Hunter and His Amazing Remote Control

I have had the best time, this summer, exploring a host of unbelievable school counseling and other education blogs. It always amazes me of how clever educators are. These folks are such inspirations to those of us who read about their latest endeavors and ideas!

In my perusing, I began following Scrapbook of a School Counselor. One of her posts speaks about her shopping excursion at the ASCA Conference (so much fun!). I immediately recognized one of the books in her picture as Hunter and His Amazing Remote Control, written by Lori Ann Copeland. I immediately thought to myself, "She made a great purchase!"

I have been using this resource for over 10 years and I wanted to post how I use this book with my students. Maybe some of you will want to use the last few weeks of summer to create any props you may use with this resource. The book includes: a story about Hunter (who has difficulty with self-control), lesson plans and activities/games, and printables. It is well laid out and extremely easy to use. I use this book in small support groups for students in Grades 3, 4, and 5 with impulsivity and self-control issues. Depending on the students, I think it could also be used with 6th graders. It is a novel concept, but the concept definitely provides a hook for these students.

Each button on the remote control stands for a particular strategy/concept in maintaining self-control. For example, the Channel Changer button reminds students that when their minds drift off to another channel (or topic) different than the channel (or topic) they are supposed to be thinking about, students need to press the Channel Changer button to switch their minds back to the correct Channel. So, if the teacher is teaching about fractions in math class and his/her mind drifts off to the "What I'm Doing After School Channel" then he/she needs to press the Channel Changer button to get back on the Fractions Channel.

I split up the book into 8 sessions. Each session focuses on one of the buttons. I have doubled up on the buttons in sessions...but that usually occurred with last few buttons.

Overall, the basic agenda of each session is as follows:

1. Review of group rules

2. Review of the remote control button(s) from previous sessions

3. Introduce the remote control button to be taught today by using the small wooden 

    remote control. These are foam bottons attached by Velro to a painted piecte of wood.

    All foam sheets were purchased at ACMoore.

3. Read section of the Hunter book that goes with today's remote control button being

    taught.

4. Further teach/define today's self-control strategy. Refer to the small wooden remote

    control.

4. Using a crayon, color today's button on personal paper remote control (this

    printable is located in the book). Students keep this paper remote control at the end of

    the group and is displayed on desk or in folder, etc.

5. Add today's foam button on large remote control. This is a cake board - cardboard 

    rectangle, maybe 13" x 19" or so, purchased in the cake section of ACMoore.  I made 8

    of them. These stay in my room - students do not get to keep these.

  6. Complete an activity which goes along with today's remote control button and

     strategy.

I developed a workbook to go along with each group session. Sometimes we complete the workbook pages during the group session, but sometimes I give a page as homework. I use the homework method to further build on the ideas of self-control and personal responsibility presented in the group and will reward students for returning the workbook the next day. Students take home the workbook when it is completed. Pages in the workbook include:

• Ways I will use the Channel Changer button at home
• Ways I will use the Channel Changer button at school
• 5 ways I will use the Pause button
• A time when I didn't use the Fast Forward button....
• Next time I will...

As the book outlines, prior to the last session, I send a letter home to parents (teachers or other staff members) of each group member. The letter asks these folks to secretly write a letter of affirmation for the student and get them to me prior to the last session date. On the last session (Way to Go!) students read their letters (privately or aloud - whichever they feel most comfortable with). This is the most powerful session and activity. Who doesn't love to read/hear positive things about themselves?

Have fun with Hunter and His Amazing Remote Control!