Counseling Corner

SOAR lessons are based on the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) competencies. From November to March, we will highlight a different competency in our newsletter. Self-Management is the next CASEL Competency

Self-Management is the handling of our behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. This includes skills to regulate uncomfortable feelings, delay gratification, and reach our goals.

These capacities could include (cited from CASEL's website):

• Managing one’s emotions
• Identifying and using stress management strategies
• Exhibiting self-discipline and self-motivation
• Setting personal and collective goals
• Using planning and organizational skills
• Showing the courage to take initiative
• Demonstrating personal and collective agency

Source: What is the CASEL Framework? Interactive CASEL Wheel

• We will finish reviewing what Expected and Unexpected Behaviors are and how they affect others thoughts and feelings
• We will begin to introduce the Zones of Regulation Curriculum and talk about which feelings are comfortable and uncomfortable
• We will end the month by taking a deep dive into the Green Zone which includes feelings of Happy, Calm, Ready to Learn, and Proud.

• We will go over Unexpected and Expected Behaviors and how these behaviors make others think and feel
• We will review what it means to have Flexible and Stuck thinking
• We will discuss what Zones we are in when we are having Flexible and Stuck thinking

• We will finish our unit on the Zones of Regulation by exploring the Red Zone.
• We will identify how we look and feel in the Red zone.
• We will also brainstorm strategies that help us regulate when we experience an uncomfortable feeling.
• We will also explore expected and unexpected reactions to problems and uncomfortable feelings.

• We will introduce Thinking of Others vs Just Me Thinking and explain the importance of compromise and listening to others when sharing a space.
• We will discuss expected and unexpected ways to respond to feedback.
  

• Students will further discuss Healthy Friendships
• We will then talk about problem solving with peers and practice problem solving strategies

• We will learn about negative peer pressure and determine if peer pressure can ever be positive.
• We will also use our helpful vs hurtful choices chart to determine if peers are influencing me negatively or positively and steps we can take to handle negative peer pressure.

Kindergarten

• "The Way I Feel" by Janan Cain
  
• "I Like Myself" by Karen Beaumont

1st grade:

• "A Perfectly Messed Up Story" by Patrick McDonnell
• "Sticks" by Diane Alber

2nd grade:

• "A Little Spot of Anger" by Diane Alber
  
• "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" by Kevin Henkes

3rd grade:

• "Teamwork Isn't My Thing and I Don't Like to Share" by Julia Cook
• "Thanks for the Feedback, I Think" by Julia Cook

4th grade:

• Media: "Intent vs. Impact" (Youtube)

5th grade:

• Media: "Toasted TV: Dealing with Peer Pressure (YouTube)
• Media: "Small Talk: Peer Pressure" (YouTube)

Mrs. Tori Dore (grades K, 1, and 4)

Email: vwintersdore@walpole.k12.ma.us

Phone: 508-660-7374, ext. 5615

Mrs. Jessica Simpson (grades 2, 3, and 5)

Email: jsimpson@walpole.k12.ma.us

Phone: 508-660-7374, ext. 5615