Students will collaborate to establish clear and respectful norms for their small group counseling sessions, understanding the importance of these guidelines for a safe and effective group environment.
Establishing group norms from the beginning creates a predictable, safe, and respectful space where every student feels comfortable sharing and participating. This builds a foundation of trust essential for successful counseling.
Audience
6th Grade Small Group
Time
15 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion and collaborative norm-setting.
Greet students and welcome them to the group. - Ask: "Why do we have rules in places like school or sports?" (e.g., to keep us safe, fair, organized). - Transition to the idea of group norms: "Just like those places, our group works best when we all agree on how we'll be together. These are called group norms." - Display Slide 1: Welcome! and Slide 2: Why Norms?.
Step 2
Brainstorming Group Norms
7 minutes
Explain that together, the group will create their own rules or 'norms' for their time together. - Display Slide 3: Our Group, Our Rules. - Ask students for ideas on how they want the group to function. Prompt with questions like: - "What makes you feel safe to share?" - "How should we listen to each other?" - "What should we do if someone is talking?" - "What about confidentiality? (What's said here, stays here - unless someone is in danger)." - Write down their suggestions on the whiteboard/chart paper, helping to phrase them as positive norms (e.g., instead of "Don't interrupt," use "Listen actively"). - Aim for 3-5 key norms. - Display Slide 4: Brainstorming Ideas and Slide 5: Confidentiality.
Step 3
Review and Agreement
3 minutes
Read through the brainstormed norms as a group. - Ask: "Does everyone agree to these norms? Can we all commit to following them?" - Make any necessary adjustments based on group feedback. - Have each student write down the agreed-upon norms on their Group Norms Worksheet. - Display Slide 6: Our Agreement.
Step 4
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
2 minutes
Thank students for their thoughtful participation. - Emphasize that these norms will help make their group a safe and supportive place. - Collect the Group Norms Worksheet if desired for a record, or have students keep them as a reminder. - Display Slide 7: Looking Ahead.
Slide Deck
Welcome to Our Group!
Let's create a safe space together!
Welcome students warmly. Briefly introduce the purpose of the small group counseling sessions. Explain that today, you'll be setting up how the group will work together.
Why Do We Need Rules?
Think about other groups you're part of:
School
Sports team
Family
Why do they have rules or expectations?
Our counseling group needs them too! We call them norms.
Ask students to think about why rules are important in other areas of their lives (school, sports, home). Guide them to understand that norms serve a similar purpose in a group setting.
Our Group, Our Rules
Today, we'll decide together how our group will work best.
These are our Group Norms.
They help us all feel safe, respected, and heard.
Explain that these won't be YOUR rules, but OUR rules, created together. Emphasize that everyone's input is valued.
Brainstorming Our Norms
What makes you feel safe to share?
How should we listen to each other?
What kind of language should we use?
How can we show respect?
Facilitate a discussion. Use open-ended questions to encourage students to brainstorm. Write their ideas on a whiteboard/chart paper. Guide them to positive, actionable statements. (e.g., instead of "Don't interrupt,"
Keeping It Private
Confidentiality: What we talk about in this room, stays in this room.
This helps us build trust.
Important Exception: If someone is in danger, or planning to hurt themselves or others, I need to get help. But I will always try to talk to you about it first.
Specifically address confidentiality, as it's a cornerstone of counseling groups. Explain the limits to confidentiality clearly and simply for 6th graders.
Our Agreement
Let's review the norms we've created:
[List Group Norm 1]
[List Group Norm 2]
[List Group Norm 3]
[List Group Norm 4]
Do we all agree to follow these norms? (Thumbs up/down)
Read through the agreed-upon norms. Ask for a verbal commitment from each student. Reinforce that these are their shared agreements.
Looking Ahead
Thank you for creating these important norms!
They will help our group be a place where everyone feels:
Safe
Respected
Heard
Ready for our next session!
Conclude by reiterating the value of their collective effort. Look forward to future sessions operating under these norms.
Worksheet
Our Group, Our Rules: Group Norms Worksheet
Welcome to our small group! Today we worked together to create some important rules for how we will interact and make our group a safe and supportive place for everyone. These are our Group Norms.
Below, please write down the norms our group agreed upon. This will be your personal reminder of our shared commitment.
Our Group Norms:
Reflection:
Why do you think it's important for our group to have these norms?
