The choices teens make directly influence their physiological and emotional feelings. While this is true for people of all ages, teens are particularly impacted by the choices-feelings relationship. Why? Teens are at a pivotal point in their lives when they develop a sense of identity, align more frequently with peers,…
Tag: guidance lesson
LET’S COPE!–Part 2 of STRESS HAPPENS.
[Part 1 of STRESS HAPPENS can be found here.] Some people have a lot of stress and handle it well. Some people have a lot of stress and handle it poorly. Some people have a little bit of stress and handle it well. Some people have a little bit of…
ABILITY-EFFORT-ATTITUDE: How the Growth Mindset Affects Learning
“I don’t know how!” “I can’t!” “I don’t want to!” “I don’t care!” Working in public education for 20+ years has afforded me the opportunity to observe some consistently true dynamics. One such interaction is the interplay between attitude, effort, and ability among students. In recent years there has been…
THE DIFFERENCE A SPACE CAN MAKE…
Sometimes a little difference is, in reality, a very big 180-degree kind of difference, a night-and-day type of difference. The details matter. Have you ever tried to freeze water at 33 degrees? What about calling someone but being one number off in their phone number, or worse yet, being off…
THE RIPPLE EFFECT: A Strategy for Analyzing Conflicts
rip·ple ef·fect (n.): The continuing and spreading results of an event or action. www.oxforddictionaries.com A simple technique I frequently use with students is the “Ripple Effect” strategy. Often, I work with students who are impulsive in their decisions, resistant to authority, quick to anger, or easily baited by peers to…
YOU SCRATCH MY BACK, I’LL SCRATCH YOURS: The Give and Take in Relationships
With the approach of Valentine’s Day, a very busy day for counselors due to broken or lonely hearts, I thought it would be worthwhile to consider the importance of practicing reciprocity, the ability to give to and receive from others. The ability to give and take in a balanced manner…
Tis the Season to be Grateful: Gratitude Journals
During the days leading up to the holiday season, consider having students keep a Gratitude Journal. Whether you are a teacher or counselor at the elementary, middle, or high school level, this is something that is free, beneficial, quick, and easy that you can do with your students! On the…
A NEW TAKE ON AN OLD SONG–A Counseling Strategy
“If you want to be happy and you know it, clap your hands!” Clap. Clap. “If you want to be happy and you know it, clap your hands!” Clap. Clap. “If you want to be happy and you know it then make sure your face will show it, If you…