1 / 21

Best Counseling Practices at Pre-K

Best Counseling Practices at Pre-K. Kim Smith, Counselor Jennifer Hatch, Counselor Springdale Public Schools. Why do pre-k students need a counselor????. My answer is always the same….”They need it most!”

sigmund
Download Presentation

Best Counseling Practices at Pre-K

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Best Counseling Practices at Pre-K Kim Smith, Counselor Jennifer Hatch, Counselor Springdale Public Schools

  2. Why do pre-k students need a counselor???? • My answer is always the same….”They need it most!” • Research shows that early childhood is a critical stage for the onset of emotional and behavioral impairments. • Increased rates of behavioral problems for children living in poverty. • Reduces the number of inappropriate referrals for special services. • Develops their coping skills and abilities to be problem solvers in the future.

  3. How do you counsel a pre-k student? • 1st priority – Get to know the kids! That means venturing into the classroom A LOT…they need to know who you are and what your job is! Trust me….they get it! • 2nd priority – Develop relationships with the teachers! You must make clear your role in the school and they need to know you care about them and if you don’t know what their style of classroom management is, you won’t be able to be effective! • Traditional counseling methods will not work • Play-based therapy…play is their communication. • Be concrete! • Brain-based approach is best…Conscious Discipline….. • Make connections! • Non-threatening environment… • Include humor! • Music and movement are key!

  4. 3rd Priority – Counseling Parents • You might be thinking, but I am here to counsel students, right? In a perfect world, yes, but…. • Regardless of all the training and technological advances, parents will always be the most important source of information and values for their growing children. • For most of our kids, pre-k is the first introduction to a school setting they have ever had! • For our parents, pre-k is the first introduction to the dynamics of school, school administration, and teachers! • You better make it count!

  5. Common problems with Pre-K children and families….. • Temper tantrums • Sharing • Bullying • Friendship • Power struggles • Anger • Depression • Tattling • Bedtime Struggles • Hitting, biting, kicking, spitting • Empathy • Schedules • Anxiety

  6. Promoting Positive Social Development • Pro-Active vs. Reactive • Defining, Teaching, and Supporting Appropriate Behavior • Rules (positive and posted in classroom) • Develop Matrix of Rules and Expected Behaviors • Teach expectations in different settings (lunchroom, bathroom, playground)

  7. Example Matrix

  8. How does it look? • Introduce each concept individually. • Ask students “when” do we do this. • Discuss why it is safe, responsible or kind. • Pre-correct everyday that week. • Model and role play expected behavior. • Practice expected behavior. • Celebrate in the classroom when several children have exemplified expectations. • Use pictures or other visuals of the expectations.

  9. What is conscious discipline?

  10. Just to re-cap! • Brain-based, social/emotional classroom management model that empowers teachers first, students second. • We are a school family! Held together by communication skills… • Promotion of appropriate behavior through love, not fear. • Focus on the instruction of social skills. • Relationships are the ! • Every disruption or conflict is a teaching moment! • Consistency and time will make or break a programs success! • It takes 21 days to develop a single new habit!

  11. Seven Basic Social Skills • Anger Management • Helpfulness ( kindness & sharing) • Assertiveness • Impulse Control • Cooperation • Empathy • Problem Solving

  12. Fern Creek Elementary

  13. What CD strategies work for teaching these social skills? • Breathing Techniques • Whole classroom guidance (20 minutes) • Parenting Skills • Social Stories • Acknowledging • Self Regulation • Creating a language of love and acceptance!

  14. It’s brain smart time…..

  15. Creating a sense of community in your classroom…

  16. Breathing….it works!!!

  17. Are you utilizing a safe place in your room where kids can safely have a meltdown with choices????

  18. Are you holding your children accountable? Making commitments gives them ownership!

  19. Post it where they can see it

  20. You need a kindness reporter in your room….this gives the children a chance to recognize each other

  21. Create a language of love and acceptance!

More Related