Routine Rockstars Teacher Guide
Week 1: Foundations
ROUTINE ROCKSTARS
My Predictable Counseling Routine — Counselor & Teacher Guide
IEP GOALS
NK-G1 (Emotion), NK-G2 (Coping), NK-G3 (Safety), NK-G4 (Peer Interaction)
SESSION LENGTH
20 Minutes (Designed for high pace & direct kindergarten engagement)
KEY MATERIALS
Visual Schedule, 4 Emotion Cards, Coping Board, Data Form
MEASURABLE SESSION OBJECTIVE
The student will complete baseline probes of emotion communication, coping choice, ready behavior, directions following, and cooperative peer interaction during a predictable 20-minute structured routine with minimal baseline adult coaching.
1
WARM-UP: Routine Preview & Choice Support (5 Min)
Counselor Action: Seat the student. Present the Visual Schedule Board. Explain that counseling is safe, predictable, and has 6 quick steps: Check-In, Learn, Practice, Cope, Connect, and Finish. Introduce sensory tools.
Counselor Script
"Welcome, Rockstars! In this room, we always know what comes next. Look at our schedule: Check-In, Learn, Practice, Cope, Connect, Finish. Today we will play games to see what you already know! Before we start, choose one helper tool to keep with you: a soft squeezy ball or a colorful sensory timer."
Kindergarten Tip: Ensure the selected helper tool is placed in a designated "helper spot" on the table so it is a tool, not a distraction.
2
ACTIVITY 1: Teach Ready-Calm-Connected Routine (8 Min)
Instruction: Point to each visual routine step. Teach the hand motions to match: Plan (hands flat), Feeling (pointing to heart), Coping (deep breath), Connect (clap hands).
Counselor Script
"First, we receive the plan (hands flat on table). Second, we say our feeling (point to heart). Third, we choose a safe strategy to stay calm (take a deep breath). Fourth, we work and play with friends (clap hands together). When we follow these steps, we are ready to learn!"
What to Observe
Observe if the child can sit comfortably, follow physical hand prompts, and mimic actions.
Pacing Reminder
Keep instruction lively! Spend no more than 2 minutes on each step of the routine sequence.
Routine Rockstars • Week 1 Guide Page 1 of 2
Week 1: Baseline Evaluation
BASELINE PROBES & CLOSING
Instructional Guides for High-Fidelity Assessment
3
ACTIVITY 2: Low-Stakes Diagnostic Probes (5 Min)
Purpose: Establish a baseline response for the four core target IEP areas. Do not coach the correct answer or hand-model initially. Instead, state the instructions, observe carefully, and record on your Session Data Sheet.
Probe A: Emotion Communication
Spread the 4 Emotion cards face up. Ask: "Point to the card that shows feeling sad." Then ask: "How do you feel today?"
Targets: NK-G1
Probe B: Coping Match
Present the Coping board. Say: "Point to a card that shows what we can do to make our body calm when we are angry."
Targets: NK-G2
Probe C: Direction Following
Give a clear two-step motor direction: "Stand up, turn around once, and sit back in your chair." Do not visually model the actions.
Targets: NK-G3
Probe D: Cooperative Task & Turn
Place the cooperative block tower on the table. Give 2 blocks to student, 2 to peer/counselor. Ask to alternate putting blocks on the tower.
Targets: NK-G4
4
SENTENCE STARTERS & COPING CHOICE (2 Min)
Introduce the Sentence Starter Board. Model using the board to declare internal state. Have the student point to or fill in:
"I feel ______." "I need ______." "I am ready to ______."
Coping Demonstration: Help the student practice one visual coping choice they pointed to. E.g., model a deep "flower breath" (smell the flower, blow out the candle) or gentle 10-second muscle squeeze.
5
CLOSING: Rockstar Review & Goal Setting (2 Min)
Counselor Script
"You did it, Rockstars! Let's check our schedule. We Check-In, Learned our routine, Practiced, Coped, Connected, and now we are Ready to Finish! Point to one helper choice that you felt good using today. Next week, we will practice making our bodies calm even faster."
Give the student their Rockstar sticker (or check-off in workbook). Safely escort them back to class or support transitions.
Ms. Hartman's Data Tracking Tip
Fill in the Session Data Record immediately after the child leaves. Note any specific latency (how long they took to return to a calm state) and unsafe behaviors. Use raw numbers rather than approximate percentages.
Routine Rockstars • Week 1 Guide Page 2 of 2
Routine Rockstars Visual Toolkit
MY ROUTINE BOARD
Check-off each step as we complete our session together!
★ OUR 6-STEP SESSION PLAN
Step 1 Check-In
Step 2 Learn
Step 3 Practice
Step 4 Cope
Step 5 Connect
Step 6 Finish
★ MY SPEAKING BOARD
I START BY SAYING...
