Counselor's Corner

This month's counseling program focus is Respect. One way to think about Respect is "seeing value in all people and things & treating them with care." Many people feel Respected in different ways and we hope this month inspires discussions with your family about what Respect means to you and how you can practice it together!

 

Respect is 1 of 3 traits that we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Kind. During SEL class and with the school counselor, students will be developing skills like perspective-taking, conflict resolution, and leadership.

 

We all experience conflict in life. We need tools to help us navigate conflict successfully. This month, we will use the Tree of Choices to practice conflict resolution. The Tree of Choices is a simple tool to help us resolve conflict successfully.

• The Roots of the Tree:
  • Identifying if the problem is big or small.
  • Big problems require assistance from an adult, which usually means someone is being hurt physically or emotionally.
  • Small problems can be solved on their own without adult assistance.
• The Heart of the Tree:
  • Naming the emotions you are feeling.
• The Branches of the Tree:
  • Make a choice to:
    • Move it out (step away from the problem)
    • Talk it out (talk through the issue or connect with a friend or trusted adult)
    • Breathe it out (practice some strategies that help us calm our emotions before responding in the heat of the moment)

 

If you have questions about the counseling program's PurposeFull People curriculum, or if your student needs help solving a big problem, please contact me:

Rebecca Smith, School Counselor

rebecca.smith@lakotaonline.com