How to Use The Weather Inside Me in Your Classroom or Counseling Session

The Weather Inside Me was written as a story - but it was designed as a tool.

Here are four simple ways teachers, school counselors, and therapists can use it:

Start with the weather check-in. Before or after reading, ask children to identify their weather for the day. Sunny? Cloudy? Stormy? This single question opens emotional conversations that might otherwise never happen. The interactive My Weather Today page in the back matter gives children a structured way to respond - perfect for morning meeting or a calming corner.

Practice Sky's breathing exercise together. Page 24 includes a direct reader invitation to breathe along with Sky - hand on chest, breathe in for four counts, hold for two, breathe out for four. Walking a whole class through this exercise takes less than two minutes and gives children a portable coping tool they can use independently.

Use the discussion guide for deeper conversation. The back matter includes five conversation starters that move from concrete to personal - beginning with what Sky was feeling and ending with what the child is feeling right now. These questions work equally well in a one-on-one counseling setting or a whole-class read-aloud.

Connect to SEL standards. The book directly addresses self-awareness, emotional literacy, self-regulation, coping strategies, and resilience - core CASEL competencies. It also aligns with IB PYP Learner Profile traits including Reflective, Balanced, and Risk-Takers.

The Weather Inside Me launches May 1, 2026 on Amazon. A free IB Learner Profile alignment guide is available at theweatherinsideme.com/educators.

- Leana Visalli, Author · Sunny Sky Press