"I feel ________________."
THEN I DECLARE MY NEED...
"I need ________________."
I AM READY TO PARTICIPATE...
"I am ready to __________."
Routine Rockstars • Toolkit Use with Emotion Cards & Coping Cards (on Page 2)
EMOTION & COPING CARDS
Cut out these cards to point, match, and choose during sessions.
★ 4 FEELING CARDS (Cut Along Dotted Lines)
HAPPY 😊 Proud & Glad
SAD 😢 Hurt & Blue
ANGRY 😡 Mad & Hot
WORRIED 😰 Scared & Shaky
★ 4 COPING CARDS (Cut Along Dotted Lines)
BREATHES 🌸 Flower Breath
SQUEEZE 🥎 Squeezeball
SILENT ⏳ Quiet Minute
STRETCH 🙆 Gentle Stretch
Printing instructions: Print on high-durability cardstock or laminate after cutting. These tangible tools enable student pointing-responses even if they exhibit situational mutism or expressive language delays.
Routine Rockstars • Toolkit Page 2 of 2
Routine Rockstars Workbook
Level 1: High Visual Support
MY ROCKSTAR SPACE!
This is a safe place to learn, share, and grow!
PAGE 1
Name:
Date:
1
Draw you and your counselor inside our cozy, safe room!
2
Our Routine Checklist: Color the star for each step!
☆
1. Check-In I share my feeling.
☆
2. Learn I listen to the plan.
☆
3. Practice I do my workbook.
☆
4. Cope I use calming tools.
☆
5. Connect I work with friends.
☆
6. Finish I get my stamp!
Routine Rockstars Student Workbook • Level 1 Page 1 of 4
Level 1: High Visual Support
CONNECT THE FEELING
Trace lines to connect feelings with matching calm strategies!
PAGE 2
3
Draw a line from the feeling to the helpful coping strategy!
FEELINGS
I feel ANGRY 😡
I feel WORRIED 😰
I feel SAD 😢
CALM TOOLS
Talk to Counselor 🗣
Flower Breathes 🌸
Squeeze ball 🥎
4
My Daily Session Sticker Spot!
When you finish practicing your session steps today, color this Rockstar Crown!
Routine Rockstars Student Workbook • Level 1 Page 2 of 4
Level 2: Expressive & Early Writing
MY ROCKSTAR DIARY
Draw a picture AND complete the key starter sentences!
PAGE 3
Name:
Date:
1
Draw yourself using your favorite calming or focusing tool!
2
Helpful Sentence practice (Copy the dotted words!)
Trace & Complete:
I feel H - A - P - P - Y today.
Write your choice tool:
I need my S - Q - U - E - E - Z - E tool.
Routine Rockstars Student Workbook • Level 2 Page 3 of 4
Level 2: Expressive & Early Writing
EMOTIONS MATCH & CHOOSE
Draw lines AND circle the correct word helper!
PAGE 4
3
Circle the correct feeling word that matches the face!
😊
HAPPY SAD
😢
ANGRY SAD
😡
ANGRY WORRIED
4
Self-Rating: How well did you follow the routine steps?
Routine Rockstars Home Guide
School-to-Home Connection
ROUTINE ROCKSTARS
Helping Your Child Build Predictable, Calm, and Happy Habits
Welcome, Rockstar Families!
This week, your student started their counseling group, Routine Rockstars! We are focused on building safe, predictable habits that make kids feel secure. When children know exactly what to expect, they are ready to learn, cooperate, and manage tough feelings.
★ THE 6 STEPS WE PRACTICED IN GROUP
1
Check-In
We look at our schedule and name how we feel right now.
2
Learn
We listen carefully to the session plan and goals.
3
Practice
We play structured skill-games and write in our workbooks.
4
Cope
We choose calm, safe sensory tools to relax our bodies.
★ EASY HOME HABIT-BUILDERS
Practice the "Three Sentences"
Ask your child: "How does your body feel?" Assist them to say: "I feel ___. I need ___. I am ready to ___."
Smell the Flower, Blow the Candle
To practice coping: Have your child mimic holding a fresh flower to breathe in deeply, then blow out a birthday candle gently. Repeat 3 times to restore physical calm.
Play "Two-Step Simon Says"
Build listening skills by giving friendly two-step directives: "Tap your shoulders, then touch your toes!" Celebrate when they follow both without getting distracted.
Support & Transitions
Our goal in school counseling is to design a pathway of ultimate success for your student. Consistent predictability lowers anxiety. Let's work together to celebrate their inner Rockstar! Feel free to reach out with any questions or behavioral observations.
School Counselor Connection • Week 1 Guide Routine Rockstars