No David!

1st Grade 

Lesson 1 Guidance 

was the good ole classic books:

1st graders told me ideas for

"What Makes a Good Student?"

I wrote them on this chart.

At the end of the lesson I also used these great ideas from Pinterest!

I found some cute lesson ideas and printables from:

ayearofmanyfirsts.blogspot.com teacherytidbits.blogspot.com

Soda Pop Head

I had the amazing honor of listening to Julia Cook at the Texas School Counselor Association Conference.  I LOVE HER!

This year, I am working extremely hard to set up lessons for each grade level that are unique and different.  That way.... I don't have to keep recreating every year.  In the past, I would take the same lesson and adapt it for each grade level.  Then, I discovered that year after year I was running out of great ideas.

Lesson 1 for 2nd grade was Soda Pop Head!  

Click here for Amazon link!

Before we read the book, I asked the kids to write down one thing they already knew about volcanoes on a sticky note.  They stuck their "What I Know" sticky note on the chart above.

We read the book and then talked about ways to control our anger.

We then came up with "Rules for Being Angry..."

To end the lesson, students had to write down one strategy they would use to keep from erupting!

How to listen

Every year I use chart paper to create this:

One thing I must do as a school counselor is set my standards and rules for my elementary students.  If I don't take the time to go over my rules, then my guidance lessons are {shot}!  They have to know and learn what my expectations are.  I also remind them, that they do NOT want to miss out on our super cool and super fun lesson!

My updated office space

Chevron is the new me!

This year I decided to update my office with some new fabric.

I love how fabric can transform a small space.

My daughter, Addi and I sewed some new pillows!

{I also added a few owls here and there!}

I also had this old desk at home and decided to bring it up to school!

{I really had to convince some teachers that the school did not buy this super cool desk for me.  It has been in my family for a few years collecting dust at home.  My husband swears that HE WILL NOT move it again.  So, if I ever leave this school.... I guess the next counselor gets this super cool desk!}

Check out Pinterest

Hey Guys!  I just got back from Florida and visiting Disney World.  My family had a blast, and I loved the wonderful time we spent together.  

I have been pinning away for the upcoming school year.   I am currently trying to get some ideas posted, so I can have a set of lessons for each grade level.  My goal is to have specific lessons for specific grade levels, so I don't repeat the same lesson year after year.  I want to keep my students engaged.  I have started posting ideas under the tabs of Kinder Guidance, 1st Grade Guidance, 2nd Grade Guidance, etc....

Counseling Hearts Pinterest

You get the point!

I am thinking of have a theme per grade level.  Like my 3rd grade Monsters!

More to come.  

My crazy brain is at work.

Creating

I am currently creating new pillows and decor to revamp my office space!

It is time for something new and fresh!

Did you think...

I fell off the face of the earth?
Well, I felt like it, but I didn't REeeeeAAAllllyyy!

I just became overwhelmed, stressed out, SWAMPED, flooded, and I sunk
in the "fun" world of state assessments.

I am sooooo thankful that Texas passed HB 5!!!

Maybe I can go back to being a counselor... (just joking)

I never neglect individual counseling students in the craziness of testing, but I would
absolutely LOVE to go back to being in the classroom; teaching guidance lessons to little
minds that soak up ethics, character education, and morals like little sponges at the end of the school year... So- thanks to HB 5 - I hope I get to do just that!

So, needless to say I had to put a few things on hold.
&&& my blog (that I love) was one of those things.

With all the new and upcoming changes with HB 5, overall, I am excited.
I am a little nervous about the new changes to graduation plans and the FACT that we will
need to reschedule scheduling until late July, but WE TEXAN counselors will survive, 
I WILL survive.

So without further ado, WELCOME back to Counseling Hearts!