I like to use social media to connect with other school counselors. Because many of us are the only ones in our school buildings, we can be rather isolated. I find so many great ideas and lessons in my "online PLCs" through Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and other counseling blogs. 

To find counselors, I often use hashtags (learn more on this webpage). My favorites are:

#escchat
#scchat
#SCcrowd
#psycchat

Now, I'd like to add a new hashtag for international school counselors! I propose we call it #intlSC and use it to share ideas, research, and lessons unique to counseling students overseas. If you are an international school counselor, join us!

So… maybe you heard about my latest adventure: moving to Qatar to be a school counselor at the American School of Doha. Or you want to collaborate about school counseling. Or you just enjoy getting emails. Now what?

A friend recently asked me why she can't simply follow me on this blog. I looked into it and it turns out that Weebly, my web host, does not offer this feature. However, there ARE two ways to get reminders of new posts from this blog. And, yes, I do plan to post pictures and news of my travels as well as my work as a school counselor, but on a separate travel blog.

All you need to do is subscribe! 

To subscribe, look for my picture in the upper right hand column. ---->
Just below you have TWO choices: 

One is a box where you are invited to enter your email address. Then click the "subscribe" button. From there, you'll get reminders to check this page when a new post has been added, and it is FREE!

The other option is to add this blog to your feedly reader… and if you don't have it yet, it is a blog reader that is FREE and super easy to use (even if you are not tech savvy).

It's that easy! 

Please feel free to provide feedback about this new feature, as I would love to troubleshoot any issues that may come up. Thank you!

So maybe you don't use Twitter… 

Maybe you even make fun of it? But it turns out to be a great way to connect with other elementary school counselors! We like to call it an online PLC. So join us! You know you want to...

In fact, I will be hosting a chat on Thurs, Feb 27, 2014 at 8EST/5PST. Use the ‪#‎escchat‬ in your tweets to discuss the topic: Using art therapy techniques in school counseling. If you decide to join us, take a few snapshots of student artwork to share! Hope to see your tweets there… ‪


…and if you missed the chat: read the Storify transcript!


It is easy to catch up on discussions held on Twitter to gain valuable information from elementary school counselors in the field. You can see all the tweets sent throughout the hour long chats. Each week, the chat covers a different topic, so you have the opportunity to read chats that interest you. 


Go to @carlicounsels Storify page to read transcripts of chats on a variety of topics! 

Go to Using art therapy techniques in school counseling to read last week's chat.


And join us every Thursday at 8EST/ 5PST for #escchat! You can see a list of upcoming topics and contact Carli Segal if you would like to host a chat.
 

On December 5th, there will be a Twitter chat (#escchat) about the role of 504 Coordinator. If you are in this role, join us for an hour long discussion with school counselors around the country. Hopefully, you will get the opportunity to ask questions, share resources and ideas, and possibly come away with new knowledge about the 504 process! An easy way to follow the entire chat is to use a website like Tweetdeck or Tweetchat (check them out now and get set up so you're ready to join the chats for elementary school counselors weekly on Thursday evenings @ 8E/5P!) You can find a list of upcoming topics for the #escchat at http://bit.ly/escchat-info.

By the way, I can't recommend Twitter highly enough as an alternate PLC. I have found so many phenomenal school counselors who are sharing great articles, lesson plans, and other ideas. Maybe you have always considered Twitter a social site for teens, but I ask you to consider it as professional resource as well. My Twitter handle is @adventurousSC… find me and follow! Or join me at #scchat to find those resources and other counselors I was talking about. We are so lucky to have social media to help connect us in ways that were never before possible.

The Elementary School Counselors Chat (#escchat) on Twitter was started a few months back by Carli Segal (@carlicousels). Every Thursday evening at 8ET/5PT, elementary school counselors around the country and the world come together to chat about a topic relevant to our practice. It has been an online PLC for me, where I have gathered new resources, information, and networks to support my counseling work. It's been great! If you'd like to see the upcoming topics, hosts, and dates, visit bit.ly/escchat-info. 


On Thursday, October 17th, I will be trying my hand at hosting at #escchat for the first time. I have to admit I am a little nervous... but also very excited! The topic will be "Planning for Red Ribbon Week." I hope that you will either spread the word to other elementary school counselors or join us. If you haven't already, I encourage you to join Twitter for professional use. It has been beneficial to my growth as a school counselor, and I believe you will feel the same.

I am also hoping to host a chat covering the role of 504 Coordinator. If you would be interested in joining this or other topics, hit the comments and let me know!

October 26, 2013 Revision
I have spent the past month feeling ill, then having my gall bladder removed, and then again the subsequent recovery. During that time, I missed out on hosting the Red Ribbon Week chat. I read the Storify script from Carli, and it sounds like there was a good discussion. I will not be at school to see students celebrating Red Ribbon Week… best laid plans, etc, etc. I hope to hear how other counselors' plans go, however, and I look forward to hosting another chat (barring other unforeseeable health concerns, that is!).