Focus Finders Parent Letter Focus Finders
Celestial Strategies for Success
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Dear Families,
I am excited to invite your daughter to join Focus Finders , a specialized 6-8 week small group program designed for first-grade girls to help them navigate their unique learning styles with confidence and joy.
What is Focus Finders?
Focus Finders uses a celestial theme to teach essential "executive functioning" skills—the brain's management system. We view fast-moving, energetic learning styles not as a deficit, but as a brain that processes the world like a sparkling galaxy! Our goal is to provide the "telescopes" and "maps" students need to navigate their day successfully.
Our Journey Includes:
Engine Check: Energy levels.
Tidy Toolkit: Organization.
Time Travelers: Transitions.
Focus Filters: Distractions.
Peaceful Palette: Regulation.
Jumpstart Journey: Task start.
Resilience: Growth mindset.
Success Sparkle: Celebration!
Groups meet weekly for 30 minutes during non-core academic time. Students participate in hands-on activities, creative projects, and discussions to build self-esteem and practical classroom strategies.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. We look forward to seeing your student's "inner star" shine!
Sincerely,
School Counselor / Group Facilitator
Permission Slip
Student Name:
I give permission for my child to participate.
I do not wish for my child to participate.
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date
Focus Finders Assessment Document Focus Finders Assessment
Pre-Program & Post-Program Skills Check
Name:
Date:
How to use this tool:
Teacher: Read each statement to the student. Ask them to color the star that best describes how they feel about the skill.
Hard for me
Sometimes okay
I'm a pro!
My Toolbox (Executive Functioning)
1. I can keep my desk and backpack neat without help.
2. I know how much time I have to finish my work.
3. I can start my work right away when the teacher says go.
My Heart (Emotional Regulation)
4. I can tell when my "engine" is moving too fast or too slow.
5. I know 3 ways to calm down when I feel upset or frustrated.
My Brain (Academic Support)
6. I can keep working even when there are noises in the room.
7. I feel proud of myself when I try hard things.
Administer this at the beginning of Week 1 and the end of Week 8.
Engine Check Teacher Guide Lesson 1: Engine Check
Focus Finders • Week 1 • Emotional Awareness
Duration: 30-45 mins
Objectives
• Build group rapport & safety.
• Identify internal "engine" states.
• Connect body feelings to emotions.
Materials
• Lesson 1 Slides
• Activity Sheets & Crayons
• Pre-Program Assessment
• The Way I Feel (optional book)
Support Insight
First-grade girls with attention challenges often present as "dreamy" or "spacey" (inattentive type) or highly emotional. They may not realize their engine is "too fast" until an outburst occurs. Focus on body clues (racing heart, wiggly toes) to help build self-awareness.
1. Welcome & Agreements (10 mins)
Start with a warm welcome. Use the slides to establish the "Star Squad" agreements. Emphasize that this is a safe place to share things that feel hard.
"Welcome, Focus Finders! In this group, we're going to learn how to make our stars shine bright by training our brains and hearts."
2. Assessment (5 mins)
Distribute the Pre-Program Assessment . Read each question aloud. Explain that there are no wrong answers; it just helps us see where we are starting.
3. The Engine Concept (15 mins)
Introduce the "Engine" concept (based on Alert Program). Use the slides to show Blue (Too Slow), Green (Just Right), and Red (Too Fast).
Key Discussion Questions:
What does your body feel like when you are in the Blue zone?
What happens to your school work when your engine is Red?
How can we tell when a friend's engine is Red?
4. Activity & Wrap-Up (10 mins)
Complete the Engine Check Activity Sheet . Encourage students to be specific in their drawings.
Closing Ritual:
Each student shares one "body clue" they noticed today. Hand out the Weekly Star Trackers to start on Monday.
Weekly Star Tracker Document Weekly Star Tracker
Progress Monitoring Checklist
Name:
Week #:
Teacher Note: Observe the student throughout the week. For each goal, color a star for each day they successfully practiced the skill. Use the "Notes" section for specific observations related to their unique learning profile (e.g., moments of high focus, distractibility, or impulsivity).
Our Focus Goals M T W Th F Total I used my "Engine Check" /5 I kept my desk "Star Sorted" /5 I started my work right away /5 I used a calming strategy /5 I was a "Resilience Rockstar" /5
Teacher Notes:
Weekly Strength:
My "Feeling Scale" this week:
Hard
Okay
Great!
