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The Kindness Crew will work on how to independently use conflict resolution skills and self-regulation skills in their day to day lives. The group will be made up of fifth grade girls who are all ten or eleven years old. The Kindness Crew will be a closed Task Group that focuses on working through specific topics. There will be six girls involved with the group. This will be a structured group and will meet six times total.

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Upon completing the work given to this group, members of the Kindness Crew will develop Mindset Skill number two, which states students will develop a "Sense of acceptance, respect, support and inclusion for self and others in the school environment" (ASCA, 2021). In regards to behavior, members will master Self-Management Skills, specifically B-SMS 1: "responsibility for self and actions"; and B-SMS 2: "self-discipline and self-control" (ASCA, 2021). Social Skills will also be a focus for this group, specifically B-SS 2: "positive, respectful and supportive relationships with students who are similar to and different from them"; B-SS 4: "empathy"; and B-SS 9: "social maturity and behaviors appropriate to the situation and environment" (ASCA, 2021).

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The information for The Kindness Crew will be given to the students who are selected for this group. This information will be a personal invitation that they will take home to their parents and will include a description of the group, when it will take place, and a schedule of lessons to be taught. Before invitations go home with students, parents will called individually to explain the group and to answer any initial questions. Parents will also sign consent to allow their child to participate in the group. Once consent is signed and the group members are officially allowed to participate, teachers of the students will be notified via email if it conflicts with that teacher/student's schedule. Administrators will be involved with each step of the process through meetings and emails.

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To select potential group members, the School Counselor will meet with administrators to discuss who would benefit from the group sessions based on previous behavior, social struggles, and referrals from teachers to the counselor and administrators. This process will be done on individual students in the 5th grade class due to previous struggles. Once the group members are narrowed down, each member will meet individually with the counselor so the group can be explained and they can understand what the group will look like and how their participation is expected to look like. If the student is willing to participate, their parents will be notified to explain the group and personal invitations will be sent with the students.

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Once the group members are selected, each parent will be contacted over the phone by the Professional School Counselor to go over the group description, schedule, and lesson overview. At that point, they will be able to answer any questions they may have. A consent form, attached and borrowed from the Missouri Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program- Responsive Services, will be sent home for each student and parent to sign. Any necessary changes from the form will be made prior to it being sent home.

My current district does not have a specific policy regarding consent or assent from students, so I will adopt the one attached.

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Adopted from the Missouri Professional School Counselor Small Group Counselor Guide (2015), most guidelines for The Kindness Crew will be predetermined by the school counselor. Group members will be able to make adjustments as needed.

The guidelines are as follows:

1. Confidentiality is required for all group members and the school counselor.

2. Only one person speaks at a time.

3. All group members are encouraged to share and participate, but have the ability to pass their turn if the issue is sensitive.

4. Have an open mind to activities and tasks, and to each other's ideas.

5. Maintain respect for all group members and the school counselor.

6. Other rules may be created by the group members if necessary.

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Stage 1: Getting Acquainted

During this stage, group members will play a short getting to know you game after the group norms/guidelines have been covered. Reminders of group norms/guidelines will be given at the beginning of each session and throughout sessions as needed. Confidentiality will be gone over at the beginning and end of each session as well, and reminders that confidentiality is a choice and some people may not want to share will be part of that opening part of the sessions.

Stage 2: Working Together

During this stage, the group members will work towards common goals: developing conflict-resolution skills and self-regulation skills. The common goal will be shared and progress from each member will be celebrated by the counselor and the other group members. As the group sessions continue, check ins with each member outside of the group will be done to ensure that each group member feels like they are progressing and making growth towards their goals. Progress will also be discussed during the group sessions.

Stage 3: Closure

During the final session, the group will reflect as a whole and as individuals on the growth they have made while working as part of the group. Reminders that the group members can rely on each other in respectful ways if they need help will be given, and as always, they can schedule an appointment with the school counselor as needed for follow up to the group. Confidentiality being a priority will also be reinforced during the last session as a reminder that even though the group is ending, it is still important to not share.

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The Kindness Crew will be led with a mixed leadership style approach. To begin, there will be an Authoritarian leadership. Due to the sessions only lasting six weeks, there is not much extra time, and for this reason, as the counselor, I will explain the guidelines and norms for the group.

As the sessions progress, there will also be a mixture with participative leadership. As the counselor, I would also like to give input and be part of the group discussions, and not just leading them. This will build trust within the group members and the counselor, while helping them to see that these struggles are normal and people of all ages can use help in learning strategies to overcome difficulties. (Cherry, 2023)

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American School Counselor Association. (2021). ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & behaviors for student success. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/7428a787-a452-4abb-afec-d78ec77870cd/Mindsets-Behaviors.pdf

Missouri Professional School Counselors & Counselor Educators. (2015). Professional school counselor small group counseling guide: A professional school counselor’s guide to planning, implementing & evaluating school-based counseling groups. Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education & Missouri Center for Career Education.

Cherry, K. (2023, June 27). How to lead: 6 leadership styles and frameworks. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/leadership-styles-2795312

Yalom ID. (1995). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (4th ed.). New York: Basic Books.

Texas Education Code, Title 2, Subtitle F, Chapter 33. (2023). School counselors and counseling programs. Texas Constitution and Statutes. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.33.htm

American School Counselor Association. (2025). ASCA school counselor professional standards & competencies. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/a8d59c2c-51de-4ec3-a565-a3235f3b93c3/SC-Competencies.pdf

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During The Kindness Crew sessions, there is a potential to see a few different therapeutic factors. One factor could be Universality, which is where each member has the potential to realize they are not alone with their struggles. Due to the group all having the same goals, this factor is the most expected.

A second factor that might come up would be the Development of Socializing Techniques, which happens when group members are involved in social learning/development of their own interpersonal skills. Each member would hopefully make personal growth throughout the duration of the sessions, so it is hopeful for them to all contribute to this factor taking place. (Yalom, 1995)

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As part of the Comprehensive School Counseling Program, the Texas Education Code states that counselors are part of the planning, implementing, and evaluating processes to help develop a program that serves all students. This includes assisting students with academic, career, personal, and social domains. The Kindness Crew would fit into this practice as it is covered under both personal and social domains. (TEC, 2023)

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American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

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American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

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The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) has a list of mindsets and behaviors for both students and professionals. The Behavior Professional Foundation Standard 1:D explains how small group sessions can be used to promote academic, career, and social/emotional development. This guideline allows school counselors to work with small groups on topics they may be struggling with in various areas throughout their school day.