Unit Plan 27 (Grade 1 Counselor): Keep Trying When It Is Hard

Focus: Strengthen perseverance and growth mindset. Students discuss common hard things in first grade, such as reading tricky words, writing, math, waiting, sharing, or solving friendship problems. The counselor helps students practice self-talk such as “I can try a new way,” “I can ask for help,” and “I am still learning.”

Grade Level: 1

Subject Area: School Counseling (Perseverance • Growth Mindset • Coping Strategies)

Total Unit Duration: 1–2 weeks, 30 minutes per session

I. Introduction

This Grade 1 counseling lesson helps students understand that hard things are part of learning and growing. Students discuss common first-grade challenges such as reading tricky words, writing longer sentences, solving math problems, waiting for a turn, sharing materials, calming down, joining play, or solving friendship problems.

The counselor teaches that students do not have to give up when something feels hard. They can pause, use helpful self-talk, try a new way, ask for help, take a breath, or set a small goal. The goal is for students to see hard moments as practice moments and to understand that perseverance means continuing safely and respectfully, even when something does not work the first time.

Essential Questions

• What are some things that can feel hard in first grade?
• What can students say to themselves when something feels hard?
• How can students keep trying without getting unsafe or giving up?
• How can calming tools help students try again?
• How can setting a small goal help students keep growing?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Identify common first-grade challenges related to learning, behavior, friendship, responsibility, or coping.
2. Explain that learning takes practice and that “not yet” means a student is still growing.
3. Use helpful self-talk when work, friendship, waiting, sharing, or problem-solving feels hard.
4. Practice coping tools such as breathing, counting, positive self-talk, asking for help, taking a break, or using a quiet voice.
5. Name a small goal connected to something they want to keep practicing.
6. Identify one action step that can help them work toward a simple goal.
7. (Optional Session) Apply perseverance and growth mindset skills through a puzzle, drawing challenge, scenario sort, self-talk flip, or goal/action-step reflection.

Standards Alignment — Grade 1 (ASCA-based Custom)

• C:S5.1b — Keep Trying and Use a Growth Mindset
  • Understand that learning takes practice and use helpful self-talk when work feels hard.
  • Example: A student says, “I cannot do it yet, but I can try again.”
• C:S5.1c — Set and Work Toward a Simple Goal
  • Name a small goal related to learning, behavior, friendship, responsibility, or coping.
  • Example: A student says, “My goal is to use calm breathing when I feel mad.”
• C:S2.1b — Use Calming and Coping Strategies
  • Practice calming tools such as breathing, counting, positive self-talk, asking for help, taking a break, or using a quiet voice.
  • Example: A student practices taking three slow breaths before trying again after a mistake.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can name something that feels hard sometimes.
• I can say “I am still learning.”
• I can use helpful self-talk.
• I can try a new way or ask for help.
• I can choose a calming tool when I feel frustrated.
• I can name one small goal and one action step.