Hi all!  I have shared my experience doing counseling through distance learning this past trimester, and a bunch of you have asked to share how I created the lessons that I did, so I wanted to share that today.  Check out this video, and I tried to explain more below.  Let me know if you have any questions, and let me know what you are doing!

Don’t forget, I shared the template and some examples that I used with my students here in my Google Drive.

First, some general things:

• I created these using Google Slides.  I do this because that’s the platform my district uses, and it allows students to manipulate things and submit to me each week.
• I have a general template that I use week to week.
• I think one of the most confusing things in designing Google Slides is saving things as backgrounds versus objects to manipulate.  In using clipart that you purchase (or get from TPT, be sure to read each carefully to see what can be used in virtual learning and how).
• I created 2 different versions of this template and lessons, one is modified (although I don’t name it that when I send it out).  The modified version can be used for younger or lower functioning students, and does not require manipulation or submission.

So, here we go!

First, let’s create our template.  This is work up front, but pays off later on.

Create a new presentation in Google Slides.

Go to page setup and change the setup to “Standard”.  (File–> Page Set Up).  You don’t have to do this, but I find it’s easier to read and work with.

Delete everything from your first slide and set up the design that you want.  To make things easy, I just created a colored rectangle on every slide that I put the title in.  Add the titles for each slide, by duplication the slides and just changing the colors/fonts to make it easier.

Once you have the titles, you can add whatever else will stay exactly the same for your students week to week.  For me, this was a template for a check in (I do feelings or Zones of Regulation), the template for a “share” (but not the actual question), and the template for a “check out” response.

Once you have your template, you are going to export these slides as images, so that they become the background, and everything that’s on them cannot be manipulated by the students.  I guess you don’t have to  do this, but I think once there becomes too much on the slides, things can get confusing for kids.

Export each of the slides as a separate image and save them to your computer.

Now, let’s do a weekly assignment.  Once you create your first, you can duplicate it and then just change it from week to week!

Create a new presentation in Google Slides, and change the page setup to Standard once again.

Now, on a blank slide, right click “change background”.  Here is where you will choose each of the previous templates we created.  So, for my check in one, I’m going to choose the check in slide, which now, becomes an uneditable background (I bought these images off TPT, so I need to do this).  Now, think about what you want your student to manipulate or add.  For me, I wanted them to choose an emotion, so I created a red circle shape.  I put it slightly off to the slide, and a note for students to drag over the feeling they are feeling.  Easy Peasy!  Each week, I change a check in question, so I write that week’s here.  I also write specifically (in every box needed, every single week, “write here”, and change that font to red.)  This makes it super easy for kids and parents to figure out what to do.  Now, when kids get this slide, they can drag in and type, and when they submit, I’ll see what they’ve done!

For the Lesson and Activity slides, I try to vary this by week.  Sometimes the lesson slides are a few long.  Sometimes my assignment slide is just some typing with visuals.  Other times, it’s a link to a brain pop video (and I specifically write:  “click here”).  Whatever it is, I don’t require any response on this slide.

For the Activity slide, I also change this up week by week.  Sometimes, it’s a drag and drop off images into categories (ex: emotions into zones), other times, it’s a link to a google form for responses or multiple choice.

Finally, the “Check Out” is my way to monitor if they are understanding.  I try to make this an application question or activity, than can apply what we’ve talked about to real life.

I found that having this template and routine for my students made it easier on both of us; me, creating these, and my students, knowing what the expect each week.  I would encourage you to create a digital system that is similar to the way you run groups in person!