Category: Linky Party

Back to School-Back to Connecting

08/03/2013

You know me, I love a good Linky Party. So, when I heard about the get-together at School Counselor Space, I knew I had to stop by.

Franciene Sabens is our host and wants to know how we are gearing up for the new school year. Check out my responses below.

Want to see how other school counselors answered Franciene's questions? Then click here and scroll down.

I am officially back on August 13th. Since I am moving to a new office, I definitely have my work cut out for me!

This year, I'll have an intern for the first time, so my goal is to provide her with the best possible internship experience I can. I want her to leave feeling prepared and confident in her school counseling abilities.

Top 3? Yikes! That's pretty difficult. I have my Top 10 video podcast (left), but I suppose I can narrow it down a little further. ;)

1. Tim, my puppet. He has been the most versatile school counseling tool I've ever had. He is truly part of our school family.

2. Whoonu. I use it ALL THE TIME.

3. Pixar Shorts. Seriously, these short films are PERFECT discussion starters and lend themselves to follow-up activities.

I like to change it up every year so things stay interesting. Check out some of my ideas here.

I think direct contact is best. I started calling and/or emailing parents more with updates. They definitely appreciate this information and helps me develop a stronger bond with them. To reach a larger group, I write an article in our school's monthly newsletter.

Tip #1

I divide my direct counseling services into individual, small group, classroom-based, and school-wide programs. To get the most from my services, I use data (i.e. SWIS, feedback) and discuss students' needs at grade level or committee meetings.

Tip #2

Change things up! The longer you are at your building, the easier it is to fall into the trap of conducting the same old lessons with the same old materials. It's important to keep refreshing your material. If you have a great lesson, definitely keep using it, but keep it interesting. Otherwise, why would students pay attention? Students should be excited when they see you walk into the room because they know what's coming is going to be engaging and beneficial.

Tip #3

Don't be afraid to stand out! Make yourself visible by greeting students in the hallways, expressing yourself through unique fashion choices, and going out of your way to be helpful and welcoming to others.

Here's my blog post on organization tips.

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Best and Brightest 2012-2013

06/11/2013

10 Comments

Last week, the elementary school counselors in my district organized a "Best and Brightest" event where each of us shared our favorite individual, small group, classroom, and school-wide counseling strategies from the 2012-2013 school year. Needless to say, it was AMAZING! We typed up our notes for our records and provided each other with hard copies and electronic copies of our resources. I highly encourage this event!

Due to the success of my own district's "Best and Brightest," I thought I'd host the same event with all of you! This time, I picked my 10 favorite tools from this year (not including my ultimate favorite, Tim...that's for another blog post!). Enjoy!

Get My "Top 10"

Share Your Favorites

To participate in the Linky Party:
Create a blog post titled "Best and Brightest 2012-2013"
Place the Linky Party logo (left) in your post.
Describe your favorite strategies from 2012-2013
Submit your blog post link (below). Be sure to link to the actual post, not your homepage.

If you do not have a blog, just share your strategies in the comment section.

10 Comments

School Counseling Job Market Linky Party

03/13/2013

25 Comments

I've received a LOT of emails about how to prepare for a school counseling interview. This process is definitely nerve-racking, especially when open positions may be few and far between. This linky party will connect you with tips to get you through that interview - hopefully with a new job!

When I interviewed, I brought sample lesson plans in a binder, organized by grade level. This showed my interviewing committee that I have experience with all grade levels and have resources at my disposal. Since you are typically on your own as a school counselor, your committee will be searching for individuals who are independent, creative, and intrinsically motivated. Show that side of yourself! However, you must also demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively. I know that sounds like conflicting advice, but school counselors wear many hats.

I also brought data (refer to my annual report). My future principal was impressed by this and frankly, I think it may be the big reason I was hired. Administrators want their employees to show their effectiveness and be thoughtful about how they spend their time. Through my annual report (I created this using my internship data), I demonstrated my scope as a school counselor. Whatever information you have about the effectiveness of your services will help you stand out from the crowd. Seriously!

