Why Do We Need Elementary School Counselors?

Core Curriculum Class Lessons

• 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/No Place for Hate

Individual Student Planning

• Academic planning
• Goal setting/decision- making
• Education on understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
• Transition plans for 5th grade students (Rising 6^th Grade students)

Responsive Services

• Individual and small-group counseling
• Individual/family/school crisis intervention
• Conflict resolution
• Consultation/collaboration
• Referrals (student referral, teacher referral, parent referral, administration referral)

System Support

• Professional development
• Consultation, collaboration and teaming
• Program management and operation 
• Advisory Council

School Wide Events

• Red Ribbon Week
• Career Day
• Kindness Week
• No Place for Hate activities and program

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).