College and Career Readiness in a Pandemic
How do you address College and Career Readiness in a pandemic? It is definitely a challenge. November is National Career Development Month, which is the perfect time to offer school counseling resources that address future planning. Though it may look different, we can provide students the necessary tools to be prepared for the future. Here […]
Continue readingEasy Ways to Make Individual Student Connections
Getting to know students can be overwhelming at the start of a new school year. You may have a large caseload or may be the only counselor at your school. How can you make individual student connections when this is your situation? Use Duty Assignments to Make Student Connections If you have an assigned duty […]
Continue readingCollege and Career Activities for Middle School
Middle school students are my favorite! All that energy and enthusiasm. They are like sponges, just soaking up new ideas and wanting to know more! According to recent research, middle school is the prime time to promote college and career readiness. Getting students to envision their lives five or ten years down the road is […]
Continue readingHow to Set School Counseling Program Goals
I’m always excited, yet nervous, for a new school year to begin. Setting goals for your school counseling program demonstrates accountability and provides focus. Every year is different. Needs change. In the same way, your school counseling program goals should reflect these changing needs. But, how do you decide what your goals should be? Data drives […]
Continue readingHow to Help New Students Make a Smooth Transition
Have you ever been the new kid? I had to change schools in fifth grade due to school zoning changes, leaving all my friends and the only school I had ever attended. As a result, I can recall the uncertainty I had about starting over with strangers in an unfamiliar place. As school counselors, we […]
Continue readingSuccessful Transition from Elementary to Middle School
Moving from elementary school to middle school has its challenges. It can be scary and super exciting at the same time! The School Counselor’s role is vital in providing a positive middle school transition for students and parents. Partner with admin, fellow counseling staff, elementary level staff, and students to develop a comprehensive transition plan with […]
Continue readingHow to Use Peer Mentoring in School Counseling
School counselors use peer mentoring in a variety of ways. It is a little scary to think about students mentoring other students around the same age. However, students are likely to share concerns or problems with peers than their parents or other adults at school. To ease your reluctance to use peer mentoring, read ASCA’s […]
Continue readingSchool Counselors and Career Development
Kids get excited about discussing future plans. Talking about what they want to be is very motivating and helps students see real world connections. If you’re like me, there are so many career development resources available, it can be overwhelming. I want to engage students in career development activities that are fun, interactive, and purposeful. […]
Continue readingHow to Plan a Successful Mix it Up at Lunch Day
Mix it Up at Lunch Day challenges students to get out of their comfort zone and engage with others, helping to create a more inclusive school. Begun by the organization, Teaching Tolerance, it is held on the last Tuesday of October. Students sit in a different seat in the cafeteria and interact with peers during […]
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