Happy Holidays!

Cyber Monday (and Tuesday) TpT Sale!!

Cyber Monday (and Tuesday) TpT Sale!!

Holidays Around The World from School Counselor Central

Love this idea!

10 Unique Ideas for Hanukkah Tables Sent in By Our Talented Jewish Hostesses | Kosher Recipes and Jewish Table Settings

10 Unique Ideas for Hanukkah Tables Sent in By Our Talented Jewish Hostesses | Kosher Recipes and Jewish Table Settings

Kindergarten Crayons: Dear New TK and Kindergarten Teachers: Get Them Un...

Kindergarten Crayons: Dear New TK and Kindergarten Teachers: Get Them Un...: When an administrator walks into your classroom he is looking for many things but you can bet your last dollar that your classroom control ...

those northern skies: christmas crafting with my Mom

those northern skies: christmas crafting with my Mom: Mom and I crafted these felt Popsicle stick puppets for my nephew Kyler. The first night we got carried away and stayed up til midnight -...

Stress and Kids

http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/strategies/topics/Keeping%20Fit%20for%20Learning/stress.html

ACE Study

http://www.acestudy.org/home

Red Ribbon Week !

Families can enter this contest and receive an i-pad and $1,000 for our school!
http://redribbon.org/contest/

Weeks activities:

RED RIBBON WEEK

Taylor Elementary will celebrate:  October 28-November 1, 2013

Theme: Eagles are Proud to be bully and DRUG FREE

There will be giveaways each day from PTA.

Date	Event	Student Item	TV Focus
Monday	Pledge to Be bully and DRUG FREE – Sign the Drug Free Pledge. Decorate Doors for Decorating Contest (PTA sponsored) Wear Red	Pencil and pledge card RED apples at lunch Individual Poster Contest Begins-with theme	RRW History – Counselor will make video.
Tuesday	Don’t’ let drugs twist your mind/ Wear Crazy Socks/Hair/Hats	Eagles are bully and DRUG FREE Red Satin Ribbon Pretzel snack	Saying “NO” is not enough-Student Council will create a video
Wednesday	Give Drugs the Boot! Where your favorite boots to school	bookmark	Video clip
Thursday	Be your own HERO Book Character Dress Up Day	Red Ribbon Week Button or sticker Fall Snack Day	Poster Contest winners on ENN
Friday	Team Up Against Drugs Team Spirit --Wear Your Favorite Team Shirt	Team Up Against Drugs  Stickers	We Work as a Team to Stay Drug Free-video clip And “Hands are Not for Hitting Puppet Show” Grades K,1,2,3

Relay for Life

https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=RFL_CY14_participant_center&pc2_page=center&fr_id=60175#pc2=report-personal

Attendance!

Why not have a meeting with the parents of students on the critical attendance  list? Make it a fun attendance and school success workshop. Don't forget to offer lunch! If they attend, use the workshop attendance in place of the initial meeting.  Put a form in their perm folder that says "I attended ....." whatever your workshop title is.....Have fun playing!

Counseling Advisory Council!

"Advisory councils made up of students, parents, teachers, school counselors, administrators and community members to review and make recommendations about school counseling program activities and results." Retrieved from:  http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?pl=325&contentid=325

Links You May Like:+)

Happy Friday!

Below are three websites that you may enjoy!

http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcpstv/video_pages/in5ive_new.html

http://acharmandmannersschool.weebly.com/1/post/2013/08/welcome.html

http://bcove.me/ja10vp2q

How About Student Ambassadors? :+)

When I was in high school, I was so excited to be chosen to be a Student Ambassador! We were to serve as student leaders of the school and when a new student arrived, we helped them feel comfortable in school. We also helped give programs when guests visited the school.  One of my friends in the county where I work has used a Student Ambassador Program at her school for many years.  Even though this is my 16^th year as a school counselor, I have never been able to begin this program.  I am so excited that my principal loves the idea! Here are forms that I “tweaked” from my friend.  Maybe they can help you! Have fun playing today!

TpT Two-Day Back to School Sale

TpT Two-Day Back to School Sale

Counselors Wear Many Hats!

Lesson One-Introduction to the School Counselor

Materials:

Coloring Sheet

Fire Hat

Graduation Hat

Chef Hat

Baseball Helmet

Winter Hat

Goals:

EQ: How can I be a good listener? What is a school counselor?

Activities:

Discuss what great listeners do.  Ask the students to explain what a good listener looks like.        ( The students will answer –watching eyes, listening ears, closed mouth, hands and feet are still.)  Tell the students they are so smart and tell them to kiss their brain.  Ask for volunteers. The students will dress in the many hats. Ask the students what the hats are used for.  If there is time, write them down on the board.  Explain that a counselor’s job is like all of these jobs put together.  Point to the child wearing the fire fighter hat.  Ask the students what the hat is used for.  Ask the students if they believe that counselors really put out real fires – (no-she helps people when they are having an emergency-maybe someone is very angry or really sad.  Sometimes she even helps sad grownups who are teachers and parents.)  Point to the chef hat and ask the students what type of hat it is.  Say that like a chef, the counselor helps people make recipes to solve their problems- say “Do you think I make real recipes?”-no I help people develop a plan so they can do better in school or make new friends or just help their feelings feel better.  Point to the baseball helmet.  Ask-what type of hat is this? Say “Do you think I am on a baseball team?” no-but I am like a baseball player because I have to work as a part of the team.  Point to the winter hat.  Ask the students what the hat is used for.  Explain that Counselors also help create a warm and caring school.  We have celebrations and we try to make students feel comfortable so they can feel happy in school.  Point to the graduation hat.  Ask the students what type of hat it is.  Explain that Counselors also promote academic success in school. 

