260. 9 Must-Have Class Lessons for Back to School Season

School Counseling Simplified Podcast

Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! August is here, which means it’s officially back-to-school season and time to start planning your class lessons. While small groups and individual sessions are important, those referrals often trickle in later as teachers get to know their students. That’s why I love starting the school year with a strong foundation of proactive, Tier 1 class lessons.

In this episode, I’m walking you through 9 of my must-have class lessons that are perfect for kicking off the year. These lessons help you see every student and establish a consistent, supportive presence across campus. I’ll also share tips for staying organized and avoiding overwhelm by using a curriculum map. (You can grab a free one in the show notes below.)

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why beginning the year with class lessons sets a proactive foundation

• How Tier 1 lessons help you reach every student while maximizing your time

• How to avoid overwhelm with curriculum mapping

• Creative ways to teach each essential lesson using games, stories, and activities

9 Back-to-School Class Lessons to Start the Year:

1. Meet the Counselor Introduce yourself, your role, and how students can access your services. Try using a fun format like a game show (Jeopardy style) or an escape room with missions.

2. Listening Skills Teach students what it really means to be an active listener. Activities like “Simon Says” are engaging and effective for younger students.

3. Following Directions Reinforce routines and classroom expectations early on. Simple games like “Simon Says” can double for both listening and direction-following practice.

4. Responsibility Foster independence and ownership among students. Use engaging stories, songs, or self-reflection activities to make it stick.

5. Size of the Problem + Self-Regulation Teach students to assess and regulate their reactions. Introduce tools like Zones of Regulation to build a shared school-wide language.

6. Self-Control Help students manage impulses and reactions. Use a social story like My Mouth is a Volcano or try a self-control escape room activity.

7. Friendship Guide students in what it means to be a good friend and how to build healthy connections. Role-play or use storytelling to bring these concepts to life.

8. Conflict Resolution Teach tools for resolving disagreements peacefully and respectfully. Programs like Kelso’s Choice are a great way to introduce these concepts.

9. Bullying Prevention Set expectations for kindness and respect from the beginning. Share clear definitions and strategies to prevent and report bullying.

By starting the year with these lessons, you’ll not only establish your presence as a school counselor but also build a foundation for a successful and supportive school year.

Resources Mentioned:

• Join IMPACT

• Curriculum Map Freebie

• Blog - 9 Must-Have Counseling Lessons

• MTC Game Show

• MTC Escape Room

• Listening Skills Lesson

• Following Directions Lesson

• Responsibility Lesson - Primary

• Responsibility Lesson - Elementary

• Self-Regulation Lesson

• SOTP Activity Pack

• Self-Control Lesson - Primary

• Self-Control Lesson - Elementary

• Mission: Self-Control

• Friendship Lesson

• Mission: Tattling Vs Reporting

• Bullying Prevention Lesson

• Guidance Lessons Super Bundle

• Kelso's Choice

• My Mouth is a Volcano Book

Connect with Rachel:

• TpT Store

• Blog

• Instagram

• Facebook Page

• Facebook Group

• Pinterest

• Youtube

More About School Counseling Simplified:

School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.

You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!