Teaching students how to use I-Messages was one of my most important lessons as a school counselor. I wanted my students to be peaceful problem-solvers who could confidently address issues themselves rather than turning to a teacher (ugh tattletaling!) or making a sad choice. I loved how I could teach my students how to use I-Messages in class or group, and they could leave my room with a new practical skill that they could use that very same day with their friends and family members. ... VIEW POST
Teaching Peaceful Problem-Solving Skills with I-Messages
Fall Ideas for Counseling & SEL
After a long, hot, and buggy summer here in Nashville, we always welcome the fall season with open arms. Along with the changing season and new school year comes a desire for fresh, new resources to use in practice with our students. I found that no matter the time of year, incorporating a seasonal flair into my counseling sessions and classroom lessons often led to increased student engagement. Just like me, my students were excited about the fall season and loved when I used autumn-themed ... VIEW POST
Supporting Elementary Students during the COVID-19 Crisis
Well, this is certainly a Back to School Season unlike any other. Returning to school after summer vacation can be nerve-racking and stressful for children and educators under "normal" circumstances...let alone during the chaos, uncertainty, fear, and isolation that have come to define 2020. States and school districts are starting to announce their "official" plans for the fall - with "official" in quotations because as COVID-19 cases increase or decrease, these plans can change at any moment. ... VIEW POST
Teaching Growth Mindset
Growth mindset, for good reason, has become one of the biggest buzz words and theories in education today. The concept comes from Dr. Carol Dweck's studies of thousands of children and their attitudes towards failure. In her research, Dr. Dweck noticed that, when faced with failure, some children felt devastated and helpless, and quickly gave up. Other children, on the other hand, seemed to bounce back, learn from their mistakes, and move forward with optimism and hope. So, what is the ... VIEW POST
Counseling English Learners
Whenever anyone asked what my favorite subject in school was as a child, I always said, "Spanish!" Learning a foreign language felt like learning a secret code that opened up a whole new world of people to communicate with and experiences to enjoy. Even though no one in my family spoke a second language, I was bound and determined to become fluent in Spanish and chose to major in it in college and study abroad in Salamanca, Spain. And when I began my search for my first school counseling job, I ... VIEW POST
The Power of an Amazing Principal
For the first three years of my career as a school counselor, my school had a principal who kept our school running smoothly, maintained a pretty positive school culture, and was there for us when we needed her. Most of the teachers were happy and parents were pleased with our school as a whole. But, it wasn't until our principal was let go and a new, completely different leader came in, that I discovered the power of an amazing principal. When we first found out that our principal had lost ... VIEW POST
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