Peaceful Hands Pact My Peaceful Hands Pact
A promise to protect my classroom community
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Peaceful Partner
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My Teacher Partner
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The Peaceful Hands Club Promise
"I am a valuable member of our classroom family. I know my hands have the power to create, build, and support. Today, I promise to use my hands for kindness, learning, and helpful actions. I choose to keep my hands and body safe and to myself."
Understanding My Power: The Relational Impact
When I use kind, peaceful hands...
✓ My classmates feel safe and want to play with me.
✓ My teacher can teach exciting, fun lessons.
✓ I feel proud, calm, and ready to learn.
If my hands hurt others...
✗ My classmates feel scared, unsafe, or hurt.
✗ Our class learning has to stop to keep everyone safe.
✗ I miss out on fun learning time to help heal relationships.
My Calm-Down Toolbox
Select 3 strategies to practice!
Take 3 slow, deep belly breaths
Put my hands safely in my pockets
Ask a teacher for help or a break
Fold my hands or squeeze my squishy
Safely step away (Take 5 steps back)
Say kind words: "I need space."
My Personal Peaceful Hands Goal
Finish this goal: "When I feel angry, excited, or crowded, I will..."
We are a Team! Our Shared Commitment
Student Signature "I will use safe, peaceful hands"
Teacher Signature "I will help and guide you every day"
Supporter Signature (Parent/Counselor) "I will cheer for you and support you"
Cool Hands Lesson Guide Peaceful Hands Club
School Counselor & Student Intervention Guide
Individual Tier-2 Session
Session Focus Self-Regulation & Body Safety
Counselor Role Tier-2 SEL Interventionist
Counselor-Teacher Link Daily Wins Tracker feedback loop
Counseling Session Targets
Identify somatic warning signs (body alarms) before physical dysregulation occurs.
Co-create a custom Calm-Down Toolbox and establish counseling office as a safe haven.
Step 1
The Safe Space Welcome (5 mins)
Counselor Action: Welcome the student to the counseling space. Set a warm, non-punitive, and supportive atmosphere.
"Welcome to my office! This is a special, safe space where we solve big puzzles together. Today, we are starting a very important mission. You are joining the Peaceful Hands Club . In this club, we learn how our body is like an engine, and how we can use our hand power to keep our school life fun, safe, and positive for everyone!"
Step 2
Mapping My Body Alarms (10 mins)
Counselor works with the student to map their physical sensations on their One-Pager Guide . Guide the student to realize that physical impulses start with somatic cues.
Heart Flutter
Feeling like a racecar in the chest
Heat Surge
Face getting hot, hands sweaty
Muscle Tightness
Shoulders rising or fists squeezing
Counselor Prompt: "When you got frustrated yesterday, which alarm went off first? Let's write down what that felt like so we can catch it next time!"
Step 3
Relational Empathy Conversation (10 mins)
Review the Peaceful Hands Pact . Frame the contract not as a list of "rules," but as a covenant of trust between the student and their support system.
• Relational Impact: "When your hands stay safe, how do your classmates react? Yes! They feel comfortable around you. They trust you. We want to grow that trust every day."
• Interactive Choice: Point to the positive outcomes vs. the unsafe outcomes in the Pact. Emphasize that counseling is here to help them achieve the happy path.
Page 1 of 2 • Counselor Direct Instruction
Peaceful Hands Club
Counseling Guided Practice & Best Practices
Steps 4 & 5
Step 4
Role-Play Practice: Somatic Choice Rehearsals (10 mins)
Engage in active physical practicing. Rehearsing these responses in a low-stakes counseling room is proven to improve transfer of skills to the classroom.
Scenario A: The Bump
"You are walking in the lunch line. A classmate accidentally bumps your shoulder, making you stumble slightly."
Counselor Prompt:
"How do we know it was an accident? Walk across my rug, let's bump shoulders, catch our balance, and whisper together: 'It's okay, I am safe.'"
Scenario B: The Toy Grab
"You are playing recess basketball. Another student grabs the ball and runs away with it before you are done."
Counselor Prompt:
"Your heart starts alarm. Keep hands in pockets. Practice walking to me (as the recess supervisor), saying: 'I need help getting the ball back.'"
Scenario C: The Carpet
"At storytime, another student sits too close and their foot touches yours. It feels crowded and annoying."
Counselor Prompt:
"Take 3 breaths. Fold hands together in your lap. Practice turning and politely whispering to me: 'Please give me a little bit of space.'"
