The Caring Counselor
146 Followers
Mason City, Iowa, United States
About the store
I have been an elementary school counselor for 22 years in Mason City, Iowa. I serve two K-4 buildings with a total population of nearly 900 students. I am a member of the PBIS, Tier 2 and Data teams, as well as coordinate Wrap Around and Check In/Check Out interventions for our most at-risk students. I teach K-4 classroom lessons, facilitate small groups and work with individual students, as well as serve on many committees and teams that help increase the positive culture and climate of the classrooms in my schools.
Read more
Store categories
All resources
Filters
Grade
Subject
Resource type
Theme
Programs & methods
Stop Light Behavior Management Tool for Elementary Students
This behavior management tool is so easy to use! It can be implemented to use with individual students or with an entire class. The colorful faces are an effective way to give immediate, nonverbal cues, feedback and redirection without disrupting the learning process. This tool complements classroom management programs you may already have in place or as a way to initiate new expectations.
You won't believe how quickly attention seeking and off task behaviors will improve by following the sim
K - 3rd
For All Subjects
Regulation Snowman Activity
This fun activity can be used in a variety of ways. It can be used to teach emotions, conflict resolution and a variety of other skills. Have fun! This file is an independent product and is not affiliated with, nor has it been authorized, sponsored, orotherwise approved by Think Social Publishing, Inc. or by Leah Kuypers, author of The Zones of Regulation.
K - 5th
Classroom Community, School Counseling
Career Exploration Powerpoint
This powerpoint presentation is designed to create a bridge between one's hobbies & interests and how they can translate to career opportunities in adulthood. The slides begin by exploring what students choose to do in their leisure time and progress to how our interests can become jobs for the future.
If you purchase this powerpoint email me at sdespenas@gmail.com so that I can share the Google format with you. The Google format allows you to use the interactive aspects more effectively.
2nd - 5th
School Counseling
Brain Function Poster
Brain function visual/poster shows the different parts of the brain and the bodily functions they control. Good resource to use with growth mindset or health related lessons.
Not Specific
Health, School Counseling, School Psychology
What is BULLYING? Powerpoint
This lesson introduces the definition and concept of bullying. It breaks down the four different types of bullying (emotional, physical, electronic, verbal) and helps kids understand why people bully. The powerpoint helps students recognize when they are being bullied and what they can do about it. This lesson is for all students who have ever been bullied, or have acted as bullies or bystanders as it helps them realize their role in a bullying situation and how to stop it. Key concepts incl
3rd - 8th
School Counseling
Growth or Fixed Mindset?
This activity can be used as an introduction or assessment of growth vs. fixed mindset. Students read statements and decide if they are using growth or fixed mindset thinking.
2nd - 12th
Character Education, School Counseling
Multiple Intelligences Powerpoint for the Elementary Student
This Powerpoint can be used alone or after the Multiple Intellegences Survey (in my store). I was looking for a fun way to present different learning styles, so I created this to use during my guidance lessons. After using it in a few classes I noticed how excited the students were about learning the different ways they are "smart", so I decided to share it with you! This powerpoint is interactive through Google Drive which offers more options and tools. If you purchase this please email me a
1st - 5th
School Counseling
Positive vs. NegativeThoughts
This activity helps students recognize the difference between positive and negative thoughts. This partners well with lessons on growth mindset.
K - 3rd
Character Education, School Counseling
Multiple Intelligences Powerpoint SURVEY for Elementary Students
This interactive survey to introduces learning styles at the elementary level. It's purpose is to help kids learn about and discover their own learning style. I present it as different ways we are "smart". The forced choices in the survey help children narrow down their strengths and realize we all have differences and simmilarites. At the conclusion of the lesson the kids were begging for more! So...I developed the Multiple Intellegences Powerpoint that can also be found in my store! The fr
1st - 5th
Character Education, School Counseling
The Empathy Game
This fun game challenges students to imagine how someone else feels in various situations. It is presented in power point format and can be used with large classes, small groups and even individual students!
Each slide contains a photo and description of what is happening. Students choose 1 from 20 emotions to match what is happening, creating a list as they go. Encourage students to think about how THEY would feel in each situation, then choose the feeling that they believe matches. Feeling
2nd - 5th
Character Education, School Counseling
5 Steps to Being My Best Self
5 Steps to my Being My Best Self activity focuses on the 5 things students can do to grow a strong growth mindset and positive attitude.
