Students and adults are challenged to complete a Kindness Challenge Board during Kindness Week. Participants identify seven acts of kindness they plan to complete during the week and record them in their Kindness Board. Virginia Kindness Idea Banks can be referenced to help with ideas (both older and younger student versions are avaliable in b/w and color).

hat is the VA Kindness Week Resource & Idea Fair?In an effor to both support VA Kindness Week implementation and showcase the kindness initiatives happening across the state we created a Virtual Resource and Idea Fair for those looking to foster and celebrate kindness in their schools and communities. 13 Kindness Initiatives are Featured!Each initative is outlined in the slides below and includes:Short Video Presentation about the initativeAn Exhibit Poster providing an overview, implementation information, and links to resources

As a school or division, you can create a plan for school wide recognition and celebration of VA Kindness week through classroom meetings, visual displays, social media, lessons, or assemblies. Consider using this Kindness Week Flyer with families and community leaders to extend this important work outside the school building!

This padlet includes links to outside resources as well as Kindness Week Kick-Off Webinar Recordings and Slide Shows! https://padlet.com/sarah_bazemore1/VAKindnessWeek

Lesson plan template (google doc version) OR you can download the word version below.(This link will prompt you to make a copy of the file in your google drive)

Learn the difference between rock and clay worries. Then discover ways to find the good inside of difficult situations.

Making the Case for Kindness explains how kindness can help address some challenges schools are currently facing.

Use time-management, organizational study skills (ASCA B-LS3)Apply self-motivation and self-direction to learning (ASCA B-LS4)Shared by Hatching Results

Transition Posters and Accessible Posters (Text) SeriesNavigating Through Life: Attending College or Technical SchoolsNavigating Through Life: Feeling OverwhelmedNavigating Through Life: Having Friends and Romantic RelationshipsNavigating Through Life: Learning How to BudgetNavigating Through Life: Moving Away from Home

This guide contains links to free resources that align with each of the SEL standards assigned to this gradeband. 

Strategy for emotional-wellness check-ins with students. Also, includes idea for staff wellness and professional development.

Tool for helping students learn to define a problem, determine its size and then develop a plan for working towards a solution/goal.Includes staff wellness/professional development ideas.

Choice board for elementary aged students with a variety of wellness and academic/career activities.

This shift in terminology is intentional and important as it denotes an evolution in the profession. With the rise in mental health and behavioral challenges facing Virginia students, the work school counselors do is more critical than ever. As mental health professionals, school counselors work alongside school staff, families, and community partners to create a school climate that leads to healthy learning, living, and growth.

This guide contains links to free resources that align with each of the SEL standards assigned to this gradeband. 

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is an integral part of education and human development.  SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make  responsible and caring decisions.  Developing a clear understanding of a Growth Mindset supports a student's self-motivation and belief that they can succeed with dedication of their time, effort and energy.  Working on weaknesses while focusing on the process and not the outcome are instrumental to a student's self-confidence.  With time and practice individual's with a Growth Mindset believe they can achieve anything to which they set their mind.

Skills: Recognizing strengths that we already have and others we want to cultivate.Incorporates: Positive Psychology, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused Brief Counseling Materials: Strength CardsThis activity is typically best for upper elementary through high school. Elementary and middle school students may need some additional explanation around the strengths and what they mean in order to accurate reflect on their skills.When a person recognizes and uses their strengths, they tend to be happier and have higher self-esteem. For those who struggle to recognize their strengths, strength-spotting can be an effective treatment technique. Helping students learn to recognize and use the strengths they already have can lead to improved wellbeing.“If we hope to highlight student strengths, we must understand what a deficit mindset looks and sounds like and move away from it with intentionality. We must be willing to make a commitment to focus on what’s strong, not what’s wrong.” -Larry Ferlazzo