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TCE Counselor Parent Newsletter

APRIL 2022

TCE CounselorParent NewsletterAPRIL 2022

Tear Soup - A Story About Healing After Loss Tear Soup - A Story About Healing After Loss

Tear Soup, a book about healing after loss

BOOKS THAT HELP KIDS PROCESS GRIEF AND LOSS BOOKS THAT HELP KIDS PROCESS GRIEF AND LOSS

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When Sadness is at Your Door

Sadness can be scary and confusing at any age! When we feel sad, especially for long periods of time, it can seem as if the sadness is a part of who we are--an overwhelming, invisible, and scary sensation. This book approaches this feeling as if it is a visitor. The author gives it a shape and a face, and encourages the reader to give it a name, all of which helps to demystify it and distinguish it from ourselves. She suggests activities to do with it, like sitting quietly, drawing, and going outside for a walk. The beauty of this approach is in the respect the book has for the feeling, and the absence of a narrative that encourages the reader to "get over" it or indicates that it's "bad," both of which are anxiety-producing notions.

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Saying Goodbye to Lulu

A young girl and her lovable dog, Lulu, are the best of friends. They play games together, explore their neighborhood, and even cuddle up to read bedtime stories each night. Lulu is the best dog a girl could ever hope for, but when she grows older and gradually becomes weak, the little girl must face the sad possibility of losing her dear friend, and inevitably, cope with the death of her canine companion. Though she is deeply saddened by Lulu's passing and misses her very much, over time the little girl discovers that the sweet memory of her beloved Lulu will live on forever... in her heart.

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Life Without Nicco

Maia and Nico are best friends. They never get tired of playing together. Unexpectedly, though, Nico and his family have to move far away for a while. Maia is devastated. Now time passes slowly, and the emptiness is with Maia everywhere she goes. She makes her way through the dark days, bored and alone. But, slowly, things begin to change, and Maia meets an unexpected companion. She makes a new friend. She even discovers a new passion. Her life has become so happy and full, in fact, that she worries there will no longer be enough room for Nico. Of course, when he returns, she discovers there is. As Maia learns, there is always space in your heart for friendship.

FAMILY GRIEF RESOURCES FAMILY GRIEF RESOURCES

Please reach out to any TCE staff member for support as we process our grief together as a community. You may email the counselor directly at kmatlock@coppellisd.com.

Journey of Hope Grief Support Center
New York Life Foundation Family Support
Dougy Center Grief Support Resources for Kids
Carson's Village

Family Social Emotional Literacy Library Family Social Emotional Literacy Library

Town Center has an exciting new resource for families! We now have an entire resource library focused on Social and Emotional skill development. Themes are divided into 5 categories: Understanding Myself, Managing Myself, Respecting Others, Building Relationships, and Making Decisions.


View the SEL Titles (below), use the link to request the titles you would like to check out (below), and then use the corresponding conversation starters (below) to facilitate discussions at home. Books and discussion questions will be sent home with learners in book bags and may be returned after 2 weeks.

Click Here to View Available SEL Literacy Titles
Click Here to Check Out SEL Family Book Bags

GREAT PARENTING READS GREAT PARENTING READS

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The Whole-Brain Child by Dan Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson

In this pioneering, practical book, Daniel J. Siegel, neuropsychiatrist and author of the bestselling Mindsight, and parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson offer a revolutionary approach to child rearing with twelve key strategies that foster healthy brain development, leading to calmer, happier children. The authors explain—and make accessible—the new science of how a child’s brain is wired and how it matures. The “upstairs brain,” which makes decisions and balances emotions, is under construction until the mid-twenties. And especially in young children, the right brain and its emotions tend to rule over the logic of the left brain. No wonder kids throw tantrums, fight, or sulk in silence. By applying these discoveries to everyday parenting, you can turn any outburst, argument, or fear into a chance to integrate your child’s brain and foster vital growth.

Complete with age-appropriate strategies for dealing with day-to-day struggles and illustrations that will help you explain these concepts to your child, The Whole-Brain Child shows you how to cultivate healthy emotional and intellectual development so that your children can lead balanced, meaningful, and connected lives.
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UnSelfie by Michele Borba

Teens today are forty percent less empathetic than they were thirty years ago. Why is a lack of empathy—which goes hand-in-hand with the self-absorption epidemic Dr. Michele Borba calls the Selfie Syndrome—so dangerous? First, it hurts kids’ academic performance and leads to bullying behaviors. Also, it correlates with more cheating and less resilience. And once children grow up, a lack of empathy hampers their ability to collaborate, innovate, and problem-solve—all must-have skills for the global economy.

In UnSelfie Dr. Borba pinpoints the forces causing the empathy crisis and shares a revolutionary, researched-based, nine-step plan for reversing it.

The good news? Empathy is a trait that can be taught and nurtured. Dr. Borba offers a framework for parenting that yields the results we all want: successful, happy kids who also are kind, moral, courageous, and resilient. UnSelfie is a blueprint for parents and educators who want to kids shift their focus from I, me, and mine…to we, us, and ours.

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Parenting with Love and Logic by Foster Cline & Jim Fay

Designed for preschool and beyond, this helpful and practical psychology-based parenting method is an invaluable guide for all parents! Teach your children healthy responsibility and encourage their character growth from a young age. Learn to establish healthy boundaries with your children through easy-to-implement steps without anger, threats, nagging, or power struggles.

Trusted by generations of parents, counselors, and teachers to lovingly raise responsible children, Parenting with Love and Logic includes solutions for dozens of specific topics such as:

  • Tantrums
  • Managing screen time
  • Grades and report cards
  • Chores
  • Getting ready for school
  • Peer pressure
  • Cyberbullying
  • Navigating crisis situations and grief
  • And much more!

Each issue is indexed for easy reference. Learn how to tame tempers and re-establish a calm, healthy relationship and positive communication with your child today!

2021-2022 Guidance Lessons 2021-2022 Guidance Lessons

Click on the links below to view 2021-2022 lessons, videos, handouts, and other resources.


LESSON ONE: "What Does the Counselor Do?"

K-2 Lesson

3-5 Lesson

Zenergy Chime Breathing

Pufferfish Breathing

Powtoon: The Role of a Counselor

Charles Mortimer Alexander McGee by Maureen Fernandez

The Color Monster by Anna Llenas


LESSON TWO: "My Brain & Feelings"

Kinder Lesson

1st Grade Lesson

2nd Grade Lesson

3rd Grade Lesson

4th Grade Lesson

5th Grade Lesson

Your Brain by Heather Bryant and Maureen Fernandez

3/4 Brain & Feelings Kahoot

5 Brain & Feelings Kahoot

Sesame Street: Cupcake Breathing


LESSON THREE: "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: "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)

The Rabbit Listened by Cory Doerfeld


LESSON FIVE: "Perspective"

K-5 Guidance Lesson: Perspective

Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young

It's Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr

Draw Starts


LESSON SIX: "Personal Safety"

Tarrant County "Play It Safe" Curriculum

Joe & Suzy Dolls

K-5 Videos (available upon request)


LESSON SEVEN: "Conflict Resolution"

K-5 Guidance Lesson: Conflict Resolution Wheel

Conflict (Sesame Street)

I Messages (Cape Crusaders)

Compromise (The Olive Branch)

Share & Take Turns (The Olive Branch)

Rock, Paper, Scissors (Gather Together Games)

Conflict Resolution Song (Ubongo Kids)

TCE Counselor Parent News - March 2022
TCE Counselor Parent News - February 2022
TCE Counselor Parent News - January 2022
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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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