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Small Counseling Groups

Dear Parents and Guardians:

I enjoy working with your child(ren) and seeing them grow and develop skills in small counseling groups.  We have lots of fun!  The small counseling groups offered throughout the school year are FREE and are 30 minutes each week during school hours.  Only students participate in the groups.  The groups have a total of six to eight sessions.  Parent permission is required for students to participate in the group with parents signing a parent permission slip that is sent home. The parent permission slip needs to be returned to the School Counselor by the stated deadline on the permission slip to give me enough time to schedule and prepare for them.  I look forward to working with your child.  I have listed below several small counseling groups that have recently taken place.  

~Ms. Melissa Olearchick, School Counselor

 

September--December 2013:

Social Buddies Groups with Jellybean Jamboree Behavior Unit

In the Spring 2014, the School Counselor conducted two different small counseling groups topics; Grief & Loss and Incarcerated Loved One. Students learned coping skills, talked /thoughts, shared their ideas, and learned information. 

 

ASCA (American School Counselor Association) School Counselor Standards:

Personal and Social Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.

PS:A1  Acquire Self-Knowledge

PS:A1.6  Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate behavior

PS:A1.9  Demonstrate cooperative behavior in groups

PS:A2  Acquire Interpersonal Skills

PS:A2.7  Know that communication involves speaking, listening, and nonverbal behavior

​

Academic Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.

A:A1  Improve Academic Self-concept

A:A1.2  Display a positive interest in learning

A:A3  Achieve School Success

A:A3.2  Demonstrate the ability to work independently, as well as the ability to work cooperatively with other students

A:A3.5  Share knowledge

 

FEBRUARY--APRIL 2014:

Grief and Loss Small Counseling Groups:

ASCA (American School Counselor Association) School Counselor Standards:

Personal and Social Development:

PS:A1  Acquire Self-knowledge

PS:A1.9  Demonstrate cooperative behavior in groups

PS:B1 Self-knowledge Application

PS:B1.4  Develop effective coping skills for dealing with problems

PS:C1  Acquire Personal Safety Skills

PS:C1.11  Learn coping skills for managing life events

 

Academic Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.

A:A1  Improve Academic Self-concept

A:A1.2  Display a positive interest in learning

A:A3  Achieve School Success

A:A3.2  Demonstrate the ability to work independently, as well as the ability to work cooperatively with other students

A:A3.5  Share knowledge

 

Incarcerated Loved One Small Counseling Groups:

ASCA (American School Counselor Association) School Counselor Standards:

Personal and Social Development:

PS:A1  Acquire Self-knowledge

PS:A1.9  Demonstrate cooperative behavior in groups

PS:B1 Self-knowledge Application

PS:B1.2  Understand consequences of decisions and choices

PS:B1.4  Develop effective coping skills for dealing with problems

PS:C1  Acquire Personal Safety Skills

PS:C1.2  Learn about the relationship between rules, laws, safety and the protection of rights of the individual

PS:C1.11  Learn coping skills for managing life events

 

Academic Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.

A:A1  Improve Academic Self-concept

A:A1.2  Display a positive interest in learning

A:A3  Achieve School Success

A:A3.2  Demonstrate the ability to work independently, as well as the ability to work cooperatively with other students

A:A3.5  Share knowledge

​

October--December 2015:

Family Changes~Divorce Small Counseling Groups:

In the Fall 2015, the School Counselor facilitated Divorce Small Counseling Groups. 

 

Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade students learned about divorce and family changes. Students discussed their feelings and thoughts about divorce, shared their family dynamics, practiced coping skills, played board games about divorce, viewed DVDs about divorce, completed activity sheets, listened to books about divorce, and discussed the changed happening in their lives.

 

 

ASCA (American School Counselor Association) School Counselor Standards:

Personal / Social Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.

PS:A1  Acquire Self-knowledge

PS:A1.9 Students demonstrate cooperative behavior in groups

 

Academic Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.

