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February Counselor Connection

Here for the kids - and for the grown ups who love them!

February CounselorConnectionHere for the kids - and for the grown ups who love them!
Valentine "Would You Rather?"

Educator Self Care - Are you getting enough sleep? Educator Self Care - Are you getting enough sleep?

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12 Teacher-Tested Tips for Getting Better Sleep Every Night

It takes an awful lot of energy to be a teacher, especially during 2020-2021. In order to get that energy, you also need lots of restful sleep each and every night. But that’s much easier said than done for many teachers. Fortunately, there are some helpful solutions here: https://www.weareteachers.com/better-sleep-teachers/


Check them out and choose a few to try, so you can start getting better sleep tonight. Then, click on each of the images below for even more ideas!

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Practice Good Sleep Hygiene

It can be easy to dismiss sleep as not being important in maintaining a mentally healthy lifestyle – but are we missing a trick? How important is a good night’s sleep to how we function mentally?
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3 Minute Bedtime Guided Mindfulness

Add mindfulness, yoga, and exercise to your day to help your body ease into sleep. Try this 3-minute bedtime guided mindfulness and see if it works for you!
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11 Minute Bedtime Pilates Stretches

Wind down at night and sleep better with pilates. These bedtime stretches and movements will help your body relax and prepare for a great night's sleep or any time you need relaxation and stress-relief.
Event Information

The 5 C's of Teacher Mental Health and Wellness

Webinar Registration

Are you an educator who desires to maximize your capacity to meet the demands of teaching, support the needs of students and parents, and get to strong academic outcomes? This training is for you! In it, we will discuss the “five C’s” that will help to develop and sustain your mental health and wellness which is fundamental to your longevity, vitality and success!

Registration fee: $40

When?

Tuesday, Feb 16, 2021, 03:30 PM

Where?

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TCE Morning Meeting Ideas

Brain Breaks: Jigsaw Puzzles Brain Breaks: Jigsaw Puzzles

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Valentine Cookies

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Candy Hearts

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Red Lamborghini

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Momentous Institute Podcast

Listen anytime during the 2020-2021 school year on Apple Podcast or Spotify to earn 1 Hour of Flex Credit per episode. Complete this form after each and attach to your STRIVE entry: https://forms.gle/AeEqw9Fh8Fvas1Vz6

(Paras, check with Jennifer for Flex Credit approval first.)


Sample Episodes:

Episode 14: Understanding Boys

Certainly all children are different, but there are many commonalities among boys. Diving into all things boys is guest Dr. Matthew Leahy who shares his learning from the past decade of working with boys.

https://momentousinstitute.org/blog/episode-14-understanding-boys


Episode 15: Understanding Girls

What should parents know about how girls operate in the world? How should we prepare for the teen years? What is important to girls? In this episode we dive into all things girls with guest Tania Loenneker.

https://momentousinstitute.org/blog/episode-15-understanding-girls

When?

Monday, Feb 1, 2021, 12:00 AM

Where?

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Printables For SEL Integration Printables For SEL Integration

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Valentine Conversation Cards

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Compliment Bingo

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Cupid Quandary

Event Information

Region 10: MT Strategies to Support Social Emotional Learning

You have probably heard the familiar catchphrases “educating the whole child” or “teaching to the whole learner.” These buzz words are, of course, referring to social-emotional learning, which is not an entirely new concept. In fact, its been around in research for over 20 years and is also known as character education, moral education, citizenship, or even conflict resolution. All of these phrases have one founding principle in common: children need lots of things to learn and grow, many of which may not be tied to academics.

This course will provide you with a detailed overview of social-emotional learning (SEL) and the value of incorporating SEL into the classroom to help improve academic success and emotional intelligence. We will provide detailed strategies, examples, and provide numerous tools to help you implement SEL into any classroom regardless of subject-area or grade-level.

https://www.myprofessionallearning.com/user_catalog_class/show/434418?title=MT-Strategies-to-Support-Social-Emotional-Learning

Fee $23.75

When?

Monday, Feb 1, 2021, 12:00 AM

Where?

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How to Build Empathy & Strengthen Your School Community
Empathy is a part of being a responsible and helpful community member at school. Young people who show empathy are less likely to bully. Empathy can also lead to academic and career success, because it helps people understand and work with others.
Empathy
Zones of Regulation "Book Nook"
Check out this list of SEL books by topic and summary!

BOOKS THAT HELP KIDS LEARN EMPATHY & PERSPECTIVE BOOKS THAT HELP KIDS LEARN EMPATHY & PERSPECTIVE

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Stand In My Shoes

When Emily asks her big sister what the word empathy means, she discovers an answer that will change how she looks at people. Stand in My Shoes shows kids how easy it is to develop empathy toward those around them. Empathy is the ability to notice what other people feel. Empathy is the foundation for all social skills and personal relationships, which make our lives richer and more beautiful.
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Just Ask!

