Anger Management Group Update

This week my fourth grade anger management group for boys had its fourth session using Seeing Red: An Anger Management and Peacemaking Curriculum for Kids. I restarted the group because I shuffled around some students. One student I am now meeting with individually and another student joined the group. My group consists of four fourth grade boys. I only have the students for a half an hour. The lessons are created to last 45 minutes, but since I only have four students, we usually get through everything.

I really enjoy Seeing Red: An Anger Management and Peacemaking Curriculum for Kids. It is a great guide. It is very interactive and has really fun activities. The students really enjoy the activities that we do.

This week's topic was great. It was called "Warning: I'm Getting Mad!" This lesson seemed to be extremely relevant for the students. The activities I facilitated from Seeing Red: An Anger Management and Peacemaking Curriculum for Kids this week included a using a card deck to share something with the group, using "warning cards" to explain warning signs of getting angry, and using Play-Doh to create a visual of a positive coping skill.

For the card deck share, each student picked a numbered card from 2-9 and shared something that corresponded to the list in Seeing Red: An Anger Management and Peacemaking Curriculum for Kids. One student picked the number 4, so he shared "what he did be4 dinner." It was a cool way to get students who might not usually share to share something. It gives students choices of what to share instead of just asking one open ended question. I will definitely use the card deck share in other groups.

The "warning cards" are a handout in Seeing Red: An Anger Management and Peacemaking Curriculum for Kids. I cut out the "warning cards" and arranged them so students could see them. Each student took a turn selecting "warning cards" that represent how they know when they are angry. Some of the "warning cards" included "feeling hot," "head pounding," "want to get away," and "want to hurt someone." This was also a great way to get students to share. Students were able to realize that there are signs they can recognize when they are getting angry.

The last activity that I facilitated from Seeing Red: An Anger Management and Peacemaking Curriculum for Kids this week was using Play-Doh to create positive ways to cope with anger. The students really enjoyed this. I gave them each their own mini Play-Doh from a party pack to keep in my office. I will give it to them to take home at end of the group. The students created pencils out of Play-Doh because they can "write down how they are feeling." The students also created video game controllers out of Play-Doh as a positive coping strategy for home. One student stated that just squeezing the Play-Doh would make him feel not as angry.

I have really enjoyed using Seeing Red: An Anger Management and Peacemaking Curriculum for Kids. I was trying to see if Jennifer Simmonds had any other books because I enjoy this one so much. It is very engaging and fun. The students really enjoy it because it is fun and interactive!

What resources do you use for groups about anger? Comment below, email me, tweet, or share on the School Counselor Blog Facebook Page!

Danielle is a K-12 Certified School Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and blogger at School Counselor Blog, a place where school counselors share innovative ideas, creative lesson plans, and quality resources.  Contact Danielle via email, follow her on twitter, and become a fan of the School Counselor Blog Facebook Page.