1. SEVENTH GRADE 101 Twin Rivers Middle School 2014-2015 School Year Mrs. Mitchell, 7 th Grade Counselor

2. Pre-Evaluation Please respond “TRUE” or “FALSE” to the following three statements on your own sheet of paper. 1. An “I-Message” is a way to share your feelings without blaming others. 2. An ACRONYM is a word that means the opposite of another word. 3. Seventh grade students should spend about 20 minutes each night on school-related activities (such as homework, studying or reading).

3. The Seven Secrets to Seventh Grade Success 1. Be RESPONSIBLE. 2. Respect your peers. 3. Resolve conflicts appropriately. 4. STUDY! 5. Manage your time wisely. 6. Stay organized. 7. Ask for help from an adult when you need it.

4. First things first… RESPONSIBILITY!!  Why is it important to be responsible?  Let’s look at the POSITIVE side of responsibility instead of thinking about it negatively.  What are you responsible for in seventh grade? ~ Academics ~Attendance ~ Behavior  Exhibit self-control. Always think about the consequences before you act. Can any of you think of an example of a time you displayed self-control?  Manage your anger appropriately. What are some healthy ways you can release frustrations?

5. 2. Social Skills  Be yourself!  Be friendly and positive.  Listen & ask questions.  Do not repeat everything you hear.  What kind of a culture do you want to create as TRMS 7 th graders? ~ Set the standard that gossiping, harassment and bullying are not tolerated; stand up for others! ~ Be respectful and treat other people like you would want to be treated. ~ Always treat people fairly. What does “fair” really mean?

6. 3. Resolving Conflicts Peacefully  What is conflict? Can we avoid conflict? Steps for Resolving Conflict Peacefully: #1 - Use appropriate verbal and nonverbal communication. ~ 93% of all communication is nonverbal. Do you think this statement is true or false? Give an example to defend your answer. ~ Rules of the Game: 1. Form a circle. 2. Say your first names once. 3. Get in alphabetical order without talking.

7. 3. Resolving Conflicts Peacefully #2. Listen and consider both sides of the story. #3. Share your feelings with “I-messages”; don’t blame others. #4. Be honest. Admit if you are in the wrong. #5. Show empathy. #6. Seek mediation from a counselor if the conflict persists.

8. 4. Study Skills  Tie studying to something you enjoy doing.  Use memory aids: 1. Acronyms/Crazy phrases 2. Songs/raps 3. Chunking 4. Flashcards 5. Quiz games 6. Study guides

9. 5. Time Management  Prioritize your responsibilities and create an afternoon schedule.  Set aside a time every day for homework. How much time?  Be sure to include time for exercise, meals, fun and sleep.  Break larger assignments down into smaller, more manageable tasks.  If you don’t have enough time to prioritize academic commitments, then you may need to reevaluate your extra-curricular activities.

10. 6. Organization Tips  Keep your binders/notebooks organized according to your teachers’ instructions.  Write down all assignment due dates in your agenda book.  Be sure you understand your assignments. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you are unsure of something.  Keep your backpack and locker neat and organized. Cleaning them out every week is a good idea.  See the counselor if you need help with organization or need supplies.

11. 6. More Organization Tips  Be prepared for the next school day the night before:  Check your agenda  Check My eClass/teacher websites  Put your homework in the appropriate notebook, binder or folder  Place any loose papers where they belong (not in your textbooks or agenda)

12. 7. Stressed out?  What should you do if you’re feeling too much anxiety or pressure?  Talk to an adult you can trust, such as a parent, teacher, administrator or counselor.  Talking out your problems is the first step toward solving them.

13. We’re Here to Help!!  Mrs. Moore: Sixth Grade Counselor  Mrs. McCain: Sixth Grade Assistant Principal  Mrs. Mitchell: Seventh Grade Counselor  Mrs. Bussey: Seventh Grade Assistant Principal  Mrs. Haynes: Eighth Grade Counselor  Mrs. Krug: Eighth Grade Assistant Principal  Mrs. Boyd: Principal  Mrs. Decker: Special Education Assistant Principal  Mrs. Enter: Counseling Intern

14. How do I speak to my counselor?  Ask your teacher for permission to come see me and then your teacher will email me to see if I’m available. As soon as I’m free, I’ll call you down to my office.  My office is located right down the hall from the seventh grade office.  If you’d prefer not to tell your teacher you need to see me, you can always fill out a “Counselor Request” slip. There are some in the basket on my door. Once completed, turn your request slip into Ms. Vazquez in the seventh grade office, and I’ll call you down to my office just as soon as I can.

15. Counselor Confidentiality Any information you share with me will be kept CONFIDENTIAL. In other words, I won’t tell anyone. The only exceptions (when I would break confidentiality) are when someone is hurting you, you are hurting someone else, or you are hurting yourself, OR if you ask me to share the information with a parent, teacher, or someone else.

16. Questions

17. Post-Evaluation Please respond “TRUE” or “FALSE” to the following three statements on the back side of your pre-evaluation. 1. An “I-Message” is a way to share your feelings without blaming others. 2. An ACRONYM is a word that means the opposite of another word. 3. Seventh grade students should spend about 20 minutes each night on school-related activities.

18. Review Game Let’s review what we’ve learned today …