Posts by Lynne Watts
Respect Lessons for Elementary School Counselors: Building Positive School Communities
Respect is one of the most important character traits elementary school counselors can teach. When students understand what it means to be respectful, they are better equipped to build strong relationships, contribute to a positive classroom environment, and succeed both academically and socially. Teaching respect in elementary school is not only about manners, but also…
Read MoreThe Power of Listening: Teaching Kids to Hear with Their Ears, Eyes, and Heart
Listening is one of the most important skills for kids to learn to be successful students, employees and ultimately successful in any relationship. Disagreements and miscommunication are often the result of poor listening. It is more than just being quiet while someone else talks—it’s an essential life skill that helps children build stronger relationships, learn…
Read MoreGrowing Generous Hearts: How Elementary Counselors Can Teach Giving and Kindness
Elementary school counselors play an important role in shaping the social and emotional growth of students. One essential character trait to nurture is generosity—the ability and willingness to give time, energy, resources, or kindness to others without expecting anything in return. Teaching generosity helps students build empathy, strengthen relationships, and create a more positive school…
Read MoreWork Smarter, Not Harder: Teaching Students How to Learn Effectively
As elementary school counselors, part of our role is helping students build not just social-emotional skills but also strong learning habits. When students learn how to learn, they become more confident, engaged, and resilient in the classroom. Below are six key strategies counselors can teach—and practical ways to integrate them into small groups, classroom lessons,…
Read MoreFrom Big Feelings to Healthy Choices: Guiding Students Through Emotions
Body Language and Feelings A standard lesson that I taught every year as an elementary school counselor was recognizing feelings. It was a fun lesson. I’d bring in large cut outs of children showing mad, sad, happy or scared feelings and ask kids to guess how the child was feeling. We’d talk about body language…
Read MoreUnlocking Motivation: Helping Students Choose Success
In today’s educational environment, we are more aware than ever that student motivation and engagement is essential for lasting learning. I can’t tell you how many times as a school counselor, I had discussions with teachers, parents and kids about being motivated. However, I’m afraid we rarely discussed how important intrinsic motivation is vs. extrinsic…
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