We’ve all had those moments when something happens and our emotions take over. We get frustrated, overwhelmed, hurt, or angry, and sometimes our first reaction isn’t our best one. One thing I try to remind students is that having a big feeling doesn’t mean you have to have a big reaction. It’

Sometimes being brave doesn’t mean being the loudest person in the room. Sometimes it means finding the courage to let your voice be heard. ❤️ As a school counselor, I love books that remind children that courage looks different for everyone. Brave Like a Lion gives us an opportunity to talk

You don’t have to feel better to take the next step. 💙 One thing I often remind students is that we can’t always control how we feel, but we can work on what we do next. Feeling anxious, frustrated, or overwhelmed doesn’t mean we have to stay stuck. Sometimes the next step is taking a brea

What happens when a young girl starts believing she needs to change who she is to be accepted? Genesis Begins Again is a powerful story about self-esteem, identity, colorism, bullying, and learning to recognize your own worth. As a school counselor, I think this book opens the door to some re

Improving in school doesn’t always mean studying harder. Sometimes it’s the small everyday habits that make the biggest difference. 📚⭐ Showing up ready to learn, staying organized, asking for help, setting small goals, being kind, and taking care of yourself can all help students feel more confi

Today I’m using Stacey’s Remarkable Books by Stacey Abrams to talk about something every student deserves to feel at school: belonging. ❤️ We’re using the story to explore what it feels like to be new or left out, how small acts of kindness can help someone feel included, and how sharing our sto

There’s something special about finding a book that makes you feel seen. Stacey’s Remarkable Books by Stacey Abrams is a wonderful story about the joy of reading, sharing something you love, and building connections with others. From a school counseling perspective, I love how this book can o

Sometimes kids don’t stop talking because they have nothing to say. They stop because they’re paying attention to how we respond when they do talk. Do we interrupt? Jump straight into advice? Overreact? Minimize what feels huge to them? Or are we distracted when they finally decide to share?

Screens are part of childhood now, and they’re not automatically a bad thing. Kids use them to learn, connect, relax, create, and have fun. But sometimes it’s worth noticing when screen time starts making other parts of the day harder. Maybe bedtime has become a struggle. Maybe turning off th

Book of the Week: Sunny by Jason Reynolds Sunny is a talented runner, but running doesn’t feel like his own choice. As he works through complicated feelings about his family and his place on the team, he begins to discover what he truly loves and how he wants to move forward. This story conne