into a light to hefty sprint...and now... 3 1/2 months...later I feel like a sloth.

 

I had the idea that I would post to my blog at least every week...that weekly post turned into a bi-weekly post...then to a monthly post...and here I am now, at what appears to be a quarterly post.  I started this as an outlet...to de-stress from my day, and hopefully be a resource to many of you.   I told myself that I would put my cape on and handle any and everything that came my way.  I didn't register the fact that I was starting at a new school twice the size of my previous one...or that I had 3 times as many responsibilities, or that I would have more involvement with my districts leadership team.  (These are just a few of the factors I didn't consider).   

                                                  

                                                          

After the first few weeks went by, I forgot about the superhero inside.  When I say that I forgot, it's not to say that she no longer existed...it's to say I didn't take the time I needed to re-energize myself in order to let her shine.  Let me explain.  When you go through your daily routines and life in general, you have to take a minute every now and again and let yourself unwind.  This is what you call "self-care".  I was horrible at it.  There were many days that I didn't eat lunch because I was so consumed with the day to day needs in my building.  When I missed lunch, I was so tired and hungry by the time I left work, (many days 2 hours after I could have left) I would rush to pick up something quick to eat, get home, eat, and then get ready to do it all over again the next day.  I was exhausted...When I finally did make it home, the last thing I wanted to do was turn on my computer.  If I did turn it on, it was to finish up on something I didn't get to during my work day.  Truth be told, blogging was the last thing I felt I had time for in my schedule.  Even my weekends were consumed with taking care of things for other people.  The only "care" I gave to myself, was when I wanted to do nothing at all.

                                             

As the semester progressed, nothing slowed down...the only thing that completely stopped, was the motivation and fire I had at the beginning of the semester for blogging.  This is not what I wanted.  I had to find a way to take care of me so I could be better for others, but more importantly, so I could let the superhero inside of me do what she was intended to do...motivate and encourage.  Something had to change.  Like many of you, I thought about what could I resolve to do better in 2016?  As I was pondering this, my principal sent out an assignment for our staff.  He asked us to view a video clip explaining a very simple concept by Jon Gordon. The concept is from one of his many books, "One Word that Will Change Your Life"   We were challenged to think about this, and find our One Word.

                                                               

(Click on the book to watch the 3.5 minute clip)

At the start of each year, we tend to set all these new goals...things we want to do, but in reality, most of us fail to stick to the action plan to reach the goal.  This isn't to say that setting goals isn't important, but Gordon suggests instead of focusing on this big goal, we should pick One Word to live by.  One Word that describes something we need to either improve or work on in our life, and if we focus on that One Word, we will easily reach our goals.  After watching this clip, and thinking about what I would choose... (Because realistically, there are so many words and so many things I can work on), I settled on FOCUS.  I chose Focus because when I thought about it, I realized that I have so many "irons in the fire" that I never fully take one out and let it cool before I add another one.  When I do this, it has me pulled in so many different ways.  If I narrow my sights in on "Focusing" better, I can fully complete one task before I add another.  Doing this will allow me to be a more effective and efficient counselor.  

With that being said, it’s important to take time out for yourself.  Like the flight attendants say, "Please secure your own mask before assisting others."  So in 2016, I'm done with setting unrealistic expectations and securing everyone else's mask while I'm still trying to breathe. (Because really, what good will either us be if neither one of us can breathe!) In 2016 I'm going to FOCUS!  What are you going to do?  What will be your One Word?

                                                      

School Counselors? Who Are They Again?

School Counselor...Ha...at an elementary school?  What do you do?  I mean, do you really "counsel" the kids...hahahahaha...what could they possibly need help with...I mean really....school counselors in an elementary school...? Does this sound remotely familiar to anyone other than me? Well, I get that all the time!!! People still consider us as paper pushers and it doesn’t help that there are those in our field that don’t mind!!  

Ever get that "What you talkin' bout Willis" look?

At the beginning of the school year, I generally send home a Counseling Brochure and a Parent Survey!  The brochure includes information about our counseling program: 

• Mission and goals
• The Role of the School Counselor
• The services we offer-individual counseling, small group counseling, large group counseling and consultations
• And a brief description about why as Counselors, we prefer to use the term School Counselors as opposed to Guidance Counselors!

In the past, I made a brochure for each student in my school and sent it home during the first week of school with a parent referral form attached.  This year, I’m at a much larger school so my principal sent the brochure, along with the parent referral, out in an E-mail blast to all the parents.  My Co-Counselor and I also made copies to go in the front office just in case parents needed a copy of the referral form on the spot! 

This has been really helpful in fully explaining the role of the school counselor and how we can help!  So now when I get the “What you talking bout Willis” look, I simply smile and give them a brochure!! I’ve uploaded the brochure to my TeachersPayTeachers site along with the Parent Referral form…Feel free to take the brochure and make it your own!! No need to completely recreate the wheel if you don’t have to...(Unless you really get a kick out of creating wheels…then in that case go ahead :0)!!

I hope this helps!! Feel free to add me to your Google Circle, comment below or shoot me an e-mail if you have any questions!!

Study Skills and School Success

School Success is a big part of what we do...is one of our core standards...Academic Achievement!! Typically, I focus on Study Skills during the month of September...I can usually get 2 good lessons in with each grade level on this topic!  Marco Products has a ready-made curriculum called The Nature of Study Skills for grades K-3!!

They had a set for 4th and 5th grade as well, but I'm not sure if they still sell it with the kit! Not expensive at all ($24.95, Puppets might be sold separately)! This program still uses puppets in their lessons and the students still get a kick out of seeing the puppets come into the classroom!! There is a CD that comes with the lessons so you don't even have to talk for the puppet...just manipulate the mouth as the CD plays! It has reproducible activities and everything!! 

Some of the lessons included are:

•  Listening 
• Paying Attention
• Working Quietly
• Staying on Task
• Following Directions  
• Being Prepared
• Goal Setting
• Prioritizing
• Organization

   As I previously stated, the curriculum uses puppets so you would have to be pretty comfortable taking them into the classroom!!  They may seem "Old School" but with everything technology in the classroom, the kids still get excited when I bring my "friends" in to teach lessons!!! The lessons use work habits of animals to show how those same work habits can be used by students to be successful.  Each puppet is named after a famous person in American history to show how work habits of specific animals have helped them reach success.  

   For example...Kindergarten uses an Owl, named after Amelia Earhart, to explain the work habits of owls.  Over the course of 6 lessons, they will take these work habits, and compare them to good work habits for students. With the listening lesson, the CD will explain how owls are great listeners and why listening is so important to their survival.  You then, compare and discuss how being a good listener is a great work habit for students and why its so important.  Following the discussion there is a hands on listening activity to illustrate and practice good listening!

   I would love to share some of the lessons specifically, but due to copyright laws, I can't!  I don't get to use all 6 lessons in my school because I'm in my classes 2x per month, but I pick out the ones that seem the most beneficial for my population.  I would even suggest asking the teachers what they see as the biggest issue and focus the lessons on those...

  Hope this helps some of you!!! Enjoy!!