Welcome to YNot Counseling!

My book of the month is Ugly: The Memoir By Robert Hoge.  This book impacted me on so many levels and left me with so many points that I look forward to sharing with my students this upcoming school year.  When I saw the book on the shelf, during the Scholastic Book Fair, I stopped to pick it up because the word UGLY jumped out at me.  Immediately my mind thought of my students that exhibit signs of low self-esteem so I just knew the book was about that! Has to be, right?  👎 Wrong!   After reading the back of the book I had so many ideas going through my head.  I thought about how I could use the book to teach students about the importance of having empathy, diversity, and accepting people who are different from them!   While I read the book I allowed Robert's words to take me on his journey throughout his childhood.  I could feel his pain as he described his experiences.  He mentioned that for every kid who accepted him there ...

In our busy lives we have so many things to do and at times we may feel there is not enough time in a day to get everything done. So what do we do? We find ourselves cutting out important things like the gym, gatherings with family and friends, or even taking the time to make a healthy meal. We sacrifice these things just to finish what we feel needs to get done. We do not hesitate to put self-care in the backseat, even forgetting about it at times. But that behavior will come back to bite us. How? Neglecting ourselves by not investing in self-care result in our emotional, physical and mental faculties revealing how much they do not appreciate being ignored (manifesting in anxiety, anger, poor health, depression, etc). Our body needs to know that it is important and that we cherish it.   When we practice self-care we:  boost our self-esteem,  establish boundaries that keep us attentive keep ourselves motivated maintain a healthier lifestyle help to reduce...

This afternoon I came across a video that was shared in a Facebook group and I spent twenty minutes really taking in a wealth of excellent information that I must share with you.  I am a firm believer that it takes a village to raise a child.  When a challenging kid is in our path how do we respond?  Do we send them to another classroom because we need a break from them? Do we change their color chart? Do we send them to the office? Or send a note home?  There are other ways that educators have found to address challenging kids in an effort to have them understand they have stepped out of line.  But in the end do we get the result that we need in order for the student to be successful?  Are we getting to the root of "why" the student is doing it and not just looking at "what" the student is doing?  The following video sheds light and gives pointers that I hope you take away and implement in the upcoming school year and beyond. I mentioned at the b...

When is the last time that you held the door open for the person behind you? Or, helped someone get an item off a shelf in the grocery store?  Or, help someone who has fallen on the floor?  In today's life we are so busy that we often don't take time to stop and observe the more important things.  And those important things are often not being taught to our children.  It is so important to show our young ones the importance of being kind and their role in creating a kind climate. As educators we have the opportunity to demonstrate what kindness is to our students.  We also can show them by way of activities and interactions. During Kindness Week try one of the following activities in your elementary school!  If not one of the following do something positive to change the culture in your school.  Whatever we do as educators let's do something to ignite change by way of kindness! Bingo Game! Bundle of Kindness Games Bucket Filler Activit...

Stop by YNot Counseling on teacherspayteachers and get your personal copy of   Keep Your Hands On Your Own Things !     It is the perfect follow up activity. This resource includes a 20 card scoot game with recording sheet, All About Honesty Comic Strip, and five coloring sheets with messages about the importance of being honest. Get your copy today! Thank you for stopping by!  Mrs. Casper 😁

So it is official! YNot Counseling will begin blogging in an effort to reach the masses.  So what does that mean for me?  More commitment to YNot Counseling. What does it mean for you?  Blogs about the counseling life. :-) Seriously, it is my hope that through this blog you will get to know the person behind YNot Counseling, Mrs. Casper. I will be sharing my experiences, my resources (CLICK LINK BELOW and enjoy some freebies), and more!  So get on the YNot Counseling ride and buckle your seat belt...it's going to be an adventurous ride! Teacherspayteachers Store:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ynot-Counseling Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ynotcounseling/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/YNotCounseling Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ynot_counseling/ Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/YNotCounseling/ynot-counseling/