Attendance Champion Counselor Guide Individual Counseling Plan Grade 1 • 30-35 Min
Every Morning Counts: Session Facilitator Guide
Tier 2 Individual Attendance Intervention • Target Focus: Chronic Tardiness / Morning Reluctance
ASCA Alignment
M 2, B-SMS 1, B-SMS 8
Developmental Age
6–7 Years (1st Grade)
Core Approach
Play-Based & Solution-Focused
Key Materials
Mission Sheet, Stickers, Crayons
Learning & Counseling Objectives (First-Grade Student Outcomes)
Emotional Literacy: Express feelings about school mornings using emotion badges.
Barrier Identification: Pinpoint 1–2 specific morning hurdles without blame or guilt.
School Value Connection: Identify 2 positive people or activities they look forward to.
Action Routine: Rehearse a 4-step morning checklist and sign a personal attendance pledge.
1
Warm-Up: "The Morning Weather Inside"
6 Minutes
Goal: Establish unconditional positive regard, build safety, and normalize that waking up can feel challenging.
Counselor Script Prompt:
"Hi [Student Name]! I am so happy to see your bright smile today. Today, we get to be detectives on a morning adventure! When the alarm goes off or your grown-up wakes you up, how does your morning weather feel? Is it sunny and energetic, cloudy and sleepy, or maybe a little stormy and rushed?"
→ Have student point to the weather faces on Page 1 of the Student Worksheet. Validate: "It is totally okay when mornings feel cloudy. Even grown-ups feel cozy and want to stay in bed!"
2
Barrier Detective: "Uncovering the Morning Roadblocks"
8 Minutes
Goal: Non-judgmentally isolate specific root causes (sleep hygiene, separation anxiety, sensory issues, peer conflict, or academic dread).
Diagnostic Detective Questions:
"What is the very hardest part between your pillow and the school door?"
"Does your tummy ever have fluttery butterflies before you leave home?"
"Who is at home that you miss the most during reading or math time?"
Common 1st Grade Root Barriers:
• Separation Anxiety: Hard saying goodbye to caregiver.
• Night Routine: Late bedtime, screen time, overtiredness.
• Sensory / Task Rush: Clothes feel itchy, packing panic.
• School Fear: Reading frustration, loud hallway, playground.
Tier 2 Elementary Attendance Counseling Protocol Page 1 of 2 • Continue to Interventions & Home Bridge
Intervention Stages 3–5: Action, Habits & Closure
Individual Session Protocol
3
The School Magnet: "What Makes Our Day Shine?"
7 Minutes
Goal: Prime positive intrinsic motivation and foster belonging by anchoring student's unique school joys and friendships.
Counselor Facilitation Script:
"When you are not here, your desk is empty, and your friends miss you! Let's fill out your 'School Superpower Sparks' badges. Who makes you laugh at recess? What is your favorite station—building blocks, drawing, or reading corner?"
→ Guide the student to draw or write key anchors on Page 1 of the Student Worksheet. If the student struggles, offer choices: "Library day? Being the line leader? Playing freeze tag?"
4
Morning Mission Blueprint: 4 Micro-Habits for Success
8 Minutes
1
Night Launch
Pack bag & lay out clothes before sleep.
2
Rise & Stretch
Feet on floor + 3 giant superhero stretches.
3
Fuel & Shoes
Yummy breakfast & shoes on right away.
4
Brave Goodbye
Special handshake, secret pocket heart hug.
*Practice the "Pocket Heart Hug" together: child taps hand to chest to remind themselves that caregiver love stays all day long.
5
Brave Pledge & 10-Day Attendance Star Tracker
4 Minutes
Have the student recite the "Attendance Champion Pledge" with hand over heart. Introduce the 10-day star tracker on Page 2 of the student worksheet: each on-time morning earns a shiny sticker during a 30-second morning high-five check-in at the counseling door!
Home-School Connection & Multi-Tiered Collaboration Guide
Caregiver Phone/In-Person Check-In Script:
"Hi [Caregiver]! [Student] and I had a wonderful chat today about making mornings smoother. They were so proud creating their 'Morning Mission Routine'! We identified that [Barrier, e.g., bedtime transition] felt tricky. How can we team up to support your mornings together?"
Counselor Follow-Up Milestones:
Day 2 Check-in: Greet student at door for first star celebration.