2nd - 8th
Character Education, School Counseling
Kindness Challenge Activity
This activity challenges students to perfom kind acts for others. Each time they do an act shown in one of the boxes, they check it as complete.
K - 5th
School Counseling
I Can Grow My Brain!
I Can Grow My Brain! activity helps students understand that many different activities strengthen the connections in their brains. This relates to having a growth mindset.
3rd - 8th
Character Education, Health, School Counseling
Mystery Motivator Behavior Modification Program
The Mystery Motivator is a behavior modification tool that is effective for students who have a difficult time with task completion, focus, independent work, blurting out, etc. It is simple to use, easy to manage and is fun for the student and teacher alike! With the ever-changing incentives it keeps the student engaged and positive behavior changes are apparent rapidly. You will be amazed at how easy this program is to implement and how effective it is in helping eliminate undesired behavior
PreK - 6th
What kind of Friend are YOU?
This powerpoint presentation is to warn students of friends who could potentially turn into those who turn on you through relational aggression (better known as bullying). We refer to these types of freinds as "fire friends" because if you get too close to them "you'll get burned"! Fire friends have a way to make you feel welcomed, warm and fun...but they will turn their back on you given the chance. Learning how to deal with the hurt, disappointment and confusion these friends cause is the f
4th - 10th
Character Education, School Counseling
There Once Was a Scorpion/ Choose Your Friends Wisely Powerpoint
This powerpoint presentation is designed after the fable, "The Scorpion and the Frog". Retold so that adolescent children can understand the concept of "choose your friends wisely", and editable so that teachers and counselors can modify it to meet their needs. I have used this in classroom guidance lessons, as well as small group instruction and individual sessions with children who need to learn friendship skills.
3rd - 6th
School Counseling
Learning Styles Survey Powerpoint
This survey is for children to discover their dominant learning style. Twenty multiple choice questions with forced answers help students connect their interests to the impact they have on the way they learn. The powerpoint is engaging, current and relevant and leaves kids asking for more!
I use this lesson as an extension to Multiple Intellegences.
Use with the learning styles answer key provided in my store!
This Powerpoint is interactive through Google Drive. If you purchase this please
4th - 6th
School Counseling
Your Inner Voice
Inner voice activity for use with growth mindset lessons. This activity helps students in grades 3-5 recognize the difference between positive and negative self talk and the impact it has on our mindset.
3rd - 8th
Character Education, School Counseling
Dealing with Anger Powerpoint
This interactive lesson introduces students to the feeling of anger. This engaging lesson presents 8 different levels of anger and how it physically effects areas of our body. It also teaches what anger looks like, feels like, what triggers it so we can recognize it and cope with it early on. Anger is one of the most difficult emotions to control, but with the help of this lesson youngsters can recognize when they are starting to feel angry right away and utilize one of the relaxation techniq
2nd - 6th
Health, School Counseling
Getting Along - Social Skills
This activity is great for younger students to recognize what getting along with others looks like. It works well for social skills development, as well a problem solving and conflict resolution. It is also a good conversation starter when working with students with poorly developed friendship skills.
PreK - 3rd
School Counseling
Showing 1-20 of 40 results
About the store
Experience
I have been an elementary school counselor for 22 years in Mason City, Iowa. I serve two K-4 buildings with a total population of nearly 900 students. I am a member of the PBIS, Tier 2 and Data teams, as well as coordinate Wrap Around and Check In/Check Out interventions for our most at-risk students. I teach K-4 classroom lessons, facilitate small groups and work with individual students, as well as serve on many committees and teams that help increase the positive culture and climate of the classrooms in my schools.
Teaching style
My style is a mix of PBIS, Nurtured Heart, Love and Logic and Restitution. I spend a lot of time teaching classroom guidance and feel it's best to use an ecclectic mix of many different styles of teaching to reach all children.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Friend of Children Award 2003
My own education history
Forest City High School Graduate 1894
University of Iowa Graduate 1988 (B.S.)
Mankato State University Graduate 1992 (M.S.)
Additional biographical information
I am a married mother of 3 boys. Our sons are 15, 13 and 10 years old. I have lived in Iowa nearly my entire life and am involved in our church and community, especially fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy, Make A Wish and Toys for Tots. I also am an active member of many School District initiatives such as PBIS, RTI, Wrap Around, Tier 2 Team, Data Teams and Crisis Intervention.
TPT is the largest marketplace for PreK-12 resources, powered by a community of educators.
IXL family of brands