This school counselor shares a compelling testimonial
By Kristin Clark Taylor
Dr. Annette Perez, a school counselor at Cullen Place Elementary in Corpus Christi, Texas, believes in the value of versatility.
She also believes that one resource in particular allows her to maximize her versatility in the best of all possible ways:
QuaverReady.
“I use QuaverReady at all grade levels with my kiddos,” Perez says, “and at each level, they are learning new skills.”
Perez says that in the three years she’s been using the curriculum, the resulting benefits are clear – not just to the students, but to her.
“I’m so lucky to have a resource I can use in group settings and in individual settings,” she reflects.
“If a kiddo needs one-on-one attention, we might just listen to a song that helps us approach a certain issue,” says Perez.
“The songs are equally as effective as the lessons because the lyrics are so engaging and relatable.”
For her students from first grade on up, “Anger’s Not the Boss of Me” strikes a particularly resonant chord.
Log in to your QuaverReady account to play “Anger’s Not the Boss of Me”
Again, versatility and relatability are the cornerstones of this song’s success.
“Students of every age and grade level can relate to this song, because everybody understands the emotion of anger,” says Perez.
The fact that the song is offered in a Spanish-language version helps widen its overall embrace, which benefits the entire student body.
“We listen to the English version first, and even my English-speaking students will ask, ‘Can we listen or sing in Spanish, too?’”
Having access to a Spanish-language option is a win-win for everyone because it exposes her English-speaking students to a new language and facilitates a sense of inclusion and belonging for her students who don’t speak English quite as well.
“Everyone can relate because everyone feels seen and heard.”
A District-Wide Approach
Dr. Perez explains that Quaver is used throughout the Corpus Christi Independent School District (CCISD), which helps create a unified approach.
“QuaverReady, QuaverMusic, and QuaverHealth are fully integrated into the entire district, which helps keep all of us on the same page,” she explains.
Perez emphasizes that this coordinated, district-wide approach ensures consistency and confidence from school to school and classroom to classroom, which benefits students and educators alike.
This coordinated approach also instills a sense of familiarity with the curricula, which helps ignite enthusiasm, she says.
Integrating the various QuaverEd curricula throughout the district also facilitates a sense of collective purpose and uniformity, while still allowing educators to remain creative and flexible.
“It makes the kids feel good, and it makes me feel good. Everybody wins!”
QuaverEd is trusted by 28,000+ schools!
“Every single day, my students walk in and say, ‘Yay! It’s Quaver Time again!”
“They’re learning something about themselves and each other every single day, which means they are never bored.”
Dr. Perez presents the perfect summation:
“My kiddos look forward to exploring and understanding their emotions, whether it’s through singing, discussion, or using the emotions check-in, which they love.”
Perez is also excited about a new feature she’s recently discovered.
“Now that QuaverReady has added ‘Meaningful Magic,’ they’re always asking, ‘Do we have time for a magic trick?’
Fun, fresh features like these, she says, infuse the classroom with bright new energy by connecting with the students in unexpected ways.
Perfect for the Busy School Counselor
When asked what she appreciates most about QuaverReady, Dr. Perez does not pause.
“What I love most is that everything is there, already built-in, ready to go – the worksheets, the lesson plans, the activities, the songs – and I can move things around in a way that works best for me.”
“All school counselors are busy,” she willingly concedes.
“What makes Quaver so valuable is that they provide an excellent structure, ready to be customized however the counselor sees fit.”
Ready to get QuaverReady — or any of the QuaverEd curricula — in your school?
Visit QuaverEd.com/Ready to make it happen!
Kristin Clark Taylor is an author and editor.
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