Help I'm overwhelmed by TPT!

Do you ever feel this way? I do! In fact sometimes when I go back through my purchases to find something I find 20 other things I forgot I had purchased. So I thought I'd share my favorite purchases from TPT- the purchases I use the most and of course the books I'd pair with them.

I struggle with....

spelling, grammar, organization, ADHD, being a crazy dog mom, but I won't let that stop me from being awesome.

Here's a lesson I just stole from the remarkable Elizabeth Shepherd. It's a ton of fun for 5th and 6th graders. Some of you may feel comfortable doing it with 4th as well.

Do your kids love Jarrett Krosoczka as much as us? He's written so many amazing books, including the lunch lady series. He's an amazing author, school supporter, and all around an amazing and inspiring man.

Here's our simple yet powerful lesson:

1) We watched his Ted Talks about becoming an author. It's really funny and engaging. Heads up he does talk about his mothers addiction to drugs, his absent father, and his grandparents love of cocktails. Oh and he says "hell" once. My older kids could handle it, in fact many of them I think really connected because their own homes are just as chaotic.

2) We discussed how each of us face challenges but to be successful we need to be resilient. We talked about perseverance, resiliency and hope. Then I asked them to take a personal self reflection moment. During this time they completed the sentence: "I struggle with_______, but I won't let that stop me from_________." It was awesome to see some of their answers.

"I struggle with my parents divorce, but I won't let that stop me from getting off task or being irresponsible."

What do you struggle with? What will you not let that stop you from doing?

Quiz Quiz Trade Cards

Hi all,

Many of you have asked the QQT cards. I am working on a better set for my TPT account, but until then I have uploaded a good icebreaker set here!

Enjoy.

Conversation Hearts

It's almost Valentines Day, so I decided to use some cute conversation hearts I found on TPT for my small groups this week.

You can download these adorable printable for FREE thanks to the One Stop Counseling shop.
Here's how I used them in my social skills/friendship group:

I told the students were doing to play a conversation heart game and each round would be different so they had to use their best listening skills.

Round #1- I gave them a conversation heart with something someone might say to them like "I like stuffed animals" and "I don't agree with you." I cut out and laminated some of the blank hearts that came in the set and with dry erase markers I wrote lots of different sayings like "stuffed animals are for babies", "that's cool", "that's silly," "I'm telling on you." Each student had about 10 hearts with different sayings and when I "played" my heart they had to find one in their "deck" that would be considered rude or mean.


Round #2- We did the same thing, but this time they had to find a "polite" answer in their deck. I found it interesting that some of my students picked hearts that didn't make sense. So a few times we had to role play and try again.


Round #3- This time I gave them each the same sheet of conversation hearts and we had to think of kind/polite responses for each heart. I did one heart as an example, then we did one together, and then the last two they did on their own. If time allows you could do one sheet together and then one sheet alone. A few like "add!!" we role played and discussed how the tone could make it sound kind or mean.

Currently- I am getting to know you.

One of my favorite parts about Beg Borrow Steal is her "currently" idea.

From Beg Borrow Steal

I love this cute, quick activity for so many reasons. First, it's like a live journal. It would be so much fun to keep all of these in a journal to just flip through. Second, it's an idea just made for counselors to steal and use. Here's how I have used it:

Two Truths, One Lie

This is one of the easiest and one of my favorite "get to know you" activities. I play it with at least one grade level at the start of every year, and they really enjoy it. Sometimes, I have classes say "Oh my teacher already played this," which I love because I respond with "Great, so you know how to play and how to behave during the game. This also means you have to think hard, because you can't use one you have already used."

Here are the the rules of the game:

Each person must think of three things about themselves. Two of these things are true and one is a lie.  They should be fun things that they think people don't know about themselves.
Next, each person gets a chance to read his/her three things, while the rest of the class practices their listening skills and then we vote on which one was the lie.


Let's play! Which one is my lie???????


1) I have flown a plane.
2) I am not a US citizen.
3) One of my favorite vacations was to Seattle.




(*note : I would recommend having them write it down, because in the heat of the game sometime students forget or have the urge to jump and change their ideas.)

Postcard Get To Know You Activity

This is one of my favorite lessons to do with my 6th graders at the beginning of the year. I have done it with middle school age children, high school students, small groups, and faculty at each of my schools- you really can't go wrong.

As students/teachers enter the room as I ask them to find a post card with a picture on it that describes how they feel about starting the new school year. I use clip art and random pictures I find and them print them on card stock- simply and free.

After students/teachers find a picture/post card they meet in small groups for 5-10 minutes and discuss why they choose their post card.   Here are some pictures I found on Pinterest that I think I will include on my postcards this year and some examples of what a student might say (I feel all of these starting the new year!)

I think I took too much on!

Eh I am not so sure about this.......

OMG......talk about jumping into the deep end.

Let's make memories!

I might have a case of senior-itis.

I feel lost in a crowd. I am worried about the hallways being crowded and finding my way through the struggle.
This year is going to be the best year ever.


After each student shares in their small groups  we ask for volunteers to share with the entire group. I like having them practice in small groups first, because it gives some the courage to speak in front of the entire class.

Next, they flip their postcard over and on the left side write down 5 goals they have for the school year- academic, personal/social, or career goals. They spend 5-10 minutes working individually on their goals. On the right they fill out the postcard with their home address. After this they again share in their small groups and then as a large group. It is a great way to share that not only are many of them feeling the same way, but also many have the same goals and can help each other reach those goals.

Last, at Christmas break or mid way through the year I mail the cards to the students. I write little  notes on them like "How are you doing reaching your goal? What can you change to reach your goal?" or "Keep it up and you will reach any goal you set for yourself." They are cheap to mail and worst case scenario you can leave them on their desks as a morning surprise.

*Warning, unless you are doing this with adults they won't know what are you talking about when you say postcard! Seriously I haven't met a class yet that knew what a postcard was or how to fill it out- no seriously. Take a deep "I'm old" breathe and walk them through it step by step. Also, one year I found my 6th graders didn't all know their address- so we had a little side step lesson on knowing important information and why that was important safety information. Then, I "tested" them by having them complete their cards the next time I visited ( I was shell shocked by the way).

So, share with us....find a picture and share you are feeling about this school year!