Elementary School Counseling
  • Home
  • Marissa's Blog
  • Individual Counseling
  • Small Group Counseling
  • Classroom Counseling
  • School-Wide Programs
  • Storybirds
  • Store
  • Resources
  • Contact Information

Counseling Journals

1/29/2012

5 Comments

 
I often have students who request to see me many times throughout a given school week. Since I have an entire school population to serve, I cannot always be there for them face-to-face. So, I decided to start creating counseling journals with these students. We make them out of notebook paper and colored construction paper (for the cover). Students can decorate their journals however they wish. I typically write the first message, reminding students about how the process works, and then, from that point on, students write as often as they need to. This is also a great way to document student progress. Students love it and it's cheap and easy!

www.elementaryschoolcounseling.org/individual-counseling-documents.html
5 Comments
Barbara link
1/29/2012 09:02:23 am

Hello Marissa -

Just found you from Pinterest and wanted to say hello. Thanks for the awesome ideas and resources. I do journals with kids but never thought about them as two-way communication. LOVE it!

Visit me at the Corner on Character sometime! Barbara

Reply
Marissa Rex link
1/29/2012 10:21:17 am

Thanks, Barbara! I just checked out your blog---very nice! I know I'll be able to get a lot from it. I'll post a link to your blog in my Character Education section (Classroom Counseling). :)

Reply
Barbara link
1/29/2012 10:57:14 am

Thanks - I'll add you to my blog roll once it starts working again and lets me!

Marandi
2/6/2012 10:42:50 am

Wow! What a great idea! Do you give a journal to all your "frequent fliers?" I would love to see what you write explaining how it works! Do you ever write a response?

Reply
Marissa Rex link
2/8/2012 05:00:43 am

Thanks, Marandi! To answer your question, yes, I typically give a journal to all my "frequent fliers," except for students who truly don't want it. Usually, though, if they like talking to me a lot, they want the journal.

I write the first entry explaining the process, which goes something like this: "Dear [student], I am so excited to start this journal with you! Whenever you want to talk to me, write down your message in this journal and give it to your teacher. [He/she] will make sure I get it. Then, I will write you a message back. Talk to you soon! -Mrs. Rex .... P.S. you can decorate this journal however you want."

I always check the messages and make photocopies of our journal conversations for my counseling records. So yes, I do write them back.

Let me know if you have any further questions! :)

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    My name is Marissa Rex and I am a 1st Grade teacher and an elementary school counselor from Ohio. I hope you enjoy my site!

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Archives

    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Academic Support
    Advocacy
    Anger
    Awards And Recognition
    Beginning Of The Year
    Behavior Management
    Book
    Bullying
    Career
    Classroom Counseling
    Collaboration
    Contests
    Creativity
    Deployment
    Divorce
    Documentation
    Feelings
    Friendship
    Gifted Education
    Giveaways
    Grade Level Transitions
    Grief
    Guest Blog Post
    Illness
    Incarceration
    Individual Counseling
    Interview
    Lgbt
    Linky Party
    Meetings
    Moving
    Natural Disasters
    Parent Involvement
    Positive School Behaviors
    Professional Development
    Reviews
    School Counseling Office
    School Staff
    School Wide Program
    Self Care
    Self Esteem
    Service
    Small Group Counseling
    Testing
    Video
    Video Podcast
    Vistaprint
    Volunteer Opportunity
    Website Recommendation


    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Follow Me on Pinterest

    Tweets by @ESCorg

    Picture
    Picture
    Photobucket
    Picture
    Picture
    Teach.com
    Picture

    Picture
    Picture

    Ebates Coupons and Cash Back
2012-2017 Elementary School Counseling.org
FAQ        Contact        About