School Counselor Connection
February 2022
Tier I -Classroom Guidance from Second Step: Kindergarten, First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade
Over the course of this school year kindergarten through fifth grade students at Whitney will be learning about Goal Setting & Mindset, Empathy & Compassion, Emotion Management, and Problem Solving using the Second Step curriculum. During the month of February kindergarten through fifth grade students will be learning to identify and solve problems. Please contact me if you have further questions. My phone number is (440) 268-5971. My email is eschibley@scsmustangs.org.
The elementary school counseling department is excited to present classroom lessons using the Second Step Program. The information below indicates the monthly themes and monthly objectives for the school year.
FEBRUARY Lesson #1 of the Month
Problem Solving. I can solve problems using STEP.
Kindergarten: Lesson # 16: We Can Say the Problem
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn how to state a problem without blame or name calling. They’ll practice identifying problems in given scenarios, listen to their teacher state the problem, and then repeat the statement.
Try This at Home
Children may be tempted to blame others when they’re upset about something. Encourage your child to avoid blame by describing what happened without focusing on who is at fault.
First Grade: Lesson #16: How to Say the Problem
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn how to state a problem in a respectful way, without blame or name calling. They’ll practice identifying problems and then state the problem respectfully.
Try This at Home
Children may be tempted to blame others when they’re upset about something. Encourage your child to avoid blame by describing what happened without focusing on who is at fault.
Imagine Neighborhood
Listen with your child to the Imagine Neighborhood podcast, Season 1, Episode 9: Solving Problems with the Fire Pirates.
Second Grade: Lesson #16: The Way to Say a Problem
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn how to state a problem without using blame words.
Try This at Home
Ask your child for an example of blame words. Have them explain how they’d say a problem without using blame words.
Imagine Neighborhood
Listen with your child to the Imagine Neighborhood podcast, Season 1, Episode 9: Solving Problems With the Fire Pirates.
Third Grade: Lesson #16: STEP by Step
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn a new process for solving problems called STEP.
Try This at Home
Ask your child if they can recall what each letter in STEP stands for. (S: Say the problem, T: Think of solutions, E: Explore the outcomes, P: Pick a solution.)
Fourth Grade: Lesson #17: Saying It Respectfully
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will begin to learn a process for solving interpersonal problems. They’ll learn how to say the problem respectfully and without blame.
Try This at Home
Talk with your child about an interpersonal problem they’ve had at home. Help your child think about each person’s point of view, and then work together to say the problem respectfully.
Fifth Grade: Lesson #17: When, Where, Who?
Summary
In this lesson, your child will consider when, where, and with whom it would be best to work on an interpersonal problem.
Try This at Home
Ask your child why it’s important to think about when, where, and with whom it would be best to work on an interpersonal problem.
FEBRUARY Lesson #2 of the Month
Problem Solving. I can solve problems using STEP.
Kindergarten: Lesson #17: Ready to Solve Problems
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that taking time to feel calm before reacting is a helpful first step to solving a problem.
Try This at Home
Let your child see you taking a moment to feel calm at home when things are busy or stressful. For example, say, “Today was a really busy day. I’m going to take a few slow breaths to help me feel calm.” Invite your child to join you.
First Grade: Lesson #17: What It An Accident?
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn helpful ways to respond to a problem caused by accident. They’ll practice phrases for apologizing: "I’m sorry. It was an accident. Are you okay? How can I help?"
Try This at Home
When accidents occur at home, take time to apologize and encourage your child to do the same, using the new phrases they learned at school this week.
Imagine Neighborhood
Listen with your child to the Imagine Neighborhood podcast, Season 1, Episode 3: Macho Supreme Has an Accident.
Second Grade: Lesson # 17: Thinking of Solutions
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that thinking of more than one way to solve a problem can help them find one that works better or that they like better.
Try This at Home
Ask your child to explain why it can be good to think of more than one way to solve a problem.
Third Grade: Lesson #17: Say the Problem
Summary
In this week’s lesson your child will learn how to say a problem by thinking about what each person wants or needs.
Try This at Home
Ask your child how they would say a problem respectfully, without blaming anyone.
Fourth Grade: Lesson #18 Exploring Outcomes
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn how to weigh the pros and cons of possible solutions to an interpersonal problem by thinking about the points of view of everyone involved.
Try This at Home
Talk with your child about a time when they successfully solved an interpersonal problem. What solutions did they consider, and what were the pros and cons of each solution? Describe a time when you found it helpful to think of each person’s point of view when predicting whether a solution to an interpersonal problem might work.
Fifth Grade: Lesson #18: Solutions Web
Summary
In this lesson, your child will evaluate solutions to an interpersonal problem by thinking about the problem from each person’s point of view.
Try This at Home
Tell your child about a simple interpersonal problem that you’ve experienced and describe each person’s point of view about the problem. Ask them to help you think of solutions and predict the possible outcomes of each solution.
Love and Logic
Say Something Week-March 21-25, 2022 (Change of Date)
Dear Parents or Caregivers,
During the week of March 11 through March 15, your child will be taking part in Say Something Week throughout the Strongsville City School District. We will be discussing how to recognize warning signs, signals of danger and bullying behavior. Students will learn how important it is to remember if they see something, they should say something, and they will stop something.
As a parent/caregiver, we know it can be hard to know how your child is feeling. Today, many children turn to online channels to express themselves, their thoughts and hopes, and their anxieties and personal feelings. Some even go as far as hinting at hurting themselves or someone else. Their friends and peers are the eyes and ears of the school and community, and they may see and hear these communications, but may not always understand or know what to do with that information.
Say Something teaches all of this.
We encourage you to talk to your child about Say Something and share what they are learning.
Not only will this conversation help you to recognize any signs in your own child’s expressions,
but it demonstrates to them that you also take this subject seriously and can be one of the trusted adults your child turns to if they suspect someone may need help.
We know that schools are meant to be safe places. Say Something will help equip our young
people to do their part to keep our school community safe. For more information on Say Something, please visit: http://www.sandyhookpromise.org/saysomething.
Furthermore, Strongsville City Schools is fully committed to curbing student bullying and school violence, and providing a positive learning environment for all students that enhances personal safety and promotes respect, dignity, and equality among students. We believe our schools play an important role in helping faculty, staff and parents prepare students to be respectful and responsible citizens. As part of our commitment, the district is initiating a new, integrated program, developed by former school officials, that provides:
Online and telephone reporting tools for students, parents and staff.
Student training regarding the need to speak up about safety and bullying issues.
Staff training in recognizing and responding to incidents of bullying and violence.
Administrative systems to manage incidents and document district and school responses to reported concerns of bullying or violence.
You can find the Stay Safe, Speak information by visiting the Strongsville City School home webpage.
Sincerely,
Denise Candow, Samuel Lawrence, Megan Sislowski, Caleb Biehl, and Eric Schibley
Strongsville City Schools Elementary Counselors
Say Something Theme Days
Monday: Wear Green (Feeling Good About Saying Something)
Tuesday: Wear Sunglasses/Glasses (See Something-Don’t Look Away)
Wednesday: Wear Clothing with Words on It-Speak Up for Those Who Can’t (Say Something)
Thursday: Wear Red-(Stop Something and be an “Upstander”)
Friday: Wear Strongsville or School Apparel for We Stand United against Bullying