Teachers described these children as performing significantly behind their age peers in social skills and academic behaviors. The counselor scheduled the counselor’s office for conducting sessions. It contained a desk, bookshelves, credenza, an adult sized large round table, play materials, and eight adult chairs. Little movement was possible in the space. The 20-minutes allocated included the transition from two different classrooms and the library to the office down long halls. I felt this time allocated left little time for Focusing with students! Focusing Session Structure The children are used to puppet scenarios with Social Skills 2cd Step curriculum. I observed skits and role-plays conducted by the counselor in classrooms using this curriculum. The classroom students attended to the puppets, skits and interacted with the puppets and each other although I did not observe the students selected for Focusing in these classrooms. I felt continuing with puppets was an excellent option. I wrote and designed scenarios and skits where one puppet has the role of one” and one or two puppets take on the roles of “wise having a behavior or issue and expressing certain “problem” feelings. I planned on being a witness, participant, facilitator and commentator rather than the teacher. Allie and Rocky (alligator puppet and raccoon puppet) are the two characters in skits and Ms. Cow is the knowledgeable one” puppet. I “wise purchased these puppets at the local thrift store for $0.50 each and sanitized them. The scenarios, skits, materials used and reflections on each session are in Baumgart, D. Focusing Activities for Kindergarten Students (2015). Initial Focusing Focusing is a skills program, body-oriented process of “a awareness and emotional healing” (A. Weiser Cornell, 1996).
Teachers described these children as performing significantly behind their age peers in social skills and academic behaviors. The counselor scheduled the counselor’s office for conducting sessions. It contained a desk, bookshelves, credenza, an adult sized large round table, play materials, and eight adult chairs. Little movement was possible in the space. The 20-minutes allocated included the transition from two different classrooms and the library to the office down long halls. I felt this time allocated left little time for Focusing with students! Focusing Session Structure The children are used to puppet scenarios with Social Skills 2cd Step curriculum. I observed skits and role-plays conducted by the counselor in classrooms using this curriculum. The classroom students attended to the puppets, skits and interacted with the puppets and each other although I did not observe the students selected for Focusing in these classrooms. I felt continuing with puppets was an excellent option. I wrote and designed scenarios and skits where one puppet has the role of “wise one” and one or two puppets take on the roles of having a “problem” behavior or issue and expressing certain feelings. I planned on being a witness, participant, facilitator and commentator rather than the teacher. Allie and Rocky (alligator puppet and raccoon puppet) are the two characters in skits and Ms. Cow is the knowledgeable “wise one” puppet. I purchased these puppets at the local thrift store for $0.50 each and sanitized them. The scenarios, skits, materials used and reflections on each session are in Baumgart, D. Focusing Activities for Kindergarten Students (2015). Initial Focusing Focusing is a skills program, “a body-oriented process of and emotional healing” (A. Weiser Cornell, 1996). awareness
Implementing-Focusing-in-an-elementary-school.docx