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Learning Goals & Objectives
By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Identify key tools in the Cool Tools toolbox

• Demonstrate understanding of Cool Tools concepts

• Explain strategies that correspond to each tool

• Formulate a pacing plan to implement Cool Tools in

your classroom
 Not Too Cool for School
• Cool Tools is part of a Safe School System
developed and researched at the UCLA Lab School
(previously Seeds University
Elementary School)
• Has been in effect at UCLA Lab School for over 17
years
• Schools across the nation (and even in Japan) use
the Cool Tools program
What’s so great about Cool
Tools?
• Abstract concepts that are often difficult for children to
understand are represented and explained to children
through concrete objects
• Fun and interesting way for students to learn
strategies for handling conflicts
• Clear and consistent shared language used
within the entire school community when
utilized by teachers, students, and families
Cool Tools Buzzwords
“I felt…” Blue voice Chill skills

Put-up Put-down

Bubble space

Walking shoes Red voice

Chill break
Toolbox Guessing Game!
• What does this item represent?

• How might this tool be used by children?

• How will you use this object to prompt students to

use Cool Tools strategies?
Using the Cool Tools Binder
• Most lessons can be taught out of order

• Feel free to break apart lessons across multiple

days

• It is highly recommended that you modify the

lessons for what would work best for your age
group
Decision-making Cards
• Type 1 Decisions- “I” decisions

• Type 2 Decisions- “We” decisions

• Type 3 Decisions- “They” decisions

• Type 4 Decisions- “Cool Down” decisions

Chill Breaks
• Not a time out!

• Tool students can use when they need to calm

down

• Some teachers have a designated safe “Chill Zone,”

while others let students choose their own place to
take a chill break
Let’s try it!
• Role-playing exercises for common student
conflicts:
• What tool can you prompt the child to use?
• What Cool Tools strategies might a student use in
this situation?
• What Cool Tools language could you use?
Parents Love Cool Tools!
• Don’t forget to include parents when introducing Cool Tools to your
students! They love being able to share the language teachers and
other students are using at school to resolve conflicts and to express
their feelings.

• Share at Back to School Night or Open House

• Host a Cool Tools workshop or “coffee” session for parents
• Send home a Cool Tools buzzwords sheet/other info for parents
• Share information on website or teacher page
• Remind parents that there WILL be conflicts, even with the most
behaved children. The emphasis is that they have the tools and
strategies to be able to handle those conflicts.
Cool Tips
• We found that it helps the beginning of the year
transition to teach Cool Tools at the start of the year so
students have these strategies from the start!
• Don’t forget that students often need revisits of Cool
Tools lessons throughout the year.
• We’ve found it’s a particularly good idea to revisit Cool
Tools lessons after breaks (winter break, spring break,
etc.)
Sample Sequence of
Lessons
1. Introduction to Cool Tools Toolbox

2. Bubble space lesson

3. Red voice/blue voice (microphones) lesson

4. Put-ups/put-downs lesson

5. I felt lesson

6. Chill break lesson

7. Ice cube tray lesson

Recommended Book List for K-1
(Cool Tools, social issues, behavior, etc)
 
But It’s Not My Fault- Julia Cook
Teamwork Isn’t My Thing, and I Don’t Like to Share- Julia Cook
Too Much Glue- Jason Lefebvre
Decibella and Her 6-Inch Voice- Julia Cook
You Get What You Get- Julie Gassman
Don’t Squeal Unless It’s a Big Deal: A Tale of Tattletales- Jeanie Franz
Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker- Christianne C. Jones
A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue- Julia Cook
Personal Space Camp- Julia Cook
I Can’t Believe You Said That! My Story about Using My Social Filter…or Not!- Julia Cook
My Mouth Is a Volcano!- Julia Cook
Waiting Is Not Easy- Mo Willems
Stick and Stone- Beth Ferry
Beautiful Oops!- Barney Saltzberg
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes- Mark Pett
The Recess Queen- Alexi O’neill
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are- Maria Dismondy
What If Everybody Did That?- Ellen Javernick
How to Be a Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them- Laurie Krasny
Making Friends is an Art!- Julia Cook
Work Session:
• Choose one to get started:

• Work in grade level teams to dissect one lesson and

modify it to your grade level if necessary

• Work in grade level teams to plan the scope and

sequence of the Cool Tools lessons you will teach at
the beginning of the year