Teacher Focus Pre Assessment Swag Teacher Pre-Assessment
Focus Finders • Student Baseline Profile
Student Name:
Referring Teacher:
Grade Level:
Date:
Rate behavior frequency observed over the last 4 weeks. This baseline helps us target specific skills during the 6-8 week group intervention.
Classroom Behavior / Skill Domain Never Rarely Some Often Always Organization & Planning Maintains an organized workspace and backpack.
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| Initiates academic tasks promptly. |
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| Transitions between activities without delay. |
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| Self-Regulation |
| Identifies energy levels/emotions accurately. |
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| Uses calming strategies when frustrated. |
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| Refrains from blurting out or interrupting. |
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| Engagement & Resilience |
| Sustains focus during instructional mini-lessons. |
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| Shows resilience when work is challenging. |
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Top 3 Strengths:
(e.g., social skills, creativity, specific subject area...)
Primary Areas for Support:
(Specific behaviors to target in group...)
Confidential Document • Focus Finders Intervention Series
Star Power Profile
Engine Check Slides Focus Finders
Lesson 1: Engine Check
Our Star Squad Agreements
Kind Hearts
We use kind words and support our friends.
Listen & Learn
We take turns talking and listen with our whole bodies.
Safe Space
What we share here stays with the squad.
Try Your Best
Mistakes are how we grow our star power!
How is your engine running?
Too Slow
Tired, sad, bored, or day-dreamy.
Just Right
Ready to learn, calm, and focused.
Too Fast
Wiggly, loud, angry, or super excited.
Our Cloud Meter
Drizzly
Sunny
Stormy
Where are you today?
Engine Check Activity Sheet My Engine Check
Lesson 1: Emotional Awareness
Name:
Date:
1 Color the clouds to show how your engine feels.
Too Slow
Color this Blue
I feel: tired, sleepy, sad
Just Right
Color this Green
I feel: focused, calm, ready
Too Fast
Color this Red
I feel: wiggly, loud, angry
2 Draw a picture of yourself when your engine is "Just Right."
Drawing Space
3 One thing I can do to get to "Just Right" is... Weekly Teacher Snapshot Report Weekly Progress Snapshot
Classroom Teacher Weekly Update
Week:
Student Name:
Teacher:
Please provide a quick "snapshot" of this student's week in your classroom. This helps us see if strategies are transferring from our group sessions to the real world!
Target Skill Area Developing Consistent Strong Organization
Managing desk space and backpack.
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Task Initiation
Starting work promptly without delay.
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Emotional Regulation
Using calming tools or identifying energy.
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Sustained Focus
Staying with tasks until completion.
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Resilience
Persistence when work gets hard.
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A "Star Moment" this week:
(Briefly describe a positive behavioral win or progress...)
Strategy in Focus:
Transferring to classroom
Needs more practice
Confidential • Return to Counselor/Facilitator
Focus Finders Snapshot
Tidy Toolkit Slides Tidy Toolkit
Lesson 2: Star Sorting
The Messy Mind Wall
When our things are messy, it's hard for our brains to find the sparkle and focus on our work.
"Where is my pencil?"
"I forgot my homework folder!"
Organization is a Superpower!
The Star Sorting Rule
1. Toss it
Trash, old papers, and broken bits go away.
2. Home it
Everything has a special house (a folder or bin).
3. Check it
Take a deep breath and look: "Is it tidy?"
Backpack Blast-off!
1
Empty EVERYTHING out on the rug.
2
Sort into "Stay" and "Go".
3
Pack it back with your "Home" rules.
Star Sorting Activity Sheet My Star Sorting Map
Lesson 2: Organization
Name:
Things that STAY:
Pencils
Folders
Notebooks
Crayons
Add your own:
Things that GO:
Food Scraps
Old Tissues
Broken Bits
Scrap Paper
Add your own:
My "Sparkle Spot" Plan
Draw where your most important tools (pencils and folders) live in your desk.
Remember: Toss it, Home it, Check it!
Time Travelers Slides Time Travelers
Lesson 3: Mastering Time
The Time Cloud
Sometimes, time feels like a cloud that just floats away. We don't notice it's gone!
Where did the time go?
I'm not finished yet!
Our Time Traveling Tools
Visual Timers
Watching the "pie" disappear helps us see time moving.
Checklists
Checking boxes tells us how much we have left to do.
