When I started as an elementary school counselor, all I wanted was some sort of clue as to what the heck was going on. Seriously. I didn’t have a mentor or any materials or guidance from the previous counselor, so I had to learn everything the hard way.
I observed a few classes and then realized that most teachers used books as a launch point for conversations. That seemed doable and much less intimidating than relying on my charm to carry a topic. I decided I’d start researching Social Emotional Learning (SEL) books to serve as a basis for my lessons.
So, to save you some time and energy, I’ve decided to compile a list of books that match particular standards. That’s right; you’re getting the cheat code. Am I taking the time to compile this list for purely altruistic reasons? Nah, I’m hoping that maybe this is the karma I need to send out into the world that will come back to me in the form of clear skin and toned abs. (Fingers crossed!) Really though, I want to support you as you help your students, and I hate the idea of you struggling when you don’t have to.
School Counseling Tribe participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Please note, I will ONLY recommend products that I have used myself and know to be valuable to your program; I have read these books numerous times. I used my personal and work Amazon lists to share what I have purchased for my own office.
Now, think of the topic or standard you’re trying to teach, hit “control-f” and voilà!
Elementary School Counseling Standards & Companion Books
| BOOK | TOPIC | TN STANDARD | TN STANDARD | ASCA STANDARD |
 | Friendship | SA2- Develop positive attitudes toward others as unique and worthy people | SE4- Create and sustain positive, supportive, and appropriate relationships with peers and adults that support success | B-SS 8. Advocacy skills for self and others and ability to assert self, when necessary |
 | Diversity | SS3- Demonstrate empathy toward others | SA4- Recognize each person is a part of a diverse local and global community | B-SS 10. Cultural awareness, sensitivity and responsiveness |
 | Making Good Choices | SS1- Make ethical decisions and practice social responsibility | SK2- Compare and contrast healthy and unhealthy behaviors | B-SMS 1. Responsibility for self and actions |
 | Self-Care | SS9: Select and utilize appropriate coping skills in the face of a specific challenge | SK2- Compare and contrast healthy and unhealthy behaviors | B-SMS 8. Balance of school, home and community activities |
 | Erin’s Law | SS2: Advocate for self in multiple settings using assertiveness skills | SS5: Exercise personal safety skills, including refusal skills | B-SMS 9. Personal safety skills |
 | Resilience & Perseverance | CA3: Reflect on progress toward goals, display a growth mindset, and accept feedback to improve knowledge, skills, and abilities in order to meet goals | SS8: Persevere through challenges to achieve goals | B-SMS 5. Perseverance to achieve long and short-term goals |
 | Teamwork & Collaboration | SE1: Participate in service projects, service learning, and/or philanthropic activities | SE2: Work effectively in diverse groups by developing and employing leadership and teamwork skills | B-SS 6. Effective collaboration and cooperation skills |
 | Self-Esteem & Perfectionism | AA1: Improve academic self-concept | AA4: Apply self-motivation and self direction to learning | B-SMS 6. Ability to identify and overcome barriers |
 | Valuing Education | AK2: . Describe the benefits of education for career, life management, and personal and professional satisfaction | AK3: Articulate belief that postsecondary education and life-long learning are necessary for long-term career success | B-LS 4. Self-motivation and self- direction for learning |
 | Self-Acceptance & Friendship | SE4- Create and sustain positive, supportive, and appropriate relationships with peers and adults that support success | SA2- Develop positive attitudes toward others as unique and worthy people | B-SS 4. Empathy |
 | Goal Setting | SS9: Select and utilize appropriate coping skills in the face of a specific challenge | AS5- Exhibit creativity | B-LS 2. Creative approach to learning, tasks and problem solving |
 | Careers | CS1: Develop skills to locate, evaluate and interpret career information | CK2:Articulate how personal abilities, skills, interests, and motivations influence values, choices, and plans | B-LS 7. Long- and short-term academic, career and social/emotional goals |
 | Perseverance & Self-Discipline | SS8- Persevere through challenges to achieve goals | SS7- Positively manage behavior and choices by applying self-discipline and self control | B-SMS 2. Self-discipline and self-control |
 | Conflict Resolution | SK3- Distinguish appropriate behaviors for a variety of settings and situations | SS4- Effectively collaborate with others, cooperate with diverse perspectives, and communicate effectively in a variety of situations | B-SS 2. Positive, respectful and supportive relationships with students who are similar to and different from them. |
 | Self-Regulation | SS9: Select and utilize appropriate coping skills in the face of a specific challenge | CS3: Utilize internal and external resources to manage transitions and adapt to changing situations/responsibilities | B-SMS 2. Self-discipline and self-control |
 | Empathy & Diversity | SS3- Demonstrate empathy toward others | SA4- Recognize each person is a part of a diverse local and global community | B-SS 2. Positive, respectful and supportive relationships with students who are similar to and different from them |
 | Coping with Mistakes | AE1: Experience academic growth and success | CS3: Utilize internal and external resources to manage transitions and adapt to changing situations/responsibilities | B-SMS 10. Ability to manage transitions and adapt to change |
 | Loving Yourself | SA1: Develop positive attitudes toward self as a unique and worthy person | SA3- Respect diversity in culture, perspective, values and experiences | B-SS 2. Positive, respectful and supportive relationships with students who are similar to and different from them |
 | Coping for Littles | SS7- Positively manage behavior and choices by applying self-discipline and self control | SS9- Select and utilize appropriate coping skills in the face of a specific challenge | B-SMS 7. Effective coping skills |
THE SCHOOL COUNSELING TRIBE 