November Counseling Newsletter

Posted Date: 11/08/24 (03:00 PM)

Counseling Newsletter

🍁 Happy November! 🍁

This Month in Social/Emotional News

Our Peaceful Playground Coaches are officially hard at work! This program gives 4th and 5th graders the opportunity to help students in the lower grade levels with conflict resolution. These students have given up their lunch time to give back to their school. They have been trained in how to peacefully and restoratively solve problems among younger peers. Our PPC members will use a script to help guide the conflict resolution process and help students find a solution by using the 12 Toolbox tools! Thank you peaceful playground coaches! Your hard work is so appreciated!

November is Native American Heritage Month

Toolbox

Toolbox is a research-based social-emotional learning curriculum. It teaches critical social competencies necessary for academic and life success such as: resiliency, self-management, and responsible decision-making skills.

Every month Old Mill highlights one or two tools from Toolbox. Each tool has an icon, hand gesture and tagline that goes along with it.

This month the students will focus on the breathing tool and quiet/safe place tool.

Learn more about Toolbox here!

Personal Space Tool

I have the right to my space and so do you! We all have the right to our personal space and the responsibility to give others the same right. Noticing the physical space around us helps us see our own needs and also how we may be impacting others.

Hand gesture - Outstretch hands in front of you, with elbows relaxed and palms facing forward. Slowly move hands apart and together again, creating a curved boundary around you.

Tagline - Where my space ends and yours begins.

Using Our Words Tool

Careful use of words encourages understanding, connection, and intimacy. Careless or offensive words harm relationships. By learning the importance of words and how they impact relationships, the Using Our Words Tool gives us a voice to ask for what we want and need.

Hand gesture - Hold an imaginary pencil and "write" your initials in the air.

Tagline - I use the "right" words, in the "right" way, at the "right" time, for the "right" reason.

Personal Space at home activity

Using Words at home activity

Social/Emotional Learning books

Books offer so many benefits for student and personal growth and development! They help to enhance self-awareness and self-reflection, develop empathy and understanding, improve communication and relationship skills, promote resilience and emotional regulation.

Each month I will be highlighting books on relevant tools or topics. Click a topic to explore more resources!