Back to School; Back to Connecting

I enjoyed the office link party so much that I thought I'd join another… the Back to School, Back to Connecting Linky Party hosted by Franciene Sabens (School Counselor Space)! 
This party has inspired me to begin planning for the coming year in earnest; I hope it will also encourage new counselors to connect with colleagues around the country. Blogs and social media have been a lifesaver for me this past year, and I'd like to pass that knowledge on to others. What are you waiting for?  Join our link party!

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Staff officially begin August 26th, but I was lucky enough to be invited along with the K-1 team for a planning beach retreat weekend! Students start on September 3rd.

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Last year (my first year!) was spent getting to know everyone, being testing coordinator, and/or teaching 24 guidance lessons and 8 groups every week. This year, I want to work alongside our new principal to create a formalized Comprehensive Guidance Program and implement it according to the ASCA model. Just a small goal, right? ;-) I have a lot of work ahead, but I am honestly looking forward to creating a program to compliment the needs and character of our school.

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1. A smile. It works wonders in so many situations, and helps establish therapeutic relationships.
2. A clapper board. I brought one to a classroom lesson early in the year and it became a behavior management tool disguised as a fun toy for role plays!
3. Pinterest. If you've seen my boards, you know that I use ideas from Pinterest pretty much every day for group and classroom lesson planning, displays, and… well, everything! Pinterest is a goldmine of creative ideas… and it's FREE!

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I am planning to have a table similar to Mary Beth's featured in her Elementary Counseling Blog. I hope to have assistance from my two interns this year, as well.
In addition, I am planning an icebreaker activity involving Whoonu cards for an introductory lesson in grades 1-5. When these are done, I will post in my blog!

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This is an area where I would really like to expand my skills. Thus far, I have relied on the phone and in-person contact. This year, I would like to create a page on this website for parents and connect it to our school's counseling page.

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1. Do not attempt to reinvent the wheel. Really, that is the key to keeping sane. There are so many fantastic school counseling blogs out there, and with a little searching, you can find a lesson to work with just about any topic. 
2. Also, when you see a resource you really love but can't yet afford, add it to your very own Amazon SC Wish List. It reminds you of super cool lessons you want to try in the future, with the added bonus of allowing friends, family and PTA members to know exactly what you need in your program… :) 
3. Finally, make your lessons engaging and fun, but also practical. Observe students at recess and in the cafeteria, attempt to seek out the struggles of individual classes or grade levels, then then try to create realistic scenarios for role plays.  It was neat to see students begin to use the problem solving we were practicing in classes, but on their own and all around the school!

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Hahahaha… that's funny! (Give yourself a break if you're new to counseling. It can take awhile to find a system that works for your school(s) and program!)
I had a binder last year that held a master calendar, to do lists, SWIS data, event planning, lesson plans, etc. This year I would like to divide and conquer by having multiple binders, similar to the organizational genius of Alyssa the Classy Counselor. I also use Google Docs and Calendar, and (try to) keep on top of email and scheduled lessons!

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I'm really looking forward to the year ahead and all the challenges, triumphs and general merriment in store! I look forward to hearing how you all are progressing, as well. Best wishes for 2013-2014, everyone!

Stephanie