boy and girls celebrating

A Colorful Start: Fun Activities to Help Students Visualize Their Year Ahead

As a new year begins, it’s the perfect time to inspire students with positivity, goal-setting, and the excitement of what lies ahead. It is an incredible opportunity to guide students in crafting a vision for their future. Here are three delightful activities designed for upper elementary age students to help them visualize their year ahead.…

girl writing

Pen to Paper: Helping Elementary Students Achieve Their Dreams Through Goal-Setting Journals

Several years ago while on a flight home, I used the time to write in my journal and catch up on my goals. A man seated nearby, commented on how amazed he was to see me actually writing in a notebook in this digital age.  I got the impression that he was pretty astonished that…

goal setting

Helping Kids Set Goals that Motivate

Helping kids learn to set goals can be a skill that serves them well in every area of life. However, it can also be a frustrating and discouraging experience for them! Even adults have great difficulty setting and following through on goals. How can you help kids not only set goals but develop the patience…

goal setting

Goals That Fit: Helping Elementary Students Set Goals Based on Their Temperament Style

Goal setting is a vital life skill that empowers elementary students to envision their future and take actionable steps toward success. However, the process isn’t one-size-fits-all. Recognizing a child’s unique temperament style can make goal setting more personalized and effective. This blog explores the intersection of temperament and goal setting, offering insights for school counselors…

caring hands

The Spirit of Giving: Fostering Generosity in Schools

Teaching Kids to be Generous With the holiday season in full swing, it is a great time to teach children about generosity and gratitude. However, developing a servant heart and a spirit of giving is a trait that doesn’t need to end after the holiday is over. By weaving the value of giving into the…

gratitude

Teaching Gratitude

Teaching Kids to be Grateful for Hardship This is a hard topic for adults so I know that teaching kids to be grateful for challenges and hardships in their own lives is difficult. However, in the current climate economic downturns, schools in crisis, divisiveness among so many different groups, not to mention the many personal…

Two girls playing together with wooden toy blocks

School Wide Activities to Foster Kindness

Looking for a way to create a positive culture in your school? One essential ingredient is a kindness-focused environment which has the added benefit of improving the emotional and social development of students as well. As counselors, we play a pivotal role in leading these efforts. Here are some practical ways to create a positive…

kids together

Spreading Sunshine: Cultivating Kindness in Our Schools

In a world that can often feel critical and unkind, fostering a culture of kindness in our schools is more important than ever. As elementary school counselors, we have a unique opportunity to lead the charge in creating environments where kindness flourishes. Let’s explore how we can cultivate kindness in our schools and the benefits…

The Kid President and Resilience

Wonder Where the Kid President is Now? In 2013,  Robby Novak, otherwise known as the Kid President, took the world by storm. Over a  three million views on just his first video. Why?  What made him so engaging? Well, he was funny, energetic, loved to dance AND had a good message. He encouraged teachers to look…

What People Say About The Wyatt Books

kind words from educators, parents, and kids!

"Going to kindergarten is a milestone for everyone and the beginning of the year is usually filled with excitement and angst.  Wyatt the Wonder Dog addresses the typical concerns that most children have in a sweet and relatable way.  Kindergarten really is fun!"

— Laura Uszenski
Kindergarten Teacher

"Wyatt the Wonder Dog Learns about Teamwork is another great example of helping kids improve their social skills.  It teaches kids the power of working together and how much better we are when we work as a community"

—Melissa Toren Hrin, Professional School Counselor
Beverly Cleary School, Portland, OR

"[Wyatt the Wonder Dog Learns about Mindset] This book is funny!  It's dogs doing things that only people do!  I learned to try new things."

— Samuel Traub
Age 6

Wyatt the Wonder Dog Learns about Giving is a delightful book that teaches kids (and reminds adults, as well) that generosity is possible no matter how old, young, rich or poor we are.  This is a powerful message and an engaging story that every child will love. 

~Jen McDonough, author of Living Beyond Rich

Wyatt the Wonder Dog Learns about Friendship teaches not only friendship and making connections, but also how to become successful at problem solving. Great for school counselors, teachers and families.  Bravo! 

Sharissa Shatten~ School Counselor

Feeling left out? Need help getting along with friends? Wyatt the Wonder Dog Learns about Cooperation weaves important life skills into engaging story telling. Join Wyatt as he learns how to be the superhero in his group of friends by using cooperation and compromise.

~MaryFrances Gonzalez MACCCSLP

Have you ever had a friend that did some things that you disagreed with? Wyatt does and he doesn't know what to do about it. Join Wyatt as he learns that being honest with his friend is the best and only way to solve the problem. A great story!

~Lynn Hughes M.Ed. school counselor

If you've ever lost your lunch money or misplaced your favorite toy, you can relate to Wyatt the Wonder Dog.  This adorable story offers simple, helpful ideas that kids and parents can use to make life less stressful and more fun!

~Erin K. Casey, author