Milton's Secret The Power of Now

I know many counselors are teaching children about mindfulness. It is a great tool for students, especially the 1 in 8 students who are anxious. I use this book in small groups to teach the power of living in the here-and-now. It is a powerful lesson for all of us!

Evidence-Based School Counseling

I was fortunate enough that my PTA helped pay for me to go to the Fourth Annual Evidence-Based School Counseling National Conference last week in Georgia. The EBSC conference provide counselors with critical information about successful practice, evaluation, and relevant research to create dynamic and powerful school counseling programs.  The conference uses a unique format to incorporate both peer-reviewed research presentations and small group consultation with leaders in the field.It was my first time attending this conference even though I had followed it on the web the past few years. I have to say the sessions I went to were some of the best I have ever attended at counseling conventions and conferences in my 30 year career! Check them out yourself at http://EBSCConference/2016_presentations.html Since my return I have shared what I learned with my school psychologist, school counseling practicum student, and district level supervisor of counseling to disseminate some of the handouts to all the counselors in our district. One of my favorite session was led by some dotoral students who had us discuss a case using the Peeling the Onion: Developing a Problem Protocol from the National School Reform Faculty http://www.nsrfharmony.org/free-resources/protocols/a-z We are hoping to use this at our elementary counseling meetings in our district in case consultation. I think the location at the University of GA Conference Center was great and the size of this conference is very manageable.To get the perspective of a high school counselor on the conference go to http://forhighschoollessons-learned-from-evidence-based.html To learn more join Erin Mason for a Twitter Chat on March 8 at #scchat.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Kindness Tree

Here is our beautiful Kindness Tree: Acts of Kindness Make Me Bloom adorned with the hearts our kindergarten and first grade students did in response to this month's lesson on kindness. The kindergarten students made a pink heart with an act of kindness for their family to take home and a red heart with an act of kindness to do at school that is displayed. The first graders drew and labeled an acts of kindness for home, school, and the community. Our wonderful volunteer made the 3D tree and the roots are burlap.

Group Process Data

We have gone through the RAMP process twice and part of the group component is compiling a complete list of groups, numbers of students, and numbers of sessions. I keep this form on my Desktop and update it each time I begin and end a group during the school year. At the end of the year I have the data I need for Results Reports and the Annual Report I compile on my program and share via my school webpage and with the Advisory Council. 

Kindness, Positive Psychology, the Power of a Smile

This book addresses bullying but focuses on the use of positive psychology to combat it. It relays the message that happiness is a choice and a smile can change a negative environment into a positive one. The author, Shawn Achor, is a researcher on positive brains and success. Learn more about him at goodthinkinc.com

RAK Week

In all my kindness lessons this month I touch on the message of this quote. Today is the start of Random Acts of Kindness Week. Smiling is contagious so smiling at a person may change their whole day and ripple out to countless others. Kindness elevates the level of dopamine in the doer's brain ("Helper's High"), the receiver's brain, and the observer's brain. The other message I deliver in every class is BE KIND TO YOURSELF. With the 5th graders I introduce the idea of self-compassion http://greatergood_selfcompassion