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    What Does the School Counselor Do?
     
    Elementary School Counselors Implement the Counseling Program by Providing:

    School Guidance Curriculum

    • Academic support, including organizational, study and test-taking skills
    • Goal setting and decision-making
    • Career awareness, exploration and planning
    • Education on understanding self and others 
      Peer relationships, coping strategies and effective social skills
    • Communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution
    • Substance abuse education (Red Ribbon Week)
    • Multicultural/diversity awareness

    Individual Student Planning

    • Academic planning
    • Goal setting/decision- making
    • Education on understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
    • Transition plans for 5th grade students

    Responsive Services

    • Individual and small-group counseling
    • Individual/family/school crisis intervention
    • Conflict resolution
    • Consultation/collaboration
    • Referrals

    System Support

    • Professional development
    • Consultation, collaboration and teaming
    • Program management and operation 
    School Wide Events
    • Red Ribbon Week
    • Career Day
    • Kindness Week
    • Grandparents Day
     
    Elementary School Counselors Collaborate with:
     
    Parents
    Parent education 
    Communication/networking 
    Academic planning 
    College/career awareness programs 
    One-on-one parent conferencing 
    Interpretation of assessment results

    Teachers
    Classroom guidance activities 
    Academic support, including learning style assessment and education to help students succeed academically 
    Classroom speakers 
    At-risk student identification and implementation of interventions to enhance success

    Administrators
    School climate 
    Behavioral management plans 
    School-wide needs assessments 
    Student data and results 
    Student assistance team building

    Students
    Peer education 
    Peer support 
    Academic support 
    School climate 
    Leadership development
    Community
    Job shadowing, service learning 
    Crisis interventions 
    Referrals 
    Parenting classes 
    Support groups 
    Career education
     
    Taken from American School Counselors Website www.schoolcounselors.org
     

    Elementary school years set the tone for developing the knowledge, attitudes and skill necessary for children to become healthy, competent and confident learners. Through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program, counselors work as a team with the school staff, parents and the community to create a caring climate and atmosphere. By providing education, prevention, early identification and intervention, school counselors can help all children achieve academic success. The professional elementary school counselor holds at least a master’s degree and required state certification in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes on-going professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today’s students. Professional association membership enhances the school counselor’s knowledge and effectiveness. (Adapted from the American School Counselors Association Website)
Last Modified on May 5, 2022