A:A1 Improve Academic Self-concept

A:A1.2 Students display a positive interest in learning

A:A3 Achieve Academic Success

A:A3.2 Students demonstrate the ability to work independently, as well as the ability to work cooperatively with other students

A:A3.5 Students share knowledge 

 

October--December 2015:

Second Grade Academic Small Counseling Groups:

In the Fall 2015, the School Counselor facilitated academic small counseling groups for second grade students. Students learned the following topics:

1) Goal-setting (Students have created their own educational goal with a plan)

2) Setting Priorities (Least Important to Most Important Tasks to do)

3) Whole Body Listening Skills

4) Asking Questions, if you don't understand

5) Checking Assignments: re-check your work when finished, don't rush through your work

6) Learning with your senses

7) Study Skills

​

Other:  Student-created group rules: At the end of the group sessions, students self assess their behavior by showing a thumbs up--yes or thumbs down--no, to show if they followed the student-created group rules. School Counselor keeps a sticker tracking sheet for each student with the date of the group. Students earn a sticker for the group, if he/she self-assess herself/himself with thumbs up--yes. Students do not earn a sticker for the group, if he/she self-assess herself/himself with thumbs down--no. Students show honesty with this activity.

 

ASCA (American School Counselor Association) School Counselor Standards:

Personal / Social Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.

PS:A1 Acquire Self-knowledge

PS:A1.9 Demonstrate cooperative behavior in groups

 

Academic Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.

A:A1 Improve Academic Self-concept

A:A1.2 Display a positive interest in learning

A:A1.3 Take pride in work and achievement

A:A1.5 Identify attitudes and behaviors that lead to successful learning

 

A:A3 Achieve Academic Success

A:A3.2 Demonstrate the ability to work independently, as well as the ability to work cooperatively with other students

A:A3.5 Share knowledge

 

Standard B: Students will complete school with the academic preparation essential to choose from a wide range of substantial post-secondary options, including college.

A:B2 Plan to Achieve Goals

A:B2.1 Establish challenging academic goals in elementary, middle/junior high and high school

​

February--April 2016:

Cool Heads Anger Management Small Counseling Groups:

The School Counselor is facilitating anger management small counseling groups for Kindergarten and First Grade students based on data. Students are learning ways to calm down when feeling angry, ways to get along with others and socialize with peers, and coping skills. During group sessions, students will do activities based on the movie, Inside Out, play board games, do crafts with a monster-theme, and watch monster-themed, social skills video clips.    

 

ASCA (American School Counselor Association) School Counselor Standards:

Personal / Social Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.

PS:A1 Acquire Self-knowledge

PS:A1.6 Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate behavior

PS:A1.8 Understand the need for self-control and how to practice it

PS:A1.9 Demonstrate cooperative behavior in groups

PS:B1 Self-knowledge Application

PS:B1.4 Develop effective coping skills for dealing with problems

 

Academic Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.

A:A1 Improve Academic Self-concept

A:A1.2 Display a positive interest in learning

 

A:A3 Achieve Academic Success

A:A3.2 Demonstrate the ability to work independently, as well as the ability to work cooperatively with other students

A:A3.5 Share knowledge

​

April--May 2016:

Second Grade "Social Buddies" Small Counseling Groups:

The School Counselor is facilitating SOCIAL BUDDIES small counseling groups for Second Grade students who need to improve their manners, learn ways to get along with others, and develop skills to improve positive relationships at George G. Blaisdell Elementary School. We will play board games, watch video clips, do fun crafts, complete activity sheets, and listen to books.

 

ASCA (American School Counselor Association) School Counselor Standards:

Personal / Social Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and interpersonal skills understand and respect self and others.

PS:A1 Acquire Self-knowledge

PS:A1.9 Demonstrate cooperative behavior in groups

 

Academic Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.

