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Your Voice, Your Support

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Lesson Plan

Your Voice, Your Support

Students will be able to identify the school counselor as a resource and understand the process for initiating an individual check-in when they need support.

It's important for students to know they have trusted adults they can talk to and to feel comfortable seeking help for academic, social, or emotional concerns. This lesson empowers them to utilize available support systems.

Audience

5th Grade

Time

30 Minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and guided practice.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 Minutes

Step 1

Warm Up: Need a Hand?

5 Minutes

  • Display the Warm Up: Need a Hand? on the board or distribute copies.
    - Instruct students to silently reflect and jot down their answers individually.
    - Briefly discuss a few responses as a whole class, focusing on when it's helpful to ask for help.

Step 2

Introduction: Your School Counselor

5 Minutes

  • Begin with Slide 1: Your Voice, Your Support.
    - Introduce yourself (if you are the counselor) or explain the role of the school counselor (if you are the classroom teacher).
    - Use Slide 2: Meet Your School Counselor to share key information about the counselor's role.
    - Emphasize that counselors are safe, trusted adults who are there to help with all kinds of feelings and problems, big or small.

Step 3

Why Talk to a Counselor?

10 Minutes

Step 4

How to Get Support

5 Minutes

  • Transition to Slide 5: How Do I Get a Check-In?.
    - Explain the specific steps students can take to request a check-in (e.g., telling their teacher, filling out a form, visiting the counseling office during certain times).
    - Practice a simple sentence they could use:

Step 5

Cool Down: One Big Takeaway

5 Minutes

  • Distribute or display the Cool Down: One Big Takeaway.
    - Ask students to write down one important thing they learned or one reason why they might talk to the school counselor.
    - Collect responses as an exit ticket.
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Slide Deck

Your Voice, Your Support

Understanding Your School Counselor and How to Get Help!

Welcome students and introduce the topic of the lesson. Explain that today we'll be talking about school counselors and how they can support students.

Meet Your School Counselor

  • We are here to help students with feelings, friendships, school worries, and more!
  • We are safe adults you can talk to.
  • Our office is a safe space.

Introduce yourself as the school counselor, or if you are the classroom teacher, explain the role of the school counselor. Share your name and office location. Emphasize that counselors are friendly, helpful adults.

Why Talk to a Counselor?

Have you ever felt...

  • Worried or stressed?
  • Sad or angry?
  • Confused about friends?
  • Struggling with schoolwork?

Sometimes talking helps!

Open the floor for discussion. Ask students: "Why might someone want to talk to a school counselor?" Encourage them to think about different situations, not just 'big' problems. Guide them with prompts if needed, but let them brainstorm.

What Can We Talk About?

  • Friendship problems
  • Feeling sad, angry, or worried
  • Changes at home or school
  • Trouble focusing in class
  • Hoping to improve your mood
  • Anything that's on your mind!

Provide concrete examples of what students can talk about. Reassure them that no problem is too small. Briefly touch on confidentiality – what they share is private, unless they or someone else is in danger, and you would explain this to them.

How Do I Get a Check-In?

It's easy to connect with your school counselor!

Here's how:

  1. Tell your teacher you'd like to talk to the counselor.
  2. You might fill out a quick form (if your school uses one).
  3. Your counselor will schedule a time to meet with you.

Remember: Asking for help is a sign of strength!

Clearly outline the steps for students to request a check-in. This is crucial for empowering them. Make sure the steps are actionable and specific to your school's procedures. Practice a simple phrase with them if it helps.

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Warm Up

Warm Up: Need a Hand?

Think about a time when you needed help with something. It could be anything - a tricky math problem, a confusing game rule, or even just reaching something high on a shelf.

  1. What was the situation where you needed help?






  2. Who did you ask for help?



  3. How did asking for help make a difference?






Be ready to share your thoughts with the class!

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Discussion

Discussion Guide: Asking for Help

Use these questions to facilitate a class discussion after introducing the role of the school counselor.

Opening Questions

  • What are some different feelings you have throughout a school day? (e.g., happy, tired, excited, nervous, frustrated)
  • When you have a strong feeling, who do you usually talk to?

Why Talk to a Counselor?

  • The slide deck mentioned counselors are here to help with feelings, friendships, and school worries. Can anyone think of a time when one of these might be hard to deal with alone?
  • Imagine a friend is having trouble with something. What kind of advice would you give them about talking to an adult?
  • What makes it hard sometimes to ask for help?
  • What are some good things that can happen when you do ask for help?

Understanding Confidentiality

  • Your counselor keeps what you say private. Can anyone think of a reason why a counselor might need to share something you tell them with another adult? (Guide them to understand safety concerns: if you or someone else is in danger).
  • Why is it important that your counselor keeps things private?

Taking the Next Step

  • Based on what we discussed, what is one thing you learned about how the school counselor can support you?
  • What is the first step you would take if you wanted to talk to the school counselor?
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Cool Down

Cool Down: One Big Takeaway

Before you leave, take a moment to reflect on our lesson today.

What is one important thing you learned about your school counselor or about seeking support?












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