Children’s worries often interfere with their learning, it is helpful to understand their concerns. School counselor Leah Davies asked 320 third graders to list one or two things they think about when they can not sleep. The results indicate that children today are anxious about the following…

Children’s identity and self-respect are related to how others treat them, and ultimately to their future success. Therefore, school personnel need to promote a safe, humane environment where inclusiveness, justice and an appreciation of individual differences are evident. When staff are respectful toward students no matter what their gender, social class, race, nationality, religion, disability or cultural background, children will follow their example.

There are some positives to text messaging. Texting can contribute to a child’s feeling of belonging. Being able to text can help shy children become more outgoing. Texting is a concise and easy way to keep in contact with friends, as well as to check in with parents. In an emergency, texting can be extremely important. Parent apprehension occurs when children become seemingly addicted to texting and less involved in face-to-face communication.

Report cards provide parents with essential information concerning their child’s progress in school. Various formats are used including letter grades, numbers, checklists and teacher comments that indicate how a child is performing in different areas. Here are suggested written remarks that elaborate on the student’s strengths, and offering ways the child could improve his or her academic work and/or classroom behavior.

LOVE your child. For your child to be successful, he or she must feel valued. Your gentle touches, smiles and hugs communicate love. Giving your undivided attention, especially at the end of each day, demonstrates caring.
LOOK for the good in your child and make specific comments on what he or she does well. You must believe in your child’s worth before he or she can believe it. If you want your child to have self-confidence and motivation, watch for positive behaviors and comment on them.

Self-control is restraint practiced over one’s own emotions, impulses, or desires. It is the ability to make positive choices, to think before acting. Without self-control, students say and do things impulsively which often leads to trouble. Children need to be taught to pause and think of the consequences that may result from their various behaviors. Here are tips for teaching the essential skill of self-control.

Teachers need to be aware of some information – such as when students are hurt, in danger, or being bullied – yet they cannot spend their entire day listening to accounts of minor infractions. Here are motives and measures for dealing with tattling, and teaching about reporting.

When children sense that they are an accepted part of a school community, they are more motivated to learn. How to help students feel valued and connected to the adults in their school, and enhance mutual understanding.

Peer mediation programs offer schools an alternative to traditional disciplinary practices and help schools become safer places. The goal of peer mediation is to reduce conflict and provide children with problem-solving skills.

The following quotes may be used in a variety of ways by both teachers and counselors. One idea is for a thought to be posted, read, and discussed at the beginning of each week. It could then be read daily with the students. At the end of the week ask them what they learned or how the thought applied to their lives or activities during the week. Have the children give written or oral examples, or have them draw a picture to illustrate their ideas.