The 5-Minute Warning
When you hear the 5-minute bell, it's time to start finishing your current star and preparing for the next galaxy (the next task!).
Try This:
Take 3 deep breaths when the timer goes off.
Time Traveler Journal Worksheet Time Traveler's Field Journal
Explorer Name
__________________________________________
Mission Date
___ / ___ / ___
The Magic Hourglass
Color the sand to show 10 minutes left. What is one "Time Thief" that slows you down?
Time Teleporting
Do 10 jumping jacks:
GUESS
REALITY
Draw a happy star:
GUESS
REALITY
The Starry Step-Path
When a mission feels too "heavy," turn it into 3 tiny stars . Write steps for "Getting Ready."
1
2
3
Journal entry complete
Peaceful Palette Slides Peaceful Palette
Lesson 5: Calming Our Big Feelings
When Feelings Get BIG
Sometimes our feelings feel like giant waves in the ocean. It's okay to feel them, but we need to know how to swim through them!
Frustration
"This is too hard!"
Sadness
"I feel lonely or hurt."
Anger
"It's not fair!"
Our 3 Calm-Down Colors
Deep Blue Breaths
Smell the flower, blow out the candle.
Gentle Green Hugs
Give yourself a squeeze or a "butterfly hug."
Purple Peace Place
Close your eyes and think of a happy place.
The Butterfly Hug
Cross your arms and hook your thumbs. Gently tap your shoulders like butterfly wings. Breathe in... Breathe out...
You are safe. You are strong.
Concentration Cape Slides Concentration Cape
Lesson 4: Finding Your Focus
The Distraction Dragons
Sound Dragons
Noisy hallways, humming fans, whispering friends.
Sight Dragons
Busy posters, people walking by, cool toys on desks.
Thought Dragons
Thinking about recess, lunch, or a fun movie.
Wiggle Dragons
Feeling like your body just has to MOVE!
Activate Your Focus Filters!
Mufflers
Using headphones or earplugs to quiet the room.
Blinders
Looking only at your paper, not around the room.
Fidgets
Giving your wiggles a tiny, quiet job to do.
The Focus Mission
We are going to practice working for 3 minutes with a focus tool. Can you keep your eyes on the star?
Ready... Set... FOCUS!
Jumpstart Journey Slides Jumpstart Journey
Lesson 6: Starting Hard Work
The "I Can't" Wall
Have you ever looked at a paper and thought, "I don't even know how to start!" ? That is the Wall of Awful!
"It feels too big, too hard, or too much."
STOP
HELP
How to Break the Wall
The "Micro" Step
Don't do the whole thing. Just write 1 word or 1 number.
The "SOS" Call
Raise your hand and say: "I need help with the first step."
The 1-Minute Dash
1:00
Sometimes we just need to start! Can you work for only 1 minute ? Once you start, the wall usually falls down!
Step 1: Get Pencil
Step 2: Name on Paper
Step 3: DASH!
Resilience Rockstars Slides Resilience Rockstars
Lesson 7: Growing Through Mistakes
The Power of "YET"
"I can't do this."
This thought stops our star power.
"I can't do this... YET!"
This thought grows our brain!
Mistake Magic
When we make a mistake, our brain actually sparks and grows! Resilience is getting back up when we fall.
Try Again
Take a breath and start over.
Self-Talk
"It's okay, I'm learning."
Ask Help
"Can you show me another way?"
You Are a Gem!
Gems are made under pressure. When things get tough, you are just becoming more brilliant !
"I am strong. I am capable. I am a Rockstar."
Focus Finder Graduate Certificate Focus Finder Graduate
Official Star Squad Member
This award is presented to
Brilliant Student Name
for completing the Focus Finders program and showing incredible strength in Executive Functioning, Emotional Regulation, and Resilience!
Squad Leader Signature
Date
"I can do this... YET!"
Success Sparkle Slides Success Sparkle
Celebration Ceremony
Our Journey Together
Engine Checks
Star Sorting
Time Traveling
Focus Filters
Peaceful Palette
Jumpstarts
Resilience
YOU!
One Last Star Check
It's time to see how much your "star powers" have grown! Let's complete our final skills check.
Post-Assessment Time!
Keep Finding Your Focus!
You have all the tools you need to be a Focus Finder every day. Don't forget your engine, your sorted desk, and your powerful "YET"!
