Counselor's Corner

 

Counselors Corner

 

VISION & MISSION

School Counseling Vision

The vision of the Hector A. Cafferata, Jr. Elementary School is for all students to have attained a large toolbox of positive communication skills, conflict-resolution skills and the ability to self-advocate and access resources to become responsible, independent life-long learners.

School Counseling Mission

The mission of Hector A. Cafferata, Jr. Elementary School is to instill in each child a sense of self-worth, independence, and responsibility, which will enable each student to become a life-long learner, and productive, cooperative citizen.

COUNSELING BELIEFS

  • All students have dignity and worth
  • All students deserve fair and equitable educational opportunities
  • Student developmental needs are best met by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program
  • All students can achieve and meet high standards that will result in college and career readiness
  • School counselors must be leaders, advocates, and collaborators who create equitable access to rigorous curriculum and opportunities for self-directed personal growth for every student
  • Student achievement is maximized by participation in a comprehensive school counseling program that is planned, managed, delivered and evaluated by licensed professional school counselors
  • Data must be analyzed and translated into goals that guide the development of the comprehensive school counseling program, promoting student achievement
  • Applying the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors empowers school counselors to make decisions based on the highest moral principles to promote the maximum development of every student.

COUNSELOR'S ROLE

    As the School Counselor, I perform the following roles to promote positive development in academic, career, and personal/social domains:

  • Individual counseling
  • Small group counseling
  • Classroom guidance (i.e., large group counseling)
  • Attend and participate in continuous professional development and academic intervention meetings
  • Observe students in various school environments
  • Consult and collaborate with parents, teachers, administrators, social workers, and students
  • Respond to school crises or emergency situations
  • Provide information and resources to parents on a variety of issues
  • Meet with new students
  • Coordinate school attendance
  • Record keeping, and many other daily duties, as needed.

COUNSELING CURRICULUM

Welcome Families to our School Counseling Program!

Our classes are scheduled to meet in small group settings once a week in the guidance center classroom for a short guidance lessons emphasizing skills listed below. These skills will be initiated by the classroom teachers and reinforced by the school counselor. I am so excited to get to know the students! Together, we can help build skills in each student to help them in school and life for many years to come! You can view your letter which was sent home to see what your child is learning and help reinforce the learned skill. (second step letter)

Kindergarten

Unit I: Skills for Learning

Lesson1- Learning to Listen

Lesson 2- Focusing Attention

Lesson 3- Following Directions

Lesson 4- Self-Talk for Staying on Task

Lesson 5-Being Assertive

Unit II: Empathy

Lesson 6-Feelings

Lesson 7-More Feelings

Lesson 8- Identifying Anger

Lesson 9- Same or Different?

