Counseling Journals

1/29/2012

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

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). :)

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?

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! :)

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Counseling Journals

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