Step 5
Sealing the Pact & Collaborative Tracker Plan (5 mins)
Co-sign the Pact. Clearly outline how the Daily Wins Tracker works with their classroom teacher. Emphasize that the counselor will meet with the student weekly to check progress and celebrate.
Co-Create Positive Incentives: Let the student pick 2 concrete milestones on their tracker. Make it clear that counselor-student reward time (e.g. board game, LEGO, drawing) is earned by collecting stars in the classroom.
Counselor Collaboration & Support Strategies
• Teacher Syncing Protocol: Share the Kind Hands Visuals with the classroom teacher. Make sure they are taped on the desk and that the teacher knows when and how to mark stars.
• Proactive Morning Check-In: Have the student stop by the counseling office briefly each morning. Give a fist-bump, check their "alarms", and remind them of their goal.
• Restorative Cool-Down: If physical aggression occurs, the counselor coordinates a restorative re-entry. Review the student's somatic alarms and guide relationship repair.
• Weekly Review Ritual: Meet every Friday for 10 minutes to review the tracker, award prizes, celebrate successful stars, and reset the goal for the following week.
Page 2 of 2 • Counselor Rehearsals & Collaboration
Kind Hands Visuals Print & Cut Support Tools
Use the top poster for classroom displays, and cut out the bottom cards for desk/folder reminders.
Visual Aids Kit
Peaceful Hands Club Code
How We Use Our Hands
In the Hallway Line
My hands stay relaxed at my side or folded neatly behind my back.
On the Story Carpet
Hands rest in my lap like a quiet bowl, giving neighbors physical breathing space.
At My Learning Desk
Hands are busy writing, drawing, or holding tools safely in my own space.
Out on the Playground
Hands give kind waves, play safely, or stay in pockets when feeling frustrated.
"Keeping hands to myself builds trust and makes school fun for everyone!"
Cut Out Desk Reminder Cards
My Desk Reminder
Safe Walk Hands
"When walking, my hands stay in pockets or calm at my sides."
I am a line hero!
My Desk Reminder
Safe Carpet Hands
"My hands make a safe bowl in my lap and stay in my own bubble."
I respect friend bubbles!
My Desk Reminder
Safe Learn Hands
"My hands stay on my own paper and hold my tools with care."
I am focused and calm!
My Desk Reminder
Safe Recess Hands
"I wave, clap, high-five, or place hands in pockets if I get angry."
I am a kind recess pal!
Daily Wins Tracker My Cool Hands Tracker
Color in your stars each day to celebrate peaceful power!
Weekly Goal
10+ Stars
My Name
Week Of
My Weekly Success Pathway
Color the star for each safe and peaceful session!
MONDAY
Morning
★
Recess/Lunch
★
Afternoon
★
TUESDAY
Morning
★
Recess/Lunch
★
Afternoon
★
WEDNESDAY
Morning
★
Recess/Lunch
★
Afternoon
★
THURSDAY
Morning
★
Recess/Lunch
★
Afternoon
★
FRIDAY
Morning
★
Recess/Lunch
★
Afternoon
★
My Positive Celebration Menu
Sit down with your teacher or support person to decide your milestone rewards!
1 Earn 5 Stars (Mid-way Win)
Example: 10 mins of coloring or draw time
2 Earn 10+ Stars (Mega Win!)
Example: Special helper or game with teacher
End-of-Day Check-in Question
"Which cool hands strategy did you use today?"
😊 😐 😔
My Safe Hands Guide My Safe Hands Guide
My Personal Pocket Guide to Success
Peaceful Member
Active Status
This Guide Belongs To
My Safe Hands Goal
To Keep school fun & safe!
My Body Alarms
Before my hands make an unsafe choice, my body warns me! If I feel these signals, I know it is time to PAUSE.
Fast Heartbeat My chest feels fluttery or fast
Hot Face My ears or cheeks feel very warm
Tight Muscles My hands squeeze into hard fists
Stop, breathe, and use my toolbox!
My Safe Hands Toolbox
If my body alarm system goes off, I can choose one of these amazing powers to keep my body and my friends safe:
The Balloon Breath Take 3 deep, slow belly breaths. Blow the anger away.
The Pocket Anchor Put hands directly in my pockets to keep them safe and cozy.
The Hand Lock Fold hands together tightly or squeeze a sensory toy in my lap.
The Safe Word Break Say: "I need space" and step back or go speak to a teacher.
My Safe Helpers & Places
If my alarms are too loud and I need extra help staying calm, these are my safe helpers:
My 2 Safe Adult Helpers:
My 2 Safe Spaces at School:
"I have peaceful power inside. My hands are made for wonderful choices!"