Lesson 10- Accidents

Lesson 11- Caring and Helping

Unit III: Problem Solving

Lesson 12- We Feel Feelings in Our Bodies

Lesson 13- Managing Frustration

Lesson 14- Calming Down Strong Feelings

Lesson 15- Handling Waiting

Lesson 16- Managing Anger

Lesson 17- Managing Disappointment

Lesson 18- Handling Being Knocked Down

Unit IV: Problem Solving

Lesson 19- Solving Problems

Lesson 20- Inviting to Play

Lesson 21-Fair Ways to Play

Lesson 22- Having Fun With Others

Lesson 23- Handling Having Things Taken Away

Lesson 24- Handling Name-Calling

Lesson 25-Review Second Step Skills

First Grade

Unit I: Skills for Learning

Lesson 1- Listening to Learn

Lesson 2- Focusing Attention

Lesson 3- Following Direction

Lesson 4- Self-Talk for Learning

Lesson 5- Being assertive

Unit II: Empathy

Lesson 6- Identifying Feelings

Lesson 7- Looking for More Clues

Lesson 8- Similarities and Differences

Lesson 9- Feelings Change

Lesson 10- Accidents

Lesson 11- Showing Care and Concern

Unit III: Emotion Management

Lesson 12- Identifying Our Own Feelings

Lesson 13- Strong Feelings

Lesson 14- Calming Down Anger

Lesson 15- Self-Talk for Calming Down

Lesson 16- Managing Worry

Unit IV: Problem Solving

Lesson 17- Solving Problems, Part 1

Lesson 18- Solving Problems, Part 2

Lesson 19- Fair Ways to Play

Lesson 20- Inviting to Join In

Lesson 21- Handling Name-Calling

Lesson 22- Review Second Steps Skills

Second Grade

Unit I: Skills for Learning

Lesson 1- Being Respectful

Lesson 2- Focusing Attention and Listening

Lesson 3-Using Self-Talk

Lesson 4- Being Assertive

Unit II: Empathy

Lesson 5- Identifying Feelings

Lesson 6- Learning More About Feelings

Lesson 7- Feeling Confident

Lesson 8- respecting Different Preferences

Lesson 9- Showing Compassion

Lesson 10- Predicting Feelings

Unit III: Emotion Management

Lesson 11- Introducing Emotion Management

Lesson 12- Managing Embarrassment

Lesson 13- Handling Making Mistakes

Lesson 14- Managing Anxious Feelings

Lesson 15- Managing Anger

Lesson 16- Finishing Tasks

Unit IV: Problem Solving

Lesson 17- Solving Problems, Part 1

Lesson 18- Solving Problems, Part 2

Lesson 19- Taking Responsibility

Lesson 20- Responding to Playground Exclusion

Lesson 21- Playing Fairly on the Playground

Lesson 22- Reviewing Second Step Skills

Third Grade

Unit I: Skills for Learning

Lesson 1- Being Respectful Learners

Lesson 2- Using Self-Talk

Lesson 3- Being Assertive

Lesson 4- Planning to Learn

Unit II: Empathy

Lesson 5- Identifying Others' Feelings

Lesson 6- Understanding Perspectives

Lesson 7- Conflicting Feelings

Lesson 8- Accepting Differences

Lesson 9- Showing Compassion

Lesson 10- Making Friends

Unit III: Emotion Management

Lesson 11- Introducing Emotion Management

Lesson 12- Managing Test Anxiety

Lesson 13- Handling Accusations

Lesson 14- Managing Disappointment

Lesson 15- Managing Anger

Lesson 16- Managing Hurt Feelings

Unit IV: Problem Solving

Lesson 17- Solving Problems, Part 1

Lesson 18- Solving Problems, Part 2

Lesson 19- Solving Classroom Problems

Lesson 20- Solving Peer-Exclusion Problems

Lessons 21- Dealing with Negative Peer Pressure

Lesson 22- Reviewing Second Step Skills

Fourth Grade

Unit I: Empathy and Skills for Learning

Lesson 1- Empathy and Respect

Lesson 2- Listening with Attention

Lesson 3- Being Assertive

Lesson 4- Respecting Similarities and Differences

Lesson 5- Understanding Complex Feelings

Lesson 6- Understanding Different Perspectives

Lesson 7- Conversation and Compliments

Lesson 8- Joining In

Lesson 9- Showing Compassion

Unit II: Emotion Management

Lesson 10- Introducing Emotion Management

Lesson 11- Managing Strong Feelings

Lesson 12- Calming Down Anger

Lesson 13- Managing Anxiety

Lesson 14- Avoiding Jumping to Conclusions

Lesson 15- Handling Put-Downs

Unit III: Problem Solving

Lesson 16- Solving Problems, Part 1

Lesson 17- Solving Problems, Part 2

Lesson 18- Making a Plan

Lesson 19- Solving Playground Problems

Lesson 20- Taking Responsibility for Your Actions

Lesson 21- Dealing with Peer Pressure

Lesson 22- Reviewing Second Step Skills

Fifth Grade

Unit I: Empathy and Skills for Learning

Lesson 1- Empathy and Respect

Lesson 2- Listening and Attention

Lesson 3- Being Assertive

Lesson 4- Predicting Feelings

Lesson 5- Taking Others' Perspectives

Lesson 6- Accepting Differences

Lesson 7- Disagreeing Respectfully

Lesson 8- Responding with Compassion

Unit II: Emotion Management

Lesson 9-Introduction Emotion Management

Lesson 10- Calming Down

Lesson 11- Managing Anxiety

Lesson 12- Managing Frustration

Lesson 13- Resisting Revenge

Lesson 14- Handling Put-Downs

Lesson 15- Avoiding Assumptions

Unit III: Problem Solving

Lesson 16- Solving Problems, Part 1

Lesson 17- Solving Problems, Part 2

Lesson 18- Making a Plan

Lesson 19- Seeking Help

Lesson 20- Dealing with Gossip

Lesson 21- Dealing with Peer Pressure

Lesson 22- Reviewing Second Step Skills