RVES School Counselor Corner
October 2020
What Happened This Month At Riverview Elementary School
Kindergarten "Meet the School Counselor" Lessons
With each cohort only being at school for one day during the week of MEA, we decided to take that opportunity to go into the Kindergarten classrooms and do our "Meet the School Counselor" lesson - Superhero Style!! We dressed up as superheroes and used the pieces of our costumes (i.e. masks, capes, shields, etc.) to teach the students what we do here at Riverview. We also played a game of "Simon Says - Superhero Style" and practiced using our listening ears as well as learning some cool superhero poses! Afterwards, students were given a coloring sheet to bring home and teach their families all about what their School Counselors do!! It's one of our favorite lessons!!
Kindergarten Connection Day
On Friday, October 23rd, Kindergarten students and their parents were invited to Rambling River Park for a fun-filled morning with several of the Riverview Staff. The event was kicked off with a scavenger hunt on the playground, and then the kiddos joined Mr. Ty (Kindergarten Physical Education Teacher) for a fun snowman building activity. The big snowflakes falling made for a perfect and magical morning of fun!! Here are some photos from the day!
School Refusal and Avoidance
What To Do When They Don't Want To Go To School
It's no secret that this year has had its challenges! You might be noticing an increase in school refusal and school avoidance. In the age of COVID, many students are experiencing environmental stress (wearing masks, social distancing), new pressures (inconsistent schedules, family stress), and academic expectations (online learning, navigating digital platforms) - they are anxious and stressed out! Other contributing factors may include a combination of school, family, and child dynamics. All of these big feelings may present themselves as emotional distress (crying, begging, worrying), somatic complaints (sleep issues, headaches, stomach pain, etc) or as behaviors (clinginess, tardiness, classroom disruptions, skipping school, etc). The good news is there are ways to identify and work through the anxiety that presents itself in school refusal and avoidance!
Talk It Through
- Externalize the anxiety - How does the ...... get in the way of you attending school? When is ........... in charge and when are you in charge?
- Can't verbalize it? -- Ask them to draw their thoughts and feelings about school or how their body feels when they are worried.
- Have them create or act out the "story" of how they are thinking and feeling about school and what they would want in the future.
Home Help
- Establish routines (bedtime, wake time, mealtime, homework time, etc.)! It is helpful for weekday routines to mimic routine at school. If it is a home-learning day (or if child has refused to attend school), routine should still be followed.
- Set clear expectations. Student must go to school or be doing your home learning during school times unless physical symptoms are severe enough to warrant a doctor visit.
- Avoid reinforcing negative behaviors. If they have refused school or work, avoid rewards (television, gaming, lunch dates, etc.) until work is done or school is attended. Every 45 minutes ask your child if they are ready to go back to school or continue their work. Ignore unwanted behavior, such as whining, complaining, and attention-seeking.
- When they go to school or do their work, reinforce that behavior. Reassure and encourage ("I know you are nervous and I know you can do it") and keep goodbyes short.
School Strategies
- Make it a team approach. Who are the people who should be involved and working together for this student? Differing perspectives are important in considering the root causes!
- Conceptualize possible accommodations (i.e., modified assignments, tutoring, breaks with "safe adult," reducing public speaking, different testing area, etc.).
- Develop a plan! Have a meeting, assign roles, be specific, decide what accommodations will be made and for how long, address any safety concerns, and ensure full understanding of all team members on the plan and roles.