Michelle Sanford taught classroom guidance lessons at Philip Simmons Elementary in Spring 2017 covering topics like self-control, kindness, perseverance, and family changes. Some of the lessons and activities included discussing the books Interrupting Chicken and The Marshmallow Test, a kindness challenge and storyboards, lessons on perseverance featuring Michael Jordan and famous failures, and group counseling games and discussions about different family structures and feelings related to family changes. Sanford also provided individual counseling using activities such as a volcano triggers activity and a calm down sandwich technique.
6. Kindness: Chrysanthemum + Kindness is cooler,
Mrs. Ruler
“I can run fast” “I wear glasses”
“I’m really good at drawing” “My last
name is long like Chrysanthemum”
19. Family Changes
True/False Silent Game:
1. My family is different from others.
2. Parents can still love their children even if they don’t live with them.
3. It’s okay to talk about good and bad things that happen at home.
4. Sometimes I worry about who’s going to take care of me.
5. I know at least two people I trust and can talk to about my problems.
6. Living with one parent or other relatives is hard.
7. Someone important to me is very sick.
8. I wish I could spend more time with my mother.
9. I wish I could spend more time with my father.
10. I sometimes feel that it’s my fault that our family has problems.
11. I can think of goods things about my family.
12. I can think of one really good thing about me.
21. Making Lemonade
Lemons are kind of like families. Sometimes
families go through some sour and difficult times,
but there are also sweet things about families
going through changes.
Student examples:
Sour: “If one parents moves out”
Sweet: “Sometimes parents don’t fight anymore
after they divorce”.
Students started with sour lemon juice, and discussed
difficult or sour things their families have gone through.
Next, students added water and sugar while identifying
sweet things about family changes.
23. Banana Split Review
Who supports you during
hard times?
How can you be flexible?
4 good things that have
happened.
Biggest feelings.
Ways to stay cool.
Positive things to look
forward to.
