In this versatile new book, practicing school counselors share their favorite group activities 67 of them in all for working with children and adolescents in the schools. For ease of use, activities are arranged by age as well as by stage. Introductory chapters highlight selection, use, and processing of activities, as well as ethical issues inherent in working with students in the schools. Each activity contains specific directions, goals, materials, and suggestions for adaptation. Suggestions for creating a supportive environment for groups are also included.

Will it happen again, Mama? After the Ant Hill School is destroyed, a little boy ant is afraid to go back to school. His mom caringly explains to him that sometimes things happen in life over which we have no control, but we have to find a way to keep living and growing. To do that, "We breathe in and breathe out, and hold onto each other. We shed a lot of tears, and we love one another. We all come together as a strong team of ONE, and then we rebuild, and get things done!" The Ant Hill Disaster thoughtfully addresses fears associated with both natural and man-caused disasters. It models effective parenting and teaching responses. This book can help assure children that through love, empathetic understanding, preparation, and effective communication, they can stand strong, even in the midst of uncontrollable events.

Mrs. Joyce, the school counselor at Emerson Elementary, uses high-fives to connect with her students. When Raymond moves to town he's not sure what to think of Mrs. Joyce. He enters her office nervous and full of questions, but it doesn't take long for him to trust the caring counselor. By learning exactly what a school counselor does, Raymond finds he has nothing to fear and much to gain from friendly Mrs. Joyce. Building relationships is one of the primary jobs of a school counselor. Whether it's giving a high-five, a thumbs-up, a fist bump, a handshake or a hug, finding a way to connect with students is vital. "Mrs. Joyce Gives the Best High-Fives" is a fun-loving story that explains the important role of the school counselor. Grades K-6, Softcover, 32 pages Other titles written by Erainna to help school counselors help children The Bully Trap (bullying) Superheroes (bystander power) Mathsketball (test anxiety) It's Good to Be Me (self-confidence) Frenemy Jungle (relational aggression) Cyberfriend? (cyberbullying) Friendship Tug-of-War (friendship triangle) Winter Wishes (kindness and compassion) No Thanks! Saying NO to Alcohol and Drugs (Red Ribbon Week) Sarah's Sick Day (Red Ribbon Week) Charlie and the Curious Club...Candy or Medicine? (Red Ribbon Week) New School, New Friends (new friendships)

Jake's bragging is really starting to get to his neighbor Tyler. Tyler can't show Jake a basketball move, a school assignment, or a new toy without Jake saying he can do better. Tyler starts to wonder: Is something wrong with him? Is he really such a loser? Is Jake really better than him at everything? Or is Jake the one with the problem? With the help of his uncle Kevin, Tyler begins to understand that Jake's bragging has nothing to do with Tyler's own abilities and that puffing yourself up leaves little room for friends.

What is understanding and how does it differ from knowledge? How can we determine the big ideas worth understanding? Why is understanding an important teaching goal, and how do we know when students have attained it? How can we create a rigorous and engaging curriculum that focuses on understanding and leads to improved student performance in today's high-stakes, standards-based environment? Authors Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe answer these and many other questions in this second edition of Understanding by Design. Drawing on feedback from thousands of educators around the world who have used the UbD framework since its introduction in 1998, the authors have greatly revised and expanded their original work to guide educators across the K-16 spectrum in the design of curriculum, assessment, and instruction. With an improved UbD Template at its core, the book explains the rationale of backward design and explores in greater depth the meaning of such key ideas as essential questions and transfer tasks. Readers will learn why the familiar coverage- and activity-based approaches to curriculum design fall short, and how a focus on the six facets of understanding can enrich student learning. With an expanded array of practical strategies, tools, and examples from all subject areas, the book demonstrates how the research-based principles of Understanding by Design apply to district frameworks as well as to individual units of curriculum. Combining provocative ideas, thoughtful analysis, and tested approaches, this new edition of Understanding by Design offers teacher-designers a clear path to the creation of curriculum that ensures better learning and a more stimulating experience for students and teachers alike.

This book helps readers create and implement high-quality Tier 1 systems of support, including core curriculum classroom lessons and schoolwide activities.