Problem Solving Skills
Aligns with CASEL 5 & The ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies
Tenacious Tim is the twentieth story from Powerful You (grades 2-adult.) Tim encourages critical-thinking skills to make informed decisions. Tim also fosters a belief in using abilities to their fullest to achieve high-quality results and outcomes.
20-MINUTE POWERFUL YOU LESSON PLAN
Launch Introduce the A-Z Powerful You theme.
Breathe and Stretch Practice self-awareness and self-management with the Powerful You free movement videos on this page. Simply hit play or gain a new movement idea for your toolbox.
Connect Read the true short story from the 8.5 x 11 laminated Powerful You Educator Cards.
Promote a Positive Mindset Stand tall and practice each story’s positive self-talk.
Reflect Social-awareness, relationship skills, and problem-solving skills escalate when students are given turn and talk time for each journaling prompt. Learn from them and allow optional sharing.
Role-play Students hold the Powerful You Educator Card and act out desired behaviors.
Leave an SEL Footprint Copy and display the Digital Powerful You Classroom Social Skill Sign.
Expand Use the Powerful You Kit or resources below. Make it your own! Be You! You are more powerful than you know!
Chalkboard Quotes:
“Every time you find some humor in a difficult situation, you win.” Peanuts
“If you are in a bad mood, go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood go for another walk.” Hippocrates
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” Anne Lamo
Self-Talk Power – When You’re in a Pickle is an empowering story that helps children understand how thoughts influence feelings, choices, and outcomes. Perfect for ages 8 and up, this relatable book introduces readers to Polly Pickle, a character who feels stuck in a frustrating cycle of the same negative thoughts, the same unpleasant emotions, and the same repeated actions.
When Polly realizes she is trapped in a “pickle,” she learns how to recognize unhelpful thinking patterns and retrain her brain through positive self-talk. As she changes her thoughts, she begins to make stronger choices, build confidence, and create better results.
This engaging story gives children practical tools for emotional growth while teaching the power of mindset, resilience, and personal responsibility. It is a valuable resource for parents, counselors, educators, and anyone supporting children through challenges.
Included in the book:
A relatable story that teaches the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behavior
A 5-Step Problem-Solving Guide to help children work through challenges
Two printable charts to identify habitual thought patterns
A sequential planning tool to help children move forward with confidence
Strategies for building resilience and positive thinking habits
Self-Talk Power – When You’re in a Pickle helps children discover that when they change their inner voice, they can change their life.
Powerful You is a grab-and-go counseling resource designed to make group and classroom counseling simple, meaningful, and effective. Packed with 26 short, easy-to-use themed lessons, this book helps counselors, educators, and support staff guide students through important life topics with confidence and care.
Each lesson begins with a true story that reflects real challenges children face, followed by engaging turn-and-talk prompts that encourage student reflection, discussion, and connection. Inspiring quotes, hands-on activities, and practical tips are also included for optional lesson extensions.
Created by a school counselor with more than 35 years of experience listening to and supporting children, these lessons align with ASCA National Standards and explore sensitive school and home issues through a child’s perspective. Powerful You gives adults ready-to-use tools to build emotional awareness, resilience, communication skills, and confidence in students.
To bring each lesson to life, companion Powerful You laminated role-playing cards and colorful classroom signs are also available separately. These engaging tools correspond with every lesson and provide an interactive way for students to practice skills, deepen understanding, and reinforce key concepts.
The Powerful You Elementary Counselor Kit was created to keep your favorite Powerful You tools together in one easy-to-carry bag so you are always ready to support students.
Perfect for School counselors, educators, interventionists, and student support teams.
What’s Included
Intermediate Bundle (Grades 2+)
Powerful You Book
26 8.5×11 Laminated Role-Playing Cards
26 Classroom Skill Signs
Primary Bundle (Grades K–1)
26 8.5×11 Laminated Role-Playing Cards
26 Classroom Skill Signs
Digital Resources
26 Primary Brag Tags
26 Social & Emotional Thinking Maps for writing
Free online Breathe & Stretch videos
26 Primary videos
26 Intermediate videos
Mindfulness & Regulation Tools
Breathe and Stretch on the Beach Yoga activities (Grades K+)
Laminated Breathe and Stretch Sign
Tennessee Transition Chime
Feelings Chart
Powerful You Feelings Bag
Counseling & Life Change Support
Self-Talk Power When You’re in a Pickle
5-Step problem-solving guide for individual counseling (Grades 3+)Powerful You In the Middle Cookie Game
Supports changing family groups/divorce transitions (Grades K+)
Bonus Items
50 “I Am” stickers
Why Counselors Love It
Grab-and-go support kit
Ready for classroom lessons or counseling groups
Helps students regulate emotions
Builds confidence and self-talk
Supports divorce, transitions, and problem solving
Saves prep time for busy counselors
Perfect For
Elementary school counselors
MTSS / SEL support teams
Teachers
Small groups
Individual counseling
Calm corners
One Kit. Many Needs. Real Impact.
The Powerful You Elementary Counselor Kit helps children build coping skills, confidence, emotional vocabulary, and resilience in fun, meaningful ways.
