Adjusting to Life Changes Skills
Aligns with CASEL 5 & The ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies
Adjusting Anna is the first story from Powerful You (grades 2-adult.) Anna is used by schools and homes to help children manage transitions and encourages skills to adapt to changing situations and responsibilities. Anna also fosters a positive attitude toward work and learning.
20-Minute Lesson Plan
Launch Introduce the A-Z Powerful You theme.
Breathe and Stretch Practice self-awareness and self-management with the Powerful You free movement videos on this page. Simply hit play or gain a new movement idea for your toolbox.
Connect Read the true short story from the 8.5 x 11 laminated Powerful You Educator Cards.
Promote a Positive Mindset Stand tall and practice each story’s positive self-talk.
Reflect Social-awareness, relationship skills, and problem-solving skills escalate when students are given turn and talk time for each journaling prompt. Learn from them and allow optional sharing.
Role-play Students hold the Powerful You Educator Card and act out desired behaviors.
Leave an SEL Footprint Copy and display the Digital Powerful You Classroom Social Skill Sign.
Expand Use the Powerful You Kit or resources below. Make it your own! Be You! You are more powerful than you know!
“No same man could walk through the same river twice, as the man and the river have since changed.”
Additional Resources for Adjusting to Change, Helping Children Understand Divorce
A touching book showing all different types of family who give the most important ingredient, LOVE. Most people have an image in their mind of the perfect family. Currently, 30 percent of American families are headed by single parents who are divorced, widowed, or never married. This book does a beautiful job of recognizing differences in family structure, while celebrating that a family is LOVE. Definitely one of my favorite read alouds for any age on family change.
Powerful You! In The Middle Cookie Game helps children learn that “kids are the good stuff in the middle of divorce”. This memory game is created for ages 5 and up and can be played with 2-6 players.
Powerful You! In The Middle Cookie Game allows children to talk about and manage “sour pickle” emotions.
“Life is like a pickle. Sometime it’s sweet & sometime’s it’s sour.” - Patricia Kienzle
Players match feeling words, coping strategies, and powerful phrases that open the lines of communication and connection.
School counselors, educators and parents enjoy this easy to use game that empowers children to accept life’s changes and understand that they are the “good stuff” in the middle of divorce.
Pom Pom Critters are fun to make with kids. They are also handy to have in the guidance office or home . When a child is having a "strong" feeling of sadness or worry, they love to put these on their shoulder for an extra WARM "fuzzy".
This book helps children understand depression.
This book is helpful to a child who is adjusting to a parent being in jail.
Sesame Street videos to help children with incarceraton and trauma. Click here.
Dealing with Divorce Game
A child's favorite book about adjusting in the 1800's. Great Florida History!
