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



 

I've received a lot of emails from my readers, asking me to describe how I spend my time and why I love my job.

Instead of writing a long post about this topic, I decided to make a VERY LONG (nearly 30 minute) podcast, which you'll find on the left.

In this video, I explain how I organize my schedule. I also reveal the pros and cons of the school counseling profession, as I see them. If you're able to watch the whole video, you'll hear about one of my recent success stories that may help you in your own school counseling journey.

Enjoy!

How often do students come to you with friendship problems? My guess would be VERY often. A common issue I see, especially as students get older, is the friendship triangle, where someone is always left out. In many cases, one student feels pulled between two friends he/she likes and doesn't want to choose which one to play with.

One Man Band offers a comical depiction of that "stuck in the middle" feeling. This short film would work as a perfect discussion starter.

For an additional friendship triangle activity, check out my Dear Tim page. My poor puppet friend is having the same problem. :(

I recently heard about S.H.A.R.K. (Students Help Achieve Respect & Kindness) Patrol, a program for grades K-3. The goal is help students understand the importance of working together and taking responsibility for our actions.

You can buy the whole kit or just pick and choose your favorite components. I personally love the CD, because the music is very catchy. I use the songs as a way to engage my students at the beginning or end of a lesson. Since my primary students LOVE puppets, I bring in a puppet to help "sing" the songs. You'd be surprised at how funny and enchanting a singing puppet can be. Try it in the mirror with any song...see what I mean?!

This table was in our staff lounge. All of the teddy bears received special awards, like "best manicure" or "best dressed." My little friend earned the "best monogram" trophy!

Our fabulous art teacher created teddy bear table decorations to match the theme. The Teddy Grahams were the final, delicious touch.

Stickers Coming Soon!

I like to use bookmarks for my notes because they are cute, inexpensive, and functional.

On the back of the bookmark, I write about something special that I see in them - maybe it's their ability to energize their students or their compassion for others. I want to make my comments as specific as possible (as I do with Counselor Mail) to show each individual how important they are to our school family.

Do you do something similar to boost your staff's morale? If so, leave a comment and share your idea! We'd love to hear it!

For classroom lessons, you need a way to manage student behaviors. It's hard being the "guest."

Movie clips are a great way to illustrate concepts.

Students use Play-Doh as a fidget while talking or as a way to show me how they are feeling.

Every school counselor needs a camera!
I create a lot of videos for my school:
i.e. Red Ribbon Week, Teach To's, Mix it Up at Lunch Day

Students love building with LEGOs. It's fun and I learn a lot about their thoughts and feelings.

I use books ALL the time to teach specific concepts.

This get-to-know-you game is a group favorite!
Check out my video podcast describing the game.

This is great way to manage small group behaviors!

Everyone should create a portable sandtray!

All of my students, including my moody, "too cool for school" 6th graders, love working with the sand. The best part is that I can take a picture of the final product; I give one copy to the student and keep one for myself. It's an easy way to help document my individual counseling sessions! Plus, my students love having a picture of their work.

Tim, my school puppet, is probably the best idea I've had since starting my school counseling career. Tim teaches students positive school behaviors, livens up school-wide programs, and is a wonderful incentive for students on behavior plans. He even helped with my 2012-2013 office tour!

To learn more about Tim, click here.