Growth Mindset & Resilience
School Counselor Conference Success: Tips for Learning, Networking, and Growth
Every year, I attend several conferences as a speaker, vendor or participant, so I’ve seen conferences from many different perspectives. No matter what role I am playing, I always anticipate learning something new and making new connections as well. Each conference that I attend, I try to improve my ability to make the most of…
Read MoreFrom ‘I Have to Get It Right’ to ‘I Can Try Again’: Tackling Perfectionism in Kids
Perfectionism in children is often misunderstood. At first glance, it can look like motivation, high standards, or academic excellence. But beneath the surface, perfectionism in elementary students is frequently rooted in anxiety, fear of failure, and low self-confidence. For elementary school counselors, recognizing and addressing perfectionism early is critical. Left unchecked, it can impact academic…
Read MoreChange Happens: Teaching Elementary Students How to Adapt With Confidence
Change is a natural and unavoidable part of life—and for elementary students, change happens more often than adults realize. New classrooms, shifting friendships, family changes, and growing responsibilities can feel overwhelming without guidance. Elementary school counselors play a critical role in helping students (and often parents!) understand that change is not something to fear, but…
Read MoreGrowing Hopeful Minds: How to Teach Optimism and Resilience
Optimism is a powerful life skill that helps children face challenges with confidence and persistence. For elementary school counselors, teaching optimism is not about encouraging constant positivity—it is about helping students believe that challenges can be managed. What Is Optimism? Optimism is the ability to expect positive outcomes while recognizing that challenges and setbacks are…
Read MoreHow to Help Students Set Goals They’ll Actually Want to Achieve
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. Goal setting is a cornerstone of student success, but not all goals are…
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…
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