When I started working as a school counselor I noticed many of my students seemed angry. That anger resulted in poor choices that would often get them into trouble. I started the 'I make good choices' group with the hope of working on anger management techniques. However, when I started the group many of the participants did not label themselves as angry. I still use books that allow students to discuss anger but I now label it as being frustrated or overwhelmed. Students seem much more willing to admit that they get frustrated and overwhelmed causing them to make bad choices (anyone else have the same experience?). For older kiddos I use the book Seeing Red- an Anger Management and Peacemaking Curriculum for Kids by Jennifer Simmonds, which has 12 weeks of lesson plans (I tend to use 6-8 of her lessons).
I Make Good Choices
Week 1-
Week 2-
Week 3-
Week 4-
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7-
Week 8-
I Make Good Choices
Week 1-
- Go over group rules
- Discuss reasons/triggers that make each student get angry
- Decorate student folders
Week 2-
- Seeing Red worksheet page 26 and 27
- Watch the angries out video- http://www.angriesout.com/raven_flash/angries_01_content.html
Week 3-
- Stop, Think and Relax board game
Week 4-
- Anger Distortions worksheet (see attachments)
- Anger thermometer (see attachments)
Week 5
- The self control patrol board game
Week 6
- Cartoon creation- page 43 in Seeing Red
Week 7-
- 5 steps to controlling your anger- Seeking Red page 49
Week 8-
- Review- Anger Map (see attachment)
- Certificates of completion