Evaluation:

Ask the students to explain what a school counselor’s job is.  Give them the sheet to color and take home.

Self-Advocacy for School Counselors

Self-Advocacy for School Counselors

Planting Seeds!

Celebrating Children!
The students return on Wednesday! Every year I am nervous and excited at the same time! Many things are important to remember to do this week: 

• Planting the Seeds Newsletter for teachers (MrsDulasMail.weebly.com) and put in their mailboxes with a packet :+)
• Newsletter for parents (MrsDulasMail.weebly.com)
• Brochure for parents
• Counselor Introductions
• Tissues and Treats for new parents
• Survey for Students, Teachers, and Parents
• Support for "nervous" little ones

OK, here we go......


 

 

http://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/focus/social-media.html

http://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/focus/social-media.html

Character Trait Superpower Poster Freebie

Character Trait Superpower Poster Freebie

Back to School!

WOW! This is my 16th year as a school counselor! I am so excited! I will be in a different school this year.  I worked in middle school for 7 years and this will be my 9th year in elementary school! My job is to support teaching and learning and teachers are in the classroom everyday touching the lives of children. I pray that the teachers in my new school are filled with enthusiasm and fun learning! This will also be the first time that I have taken my own child to school with me :+) .....I have three awesome children of my own + 900 more at the school where I work :+).....and I will be taking my youngest with me this year.  SO....of course I have an EVEN more vested interest, in this year being fun....I want to honor the teachers today........

What Teachers Make by Taylor Mali

He says the problem with teachers is
What’s a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life
was to become a teacher?
He reminds the other dinner guests that it’s true
what they say about teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.
I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the dinner guests
that it’s also true what they say about lawyers.
Because we’re eating, after all, and this is polite conversation.

I mean, you’re a teacher, Taylor.
Be honest. What do you make?

 

And I wish he hadn’t done that— asked me to be honest—
because, you see, I have this policy about honesty and ....:
if you ask for it, then I have to let you have it.
You want to know what I make?
I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor
and an A-­‐ feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time
with anything less than your very best.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question.
Why won’t I let you go to the bathroom?
Because you’re bored.
And you don’t really have to go to the bathroom, do you?
I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
Hi. This is Mr. Mali. I hope I haven’t called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something your son said today.
To the biggest bully in the grade, he said,
“Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don’t you?
It’s no big deal.”
And that was noblest act of courage I have ever seen.
I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.

You want to know what I make? I make kids wonder,
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math
and hide it on their final drafts in English.
I make them understand that if you’ve got this,
then you follow this,
and if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you make, you give them this.

Here, let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
Teachers make a ........difference!   Now what about you?

(Mali. Taylor. “What Teachers Make.” What Learning Leaves. Newtown, CT: Hanover Press, 2002. Print. (ISBN: 1-­‐887012-­‐17-­‐6) ).

Thank you for being a teacher!

Love,

Teshia

Teach Cooperation

Not Just a Family Tree

Written by T. Dula

Materials:

Branch

Modeling Clay

Paint

Medium-Large Flower Pot

Child-safe scissors

Children model what they see! So why not teach them the importance of family and cooperation by creating your own family tree!  First you will need to find a large tree branch in your yard with enough twigs to hold a leaf for each family member.  Make a fun game out of searching for the branch.  Tell your family members that after everyone collects the branch that they feel is the BEST, the family will vote on the perfect one for the project.  After the family votes on the branch, place the branch in a medium to large flower pot.  Modeling clay can be used to hold it in place.  Next is the hard part-let it completely dry overnight! The excitement of the project will make this hard.  As a result, as a family talk about ways of recycling things found in nature to create other cool projects.  You can also create a family blog to teach others your findings! Once the branch is sturdy in its new home, give each family member an artificial leaf and a small amount of modeling clay (using a large amount of clay will make the leaf too heavy for the branch).  Tell them to press the modeling clay into the back of the leaf and gently cut around it with child safe scissors. Next, have everyone engrave their name on their leaf.  You can choose to paint the leaves and then attach the leaves by allowing the clay to mold to the chosen twig.  After everyone has finished their leaf, paint your family name on the pot and let dry. There you have it-your own family tree for all to see! Not only have you taught your children cooperation and the importance of family, you have also helped them learn patience and teamwork! Have fun!

Resources:

Hanson,L.& Kempskie,H. ( 2008). The siblings busybook. Minnetonka, Minnesota: Meadowbrook P

Good Day!

I am so excited! I created my own website! It was so much fun! I'm trying to connect this counselor idea blog with my website.  If I mess up....... :+)  The website is www.MrsDulasMail.weebly.com.  Don't forget to play today!

Welcome Summer!!

June 19, 2013

 

Hello Friends!

          Summer is the perfect time to play because the weather is nice and friendly.  Last Thursday I was cooking dinner and my three children were complaining about "being bored." I, being the helpful Mom that I am, suggested they go outside and play! We had a long discussion on what to do.....it turns out they had never played Mother may I!!!! I was flabbergasted! I had to go outside and teach them right away! We all had a turn being Mother or Father May I...and it was the best time we had all week! My youngest got a real thrill out of telling me, "Mommy, NO you may not take 3 steps forward!"  Do you remember: hopscotch, tag, mother may I? Play is important for everyone, not just kids! For kids, play teaches social skills, how to follow rules, and it strengthens creativity! For us big kids....play reduces stress, helps blood pressure, and burns calories! SO let's all play! I'll talk with you soon!

Playfully,

Mrs. D 

 

Timely Tips

Blowing Bubbles helps children learn to take deep breaths when they feel angry.

 

Looking in a mirror while saying positive statements will help  children smile.

Finger painting helps children learn to be creative and use their imagination




Imaginative play helps children explore the world of work!