Posts by Lynne Watts
Vision Boards for Kids: A Powerful Goal-Setting Tool for Elementary School Counselors
Teaching students how to set and achieve goals is one of the most impactful life skills an elementary school counselor can provide. While goal setting can sometimes feel abstract for young learners, vision boards offer a developmentally appropriate, hands-on way to make goals concrete, visual, and motivating. This creative strategy supports academic success, social-emotional learning,…
Read MorePlan Ahead, Shine Ahead: Teaching Elementary Students the Power of Being Prepared
For elementary school counselors, teaching students to be prepared is about more than just having supplies or finishing homework—it’s about helping children build habits of responsibility, planning, and self-management that will support them throughout their academic journey and beyond. Being prepared helps students feel confident, reduces anxiety, and allows them to take ownership of their…
Read MoreBeyond Gifts: Building Character in Students During the Holidays
The holiday season offers a natural opportunity for school counselors to guide students in developing character traits that go far beyond decorations and presents. By emphasizing generosity, kindness, inclusivity, and forgiveness, counselors can help students focus on meaningful connections, relationships, and personal growth. Creating a Positive, Relationship-Focused Environment Counselors play a key role in shifting…
Read MoreSmart Choices Start Early: How to Teach Elementary Students Good Decision-Making Skills
Helping children learn how to make good decisions is one of the most powerful life skills elementary school counselors can teach. Decision-making lessons not only build confidence but also lay the foundation for moral character, critical thinking, and personal responsibility. Elementary students make decisions every day—from choosing friends to deciding whether to follow the rules…
Read MoreWhen Young Hearts Hurt: Supporting Elementary Students in Grief
Grief is one of the most difficult emotions a child can experience—and one of the most important areas where an elementary school counselor can make a profound difference. Whether the loss involves a loved one, a pet, a friend, or a major change in a child’s world, grief impacts every part of a child’s development.…
Read MoreHelping a Child with Angry Outbursts: A Guide for Elementary School Counselors
Every elementary school counselor encounters students who struggle with anger and frustration. Angry outbursts can disrupt classrooms, damage peer relationships, and leave children feeling ashamed or misunderstood. As a school counselor, your role is crucial in helping students identify, understand, and manage their emotions in healthy ways. Learning to support a child with angry outbursts…
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