JOHN ADAMS ELEMENTARY
COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
Curriculum
The school counseling program at Adams will use the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Mindsets and Behavior Standards as a guide towards teaching career, academic, and social/emotional competencies. While we don't necessarily approach career goals in the elementary grade levels, we do begin exploring various types of careers. We also focus on teaching our students how to appropriately connect with others and how to find positivity and strengths in themselves and those around them, which fosters resilience and self-confidence. The belief is that when students feel good about themselves and about those around them, they tend to do better in school (and vice versa). The following programs will help with these goals:
Random Acts of Kindness
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Random Acts of Kindness is based on the belief that kindness connects people and kindness can be taught. The RAK program instills skills students will need to form more meaningful connections and lead more successful lives.
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Second Step
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Second Step is a program rooted in social-emotional learning (SEL) that helps transform schools into supportive, successful learning environments uniquely equipped to help children thrive. There are also resources and activities for families to use at home.
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Does Kindness Change School Culture?
Random Acts of Kindness Pilot Program in Colorado Schools
Capturing Kids' Hearts
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We believe that if teachers can create a relational connection to students, or “Capture Kids’ Hearts,” performance goes way up, and behaviors greatly improve because kids want to be in school. By building a school culture that is relational and tends to the social-emotional needs of students and educators, it’s proven that campuses, districts, and entire communities can be transformed. Kids want to be in classrooms where teachers know how to connect with them and make them feel valued, and this is what we strive for at John Adams.
Second Step: Not Just Better Students, Better People
A District's Perspective on the Second Step Program: Boston Public Schools
Counseling Services at Adams:
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We provide counseling services in a variety of settings, depending on our students' needs. This may include whole classroom and/or small group lessons and activities, individual sessions, and other interventions as appropriate. We can also connect students and families with supports and resources in the surrounding community as needed.