HUSD School Counselor Bulletin
Family Edition for the Week of April 20-24
Working Together
We miss you so much! We know that it has been difficult adjusting to at-home learning during this time of school closure. We hope this Bulletin gives you a few ideas to keep a positive mindset while you are learning from home. Remember this is tough for everyone and that you are doing great!
We miss you and we are here to support you!
HUSD School Counselors
Skill of the Week - Self-Awareness
The ability to accurately recognize one's own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior. The ability to accurately assess one's strengths and limitations, with a well grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a "growth mindset."
Elementary Mindfulness
Middle School Mindfulness
Exploring Growth Mindset
Family Activity - Identifying Positive Traits
Elementary Lesson - Story Read Aloud
Middle School Lesson - A Time for Reflection
The first step toward greater self-awareness is becoming aware of our inner thoughts. Taking control of our thoughts liberates us from being controlled by them. Self-awareness is an important skill that is important to becoming emotionally intelligent and worth our time and energy to learn how to listen to our inner talk.
Practice This:
· Carry a notebook, smart phone, tablet, or recording device.
· A few times a day, write or record the words of your inner talk as best you can – just a few lines each time.
Record your dialogue without making any judgments. The goal is to raise awareness of the words we use. If you find yourself being critical of someone, write down the words, not how you feel about the words. Later on, you can examine the meaning, beliefs, and what to do about them.
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
Reflect on the differences of your stressors at school as compared to being at home during this time. Are they the same or different and why?
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
Watch the Release video together and share the stresses of middle school on a day to day basis compared to the stresses of being home and completing school work in the midst of the stay at home order. Which do you like best - school or home and why?
Exploring Growth Mindset
Adaptability Activity
Self-awareness is been able to recognize areas that you are good at and areas that you may need to improve on. This worksheet helps with that, it helps students identify areas where they need to be more adaptable and where they are already doing a good job.
STEAM Suggestion - Create a Cloud
Look up at the sky today. Do you see any clouds? They look like big balls of cotton, but they're actually made of water! Do you know how clouds are formed? Water droplets attach to tiny bits of dust, smoke, or other particles in the air. When you look at a cloud, what you're actually seeing is billions and billions of those particles that have attached together! Create your own clouds in a jar with only a few simple materials. Make sure you have a grown-up help you!
For directions on how to make your cloud in a jar, use this link:
Additional Resources
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1 (800) 273-8255
Crisis Text Line
Text “Hello” to 741741