Posts by Lynne Watts
Building Bridges: Fostering Friendships Through Role-Play
Friendships are a crucial part of childhood, offering emotional support, opportunities for social learning, and a sense of belonging. As elementary school counselors, you play a vital role in helping students develop the necessary social skills to make and maintain friendships. One of the best ways to do this is through role-play either in a…
Read MoreIntrovert or Extrovert?
What is the Difference? When I teach training groups on temperament, one question that often comes up is how to best teach and encourage a child who is reserved or introverted. . Often extroverted parents or educators feel that they need to help introverts become more outgoing and get more involved in a social network.…
Read MoreCreating Engaging Lessons: Best Practices for Elementary School Counselors
Crafting engaging and interactive lessons for young elementary age students is both an art and a science. As counselors, we have the unique opportunity to captivate young minds, instill valuable lessons, and foster a love for learning. Here are four best practices for creating dynamic lessons while avoiding common mistakes. Creating an Engaging Lesson: Set…
Read MoreTen Secrets to Effective Parent Communication
Communicating Effectively with Parents As the school year begins, an important part of starting school for every counselor is establishing communication with parents. This is especially true in the younger years but even in later years, counselors have a responsibility to keep parents informed. I know you probably got into this field because you enjoy…
Read MoreA Positive Mindset and Starting Kindergarten
Tackling those Back to School Blues It’s back to school and there is excitement in the air! As the school counselor in an elementary school, the beginning of school was always a mixed bag of smiles and tears. I frequently spent lots of time comforting crying children who missed mom, dad, brother, sister or their…
Read MoreBegin School with Intention-Plan for Reflection
How Intention and Reflection Determine Learning What was the most memorable and significant year of school for you? The first year you attended school? The year you starred in the class play? The year you won an award? The year you graduated? Research has shown that an important part of learning in any environment is reflecting on our…
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