1. Unique ideas that have proven to be effective, either from your internship or previous school(s).
2. Your passion for school counseling. However, you don't want to come off as a starry-eyed newbie. This is not an easy job, so your committee needs to know that you love school counseling even on the most exhausting and trying of days. You need to be ready to walk the halls with a smile on your face, even when you feel like things are falling apart. Students, staff, and parents come to school counselors for help and, unfortunately, sometimes that can leave you feeling drained. Show the interviewing committee that you know school counseling is tough, but you're prepared.
3. Your personality. Smile, be warm and inviting. As a school counselor, you are expected to be approachable, so control your nerves and try your best to relax. Also, be yourself. If you're faking it, it will show.

Every school counseling position is different and every district is different. It would help to do some research prior to your interview to get a better idea of what they are looking for. That being said, you will probably have questions about:

1. Academic support structures. For my position, I need to know about RtI, 504 Plans, IEPs, DIBELS, progress monitoring, interventions, etc. This is what comes up in meetings and as a facilitator, I need to understand my school's process. Also, these are services that my students receive, so how can I support them if I have little to no understanding of their academic environment? Parents sometimes call me for information, as well, so I have to know the protocol.
2. Handling conflict. They want to know that you can manage the stress and pressure of the job, while still maintaining positive working relationships with students, staff, and parents. What makes you great to work with?
3. Managing negative student behaviors. Have you ever worked with students with violent behaviors? Do you know how to address significant behavior concerns? Your committee is looking for someone who can jump right in and help if a child is in crisis.
4. Experience. What skills do you have? Hopefully, you know how to run individual, small group, and classroom-based counseling sessions. Talk about that. Also, did you run a particularly effective school-wide program? The school may be looking to shake things up and your experience may be the key to doing so.

Want to participate?

Create a blog post titled "School Counseling Job Market Linky Party"
Place the Linky Party logo (above) in your post.
Answer the questions. You may copy and paste my headers if you'd like.
Submit your blog post link (below). Be sure to link to the actual post.

Don't have a blog?

No problem! Just add your thoughts to the comment section.

Giveaway

One random participant will receive a free set of school counseling notepads (left), perfect for a new OR veteran school counselor. Courtesy of Counselors Corner.

25 Comments

National School Counseling Week Link Party!

02/09/2013

2 Comments

Better late than never, right?! Between school counseling and theatre, I've had very little time lately to keep up with blogging.

So, what did I do to celebrate National School Counseling Week? Well, every day, I wore a different school counseling t-shirt, which was fun. In the past, I've also given my staff certificates to show my appreciation of their constant love and support.

On Friday, I had a fun surprise from my 1st graders (left). Their banner was hanging outside my office door. I almost cried!

Overall, NSCW is one area I'd like to improve in. I think it's hard to promote and celebrate ourselves, because it can feel a little self-indulgent. However, like it or not, we still need to "sell" our services, especially now that money is tight for most school districts. We must show that we are essential members of the school team.

For more details, visit School Counselor Blog

2 Comments

School Counseling Linky Party 2013

12/27/2012

12 Comments

Want to highlight the best of your blog?
Let's celebrate the new year by reflecting on our 2012 blogging gems.

I am proud of my "Website of the Month" award because it gives me an opportunity to highlight exceptional web resources. Also, I have been interviewing most of my winners, which allows me to network with school counselors across the country and even in different parts of the world. If you'd like me to consider your blog as a future "Website of the Month," just click here and fill out the form.

I loved my interview with Lauren Seaberg, a school counselor from an international school in the UK. I have always had a passion for history and architecture, so blending that with school counseling is a dream. Check out the post here.

My readers loved "Organization Inspiration," a blog post about my documentation system.

Funnily enough, I attended a workshop at the All Ohio Counselors Conference and noticed they incorporated some of my ideas into their presentation, which was a collection of documentation strategies from all over the blogosphere. Pretty cool!

To learn how I attempt to keep my head on straight when documenting (keyword being "attempt"), check out my post.

There are too many to list, which makes this decision VERY difficult! If you're not included, please know that I still blog stalk you...in the nicest way, of course! :)

Want to participate?

Create a blog post titled "School Counseling Linky Party 2013."
Place the Linky Party logo (above) in your post.
Answer the questions (above). You are free to copy and paste my headers if you'd like.
Submit your blog post link (below). Be sure to link to the actual post, not your homepage.

Now everyone can catch the highlights from amazing school counselor blogs!