Recent data from a 3rd grade lesson on noticing when your thinking is causing a problem for you shows that kids have learned, retained and are using helpful information.

Before a recent lesson in first grade only 9% of several classes had an effective plan to use if another student was bothering them.  After the guidance lesson 87% of the students were able to verbally repeat 5 effective steps to take when someone is bothering them. 

In 3rd grade we recently completed a whole series of lessons on managing anger.  We learned about the importance of having an effective plan in place to manage anger.  It is harder to think when you are angry, so having a set plan of practiced strategies to use ahead of time can be very effective.
An effective plan would include: the ability to recognize anger signals as they begin in your body, a proven strategy to calm down cognitively, an effective way to calm down physically, a verbal phrase you could use, and at least one or two other active strategies (power up's) that would make it easier to make a good choice in that moment.

In a random sampling of students before the guidance lessons:

42% of students had no plan to calm down if someone made them angry

50% had some part of a effective plan to calm down if someone made them angry

1% Had an effective plan to deal with anger

After guidance lessons

100% of the students individually identified all the components of an effective plan to manage anger that they could personally use.

96% of the students indicated they could actually make these strategies work.

Guidance Fall 2014 Data

Bullying

In a random sample of second graders:  13% indicated they felt they knew how to stand up to a bully and effectively take the bully's power away.  After a guidance lesson focused on the topic 88% indicated they now felt able to intervene effectively with bullies.

Guidance Data Fall 2014

Problem-solving and Critical Thinking

Students in second and third grade were taught 5 effective researched based steps to handle other students who bother them.  The steps are designed to allow the student to deescalate the situation, practice self-control, problem solve, and keep their personal power.

Before the lesson only 2% of the second grade students could identify the effective steps.  After the lesson 100% of second grade students actually wrote down the five steps. They also practiced some of them, saw them modeled, and learned why they work, and when to use them .

In third grade only 18% were able to write down these steps before the lesson.  After the lesson 100 % wrote them down and were able to recall and identify them later.  

Bullying

In other lessons only 20% of first graders felt they could effectively stand up to a bully.  After receiving training through classroom guidance lessons, 88% indicated they knew the steps to stand up to a bully and felt they could truly implement them.

At the end of the last school year all 3rd graders completed the online computer Olweus survey.  When asked:

Did Mr. Francis teach your class helpful ways to deal with bullies?  97% of Jefferson students said yes

and 100% of York students answered yes.