A:A1 Improve Academic Self-concept

A:A1.2 Display a positive interest in learning

A:A3 Achieve Academic Success

A:A3.2 Demonstrate the ability to work independently, as well as the ability to work cooperatively with other students

A:A3.5 Share knowledge

​

September 2016--January 2017:

First Grade "Social Buddies" Small Counseling Groups:

The School Counselor is facilitating SOCIAL BUDDIES small counseling groups for First Grade students who need to improve their manners, learn ways to get along with other, and develop skills to improve positive relationships at George G. Blaisdell Elementary School.  We will play board games, watch short video clips, do fun crafts, complete activity sheets, and listen to books.

 

ASCA (American School Counselor Association) School Counselor Standards:

Personal / Social Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.

PS:A1 Acquire Self-knowledge

PS:A1.9 Demonstrate cooperative behavior in groups

 

Academic Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.

A:A1 Improve Academic Self-concept

A:A1.2 Display a positive interest in learning

A:A3 Achieve Academic Success

A:A3.2 Demonstrate the ability to work independently, as well as the ability to work cooperatively with other students

A:A3.5 Share knowledge

 

January--April 2017:

Second Grade ACADEMIC Small Counseling Groups:

The School Counselor facilitated academic small counseling groups for second grade students. Students learned the following topics:

​

1) Goal-setting (Students have created their own educational goal with a plan)

2) Setting Priorities (Least Important to Most Important Tasks to do)

3) Whole Body Listening Skills

4) Asking Questions, if you don't understand

5) Checking Assignments: re-check your work when finished, don't rush through your work

6) Learning with your senses: Sight, Smell, Hear, Touch, Taste

7) Study Skills

 

Other:  Student-created group rules: At the end of the group sessions, students self assess their behavior by showing a thumbs up--yes or thumbs down--no, to show if they followed the student-created group rules. School Counselor keeps a sticker tracking sheet for each student with the date of the group. Students earn a sticker for the group, if he/she self-assess herself/himself with thumbs up--yes. Students do not earn a sticker for the group, if he/she self-assess herself/himself with thumbs down--no. Students show honesty with this activity.

 

ASCA (American School Counselor Association) School Counselor Standards:

Personal / Social Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.

PS:A1 Acquire Self-knowledge

PS:A1.9 Demonstrate cooperative behavior in groups

 

Academic Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.

A:A1 Improve Academic Self-concept

A:A1.2 Display a positive interest in learning

A:A1.3 Take pride in work and achievement

A:A1.5 Identify attitudes and behaviors that lead to successful learning

A:A3 Achieve Academic Success

A:A3.2 Demonstrate the ability to work independently, as well as the ability to work cooperatively with other students

A:A3.5 Share knowledge

Standard B: Students will complete school with the academic preparation essential to choose from a wide range of substantial post-secondary options, including college.

A:B2 Plan to Achieve Goals

A:B2.1 Establish challenging academic goals in elementary, middle/junior high and high school

 

January--April 2017:

Kindergarten CAMP CARE-A-LOT Small Counseling Groups:

The School Counselor facilitated small counseling groups for Kindergarten students with a camp theme and a raccoon mascot. We created crafts, completed activity sheets, played board games, watched a short video, drew pictures, sang a camp song, and did "flashlight feelings" sharing time. Students learned the following topics: social skills, friendship skills, feelings, anger management skills, positive thinking, etc.

 

ASCA (American School Counselor Association) School Counselor Standards:

Personal / Social Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.

PS:A1 Acquire Self-knowledge

PS:A1.9 Demonstrate cooperative behavior in groups

 

Academic Development:

Standard A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.

A:A1 Improve Academic Self-concept

A:A1.2 Display a positive interest in learning

A:A3 Achieve Academic Success

A:A3.2 Demonstrate the ability to work independently, as well as the ability to work cooperatively with other students

A:A3.5 Share knowledge

​

School Year 2017--2018:

Second Grade Social Buddies Small Counseling Groups

​

School Year 2018--2019:

Social Buddies Small Counseling Groups

​

School Year 2019--2020:

Stress Busters Small Counseling Groups

​

School Year 2020--2021, 2021--2022:

Second Step Small Counseling Groups (Friendship Skill, Social Skills, Problem-Solving, Feelings, Emotional Management)

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