Day 5 Review: Quick 3-min hallway chat to evaluate routine stability.
Day 10 Celebration: Certificate award and positive note sent home.
Tier 3 Escalation: If 3+ unexcused absences persist, initiate SST meeting.
Every Day Counts • Tier 2 Counseling Curriculum Page 2 of 2 • Evaluation & Caregiver Collaboration
Morning Mission Student Worksheet First-Grade Explorer Counseling Adventure
My Morning Mission Sheet
I am brave, curious, and ready for school every day!
My Name:
Today's Date:
1
Morning Weather: How do your mornings feel right now?
Circle or color your morning weather:
Sunny
Ready & awake!
Cloudy
Sleepy & cozy
Butterflies
Tummy nervous
Rushed
Hurry hurry!
2
Morning Mystery Clues: Check what makes leaving home hard
My warm bed is too cozy to leave
I miss my grown-up or home toys
My clothes or shoes feel tricky
I feel worried about school work
Something else:
3
My School Sparks: Draw or write what you love at school!
A friend or teacher I like to see:
My favorite fun thing to do:
A subject or story I enjoy:
Something I am super good at:
Turn the page for your Morning Mission Plan & Star Chart! 🌟 Page 1 of 2
Part 2
My 4-Step Morning Mission & Star Map
Ready for Takeoff!
Follow These 4 Steps Every Morning:
1 Night
Pack Bag
Pick out clothes & zip my backpack.
Ready!
2 Morning
Rise & Shine
Feet on the floor & 3 big stretches.
Awake!
3 Fuel
Breakfast
Eat breakfast & tie up my shoes.
Fueled!
4 Door
Brave Hug
High-five goodbye & walk inside!
Arrived!
5
My 10-Day On-Time Attendance Star Chart
Earn 1 sticker or color 1 star each on-time day!
Day 1 Date: _____
Day 2 Date: _____
Day 3 Date: _____
Day 4 Date: _____
Day 5 🎉 Halfway Hero!
Day 6 Date: _____
Day 7 Date: _____
Day 8 Date: _____
Day 9 Date: _____
Day 10 🏆 Champion!
My Attendance Champion Pledge
"I am brave, I am curious, and I belong at school! Every day I show up on time, I learn new things, laugh with my friends, and become my best self."
Explorer Signature (My Name):
Counselor Cheerleader Signature:
Hang this on your refrigerator or bedroom door! 🏡 Page 2 of 2
Bedtime to Bell Routine Cards Take-Home Tool Student & Family Resource
Bedtime to Bell Routine Cards
Cut out these cards with a grown-up and tape them to your fridge or mirror in order!
Daily Morning Mission Cards (Cut Along Dotted Lines ✂️)
Sequence: 1 → 6
1 Night Before
Outfit Ready
Pick out shirt, pants, and socks before bedtime.
No morning clothes scramble!
2 Night Before
Sweet Sleep
Storytime, lights out early, and deep cozy rest.
Recharges your brain battery!
3 Morning
Superhero Wake-Up
Roll out of bed and do 3 big standing stretches.
Say: "I am ready for today!"
4 Morning
Power Fuel
Eat breakfast and brush teeth till they sparkle.
Fuel for reading & recess!
5 Doorway
Shoes & Backpack
Slip on shoes and zip backpack right by the door.
Checked and ready to go!
6 School Gate
Brave Goodbye
One big hug, special high-five, and walk inside!
"See you right here after school!"
2 Pocket Courage Cards (Cut and Keep in Your Pocket or Backpack)
The Pocket Heart Hug
Whenever you miss home, place your hand over your heart. Your grown-up's love is with you every minute of the school day!
Brave Explorer Power
Mornings can feel hard, but you are strong! "I can do hard things. Today I will learn something amazing!"
Caregiver Quick Guide: 3 Proven Keys for Calm School Mornings
1. Consistent Wind-Down
Turn off screens 45 mins before bedtime. Consistent 10-11 hours of sleep eliminates 80% of morning fatigue tears.
2. Calm, Predictable Exit
A quick, cheerful goodbye ritual (e.g., secret high-five + "I love you and I'll see you right here at 3:00!") prevents lingering anxiety.
3. Praise the Effort
Praise bravery over perfection: "I noticed how fast you put your sneakers on today—that was so responsible!"
Every Day Counts • School Counseling Intervention Series Keep this sheet handy at home or stick cards onto cardstock