In Just Ask, United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have. Using her own experience as a child who was diagnosed with diabetes, Justice Sotomayor writes about children with all sorts of challenges--and looks at the special powers those kids have as well. As the kids work together to build a community garden, asking questions of each other along the way, this book encourages readers to do the same: When we come across someone who is different from us but we're not sure why, all we have to do is Just Ask.

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I Am Human

Being human means we are full of possibility. We learn, we dream, we wonder at the world around us. But we also make mistakes and can feel fearful or sad. I Am Human affirms that we can make good choices by acting with compassion and having empathy for others and ourselves. When we find common ground, we can feel connected to the great world around us and mindfully strive to be our best selves. Includes a guided meditation.

Additional SEL Read-A-Louds

TCE Counseling Library

Books That Heal Kids

CISD SEL Books

HELPFUL CLASSROOM RESOURCES

Understanding the Social Emotional Needs of Learners (with ACES) slideshow

Benefits of Mindfulness website

Zones of Regulation poster

Zones 4 Colors posters

Zones 4 Colors small posters

Feelings Zones posters

50 Ways to Take a Break poster

99 Coping Skills handout

Good / Poor Coping Skills handout

Grounding Strategies cards

30 Mindful Morning Scripts educator guide

Headspace App for Educators website

Calm App for Educators website

ACES in the Classroom website

How to Help Build Resiliency website

Trauma Survival in Primary Schools handout

Responsive Classrooms Class Meeting Scripts
Check out these grade level specific "First 10 Days" Morning Meetings Scripts for new ideas and ways to take your class meetings to a deeper, more meaningful level.

2020-2021 Guidance Lessons 2020-2021 Guidance Lessons

Click on the links below to view 2020-2021 lessons, videos, handouts, and other resources.


LESSON ONE: "What Counselors Do & Tools to Help My Body Feel Calm"

K-2 Guidance Lesson

3-5 Guidance Lesson

Zenergy Chime Breathing

Pufferfish Breathing

Mentimeter Poll

Charles Mortimer Alexander McGee (let me know if you'd like to borrow!)


LESSON TWO: "Our Brains & Feelings"

Kinder Guidance Lesson

1st Guidance Lesson

2nd Guidance Lesson

3rd Guidance Lesson

4th Guidance Lesson

5th Guidance Lesson

Your Brain


LESSON THREE: "Red Ribbon Week: Making Healthy Choices"

Kinder Guidance Lesson: Healthy Choices

1st Guidance Lesson: Yes or No?

2nd Guidance Lesson: What is Peer Pressure?

3rd Guidance Lesson: Escaping Peer Pressure

4th Guidance Lesson: Peer Pressure Refusal Skills

5th Guidance Lesson: Peer Pressure Exit Strategies

Stop, Ask First

Social Experiment: Waiting in Line

BrainPop: Peer Pressure


LESSON FOUR: "Healthy Bodies"

Kinder Guidance Lesson: I Am Special

1st Guidance Lesson: Caring for My Body

2nd Guidance Lesson: Safe & Healthy Bodies

3rd Guidance Lesson: Magnificent Me

4th Guidance Lesson: Super Healthy Bodies

5th Guidance Lesson: Prescriptions, OTC, & Self-Talk

I Am Special (Sesame Street: Grover)

Medicines in My Home


LESSON FIVE: "Communication"

Kinder Guidance Lesson: How to Talk to a New Friend

1st Guidance Lesson: Whole Body Listening

2nd Guidance Lesson: Communicating Through Actions

3rd Guidance Lesson: Active Listening

4th Guidance Lesson: More Than Words

5th Guidance Lesson: Communication Styles

Do You Want to Be My Friend by Eric Carle

Will You Be a Friend of Mine?

Guess the Sounds Game

Elmo Knows How to Listen (Sesame Street)

Slappy Squirrel: Who's on Stage?

The Rabbit Listened by Cory Doerfeld


LESSON SIX: "Conflict Resolution"

K-5 Guidance Lesson: Conflict Resolution

What is Conflict? (Sesame Street)

I Messages

Share & Take Turns

Compromise

Rock, Paper, Scissors

Conflict Resolution Song

Conflict Resolution Jeopardy


LESSON SEVEN: "Play It Safe"

Kinder Guidance Lesson: Tic Toc and the Twins

1st Guidance Lesson: Mae Shares a Secret

2nd Guidance Lesson: Bentley's Big Production

3rd Guidance Lesson: Vat Vould You Do?

4th Guidance Lesson: Chase Steps Up

5th Guidance Lesson: Aiden's Discovery

Joe and Suzy dolls

CISD Employee Assistance Program
Talk to someone who can help you untangle your feelings. There's no shame in the therapy game. Our district insurance covers 5 counseling visits per year, per topic!
REVIEW: "Aug 10 - SEL & Trauma Training"
Winter Counselor Corner
November Counselor Corner
October Counselor Corner
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Kelly Matlock

Town Center Elementary School Counselor

Email: kmatlock@coppellisd.com
Website: www.coppellisd.com/tce
Location: 185 North Heartz Road, Coppell, TX, USA
Phone: 214-496-7800
Twitter: @TCE_Counselor

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