Friendship Troubles: Helping Students Navigate Tricky Friend Situations
Handling challenging situations. Knowing when to move on… What do you do when a friend wants to do something that is unkind, thoughtless, or involves breaking the rules? What do you do when a friend is bossy, self-centered and treats you unkindly? If a friend treats you badly, is it okay to treat them the…
“That’s Not Fair!” and Other Ploys: Turning Student Pushback Into Positive Growth
As elementary school counselors, we often encounter familiar phrases that students use as emotional shields, attempts to avoid accountability, or ways to test boundaries. These “ploys” may seem like resistance, but they’re actually great teaching moments. Here’s how to respond to five common student ploys with empathy, clarity, and growth-focused strategies. “It’s Not Fair.” What…
Fail Forward: Helping Kids Turn Setbacks into Stepping Stones
In a world of high expectations and pressure to perform, even young students can feel overwhelmed by the ideas of success and failure. As school counselors, we play a crucial role in guiding them to understand that failure isn’t the end of the story—it’s often the beginning. When framed correctly, setbacks can become powerful springboards…
Start Strong: 5 Ways Counselors Plan for a Fantastic School Year
As an elementary school counselor, the start of the school year is your chance to set the tone—not just for your students, but for yourself. Whether you’re new to the role or a seasoned professional, being intentional in how you begin can set you up for success. Below are five practical strategies to position yourself…
Calm in the Chaos: Strategies for Supporting an Upset Student
Whether it’s a playground conflict, academic frustration, or something happening at home, elementary students can get upset for many reasons—and those emotions often show up suddenly and intensely. As a school counselor, your approach in those fragile moments can make all the difference. With the right strategies, you can build trust, de-escalate big feelings, and…
Teach Girls Bravery not Perfection
Reshma Saujani is a woman with a mission. She is on a campaign to change the way that we socialize young girls. Her premise is this: girls are taught to be perfect, while boys are taught to be brave. How does this happen? In her effort to challenge more young women to tackle careers…
Resilience: Helping Students Thrive Through Challenges
What does a student do when faced with a challenging situation? Give Up Find an adult to fix the problem Attempt to solve the problem Resilience is the ability to bounce back from challenges, adapt to difficult situations, and keep going in the face of adversity. For elementary-aged students, resilience might look like staying calm…
Building Self Esteem the Growth Mindset Way
Back in the day when I was a kid, (which I admit was long, long ago), no one worried about kids developing self-esteem. I’m not even sure the concept of self-esteem existed. What did parents worry about? Well, other normal stuff; kids behaving, kids being successful in school, kids getting along with each other. Then…
Growing Self-Esteem in Schools: Simple Ways Counselors Can Make a Difference
What is Positive Self-Esteem? Positive self-esteem is a child’s belief in their own worth, abilities, and potential. It’s the confidence to take on challenges, the resilience to bounce back from setbacks, and the self-acceptance that fosters happiness and motivation. When students feel valued and capable, they are more likely to take risks, try new things,…
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!"
"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"
"[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."
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
