No Prep Middle School Friendship Boundaries Unit for Small Group or Individual
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This friendship Green and Red flags and Boundaries Setting Unit was designed to be used in a small group or individual counseling to teach middle school or high school students to advocate and stand up for themselves. Understanding friendship red and green flags gives students a blueprint for what cPrice $42.00Original Price $47.00Save $5.00
Description
This fun, hands-on unit was designed to help middle school and even high-school students navigate sticky friendship situations. This no-prep, print-and-go unit can be used in small group or individual counseling to help students identify unhealthy friendship dynamics, build the tools they need to stand up for themselves by setting boundaries, using assertive verbal and body language, foster self-confidence, and embolden students to step outside their comfort zone and expand their friendship groups.
The 6 sessions included breaking down complex terms and dynamics into manageable, developmentally appropriate lessons and hands-on activities.
During these sessions students will discuss normal conflicts in friendships and how they differ from unhealthy friendship dynamics; students will practice communicating their feelings and needs assertively using I-statements; will learn what boundaries are, when and how to set boundaries; students will practice setting boundaries; students will be encouraged to diversify and expand their friendship groups through accomplishing daily social-skills challenges.
This unit is structured to include a student workbook that mirrors the outline of the unit and will act as a home carryover. All 6 sessions also include PowerPoint slides (that are already formatted to be compatible with Google Slides) that will act as a visual support for students and counselor and includes many interactive activities and illustrations.
The sessions included in this unit are:
Session #1: Introduction to the group; setting group rules, ice-breaker; future objectives, and presenting the outline of following sessions.
Session #2: Expand your friendship group: students are challenged and supported in expanding their friendship group and/or deepening their current friendships.
Session #3: Communicate your needs using assertive I-statements
Session #4: Setting boundaries-Part 1: What are boundaries; identify their personal boundaries within their friendships; learning how to set boundaries;
Session#5: Setting boundaries-Part 2: Practicing setting boundaries & learning assertive body language.
Session #6: Setting Boundaries-Part 3: Other types of boundaries & group wrap-up!
This resource makes reference to friendship green and red flags. If you need a more comprehensive resource detailing healthy and unhealthy dynamics within friendships check out Friendship Green & Red Flags: Healthy & Unhealthy Behaviors & Dynamics
Disclaimer! This unit does not focus on building social skills other than awareness of healthy &/or unhealthy friendship dynamics, & building the tools students need to learn how to stand up for themselves. However, social skills such as starting and maintaining conversations, giving and accepting compliments, reading basic body language, making appropriate jokes, using manners, etc. are important prerequisites for this unit!
Why bother?
We all have that one issue we encounter in counseling that really gets under our skin. For me, it's helping shy, sensitive children learn how to advocate and stand up for themselves. We all encounter those students who are perhaps more timid and introverted and struggle to fit in with their peers, not because they lack social skills, but because they don't know how to be assertive. Perhaps their wish to be accepted pushes them to tolerate unkind, maybe downright harmful behaviors from their friends. Equipping students with the tools they need to confidently and assertively stand up for themselves is not only a big step in building stronger friendships but also a vital life skill.
Who should buy this?
This unit was designed to be used by school counselors or other mental health providers in small groups or individual counseling settings. However, this resource is structured and cohesive enough that it can be used by teachers or parents who wish to equip their children with the skills they need to stand up for themselves.
What is included:
- Editable & interactive PowerPoint slides that can be uploaded on and used with Google Slides;
- Student workbook in black & white;
- Detailed session plans for all 6 sessions;
- Feelings check-in;
- Group rules worksheet;
- Ice breaker-exercise;
- Pre/Post-test Questionnaire;
- Situation cards for I-statements;
- Role-play cards for setting boundaries;
- Editable templates for both sets of cards which will allow you to add or edit the situations to your students' needs;
- Paperwork necessary for setting up a small counseling group.
Other resources that compliment and enhance this unit:
Friendship Green & Red Flags: Healthy & Unhealthy Behaviors & Dynamics
Prerequisite Social Skills:
Learn & Practice Active Listening Skills| Classroom Management & Social Skills
Hands-on Upper Elementary Active Listening Matching & Role-Play Lesson
Upper Elementary SEL Lesson: How & Why to Genuinely Apologize
Playful or Hurtful Teasing: Upper Elementary SEL & Relational Aggression Lesson
Social Skills Lesson Bundle: Winter Themed Giving & Accepting Compliments
My circle of control: Individual Counseling, Small Group & Guidance Lesson
Assertive Communication resources:
"I" Statements| Assertive Communication| Guidance& Small Group Lesson
Communication Styles Board Game and Activities| Assertive Communication
I Statements: Puzzles Activity| Assertive Communication| Conflict Resolution
"I" Messages| Low-prep Google Slides Lesson for Upper Elementary/Middle School
Have a treat from my free library!
Raise student's mental mental heath awareness and discuss depression with a Google Slides presentation that addresses facts and myths about depression, tries to offer age-sound explanations, examples, and illustrations of what depression is, what are the causes of depression, and what resources and supports teens struggling with their mental heath can access.
Another kind of Gratitude Jar! Teaching gratitude requires persistence in providing enough opportunities to practice. One way I like to integrate teaching gratitude is by using a Gratitude Jar (a thrifted candy dish) filled with beautifully illustrated quotes about gratitude and appreciation. At the end of sessions or by request, I encourage students to choose a message. If they want to, they can keep the quote and put it on their mood board, locker, etc.
Get my Gratitude Jar with 36 beautifully illustrated messages now for free!
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