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lenny

Counselor Connect: Your Crew!

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Daniel Freitas

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Counselor Introduction Lesson Plan

Students will understand the role of their school counselor, the types of support available (academic, career, personal/social), and the appropriate methods for accessing counseling services.

Establishing a clear understanding of the counselor's role helps students feel supported, reduces anxieties about seeking help, and empowers them to utilize available resources for their academic and personal success. It fosters a proactive approach to well-being.

Audience

10th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive presentation, Q&A, and a practical scenario-based activity.

Materials

  • Counselor Intro Slide Deck, - Warm-Up Activity, - Counselor Role Scenarios Worksheet, and - Cool-Down Reflection

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review the Counselor Introduction Lesson Plan and all associated materials: Counselor Intro Slide Deck, Warm-Up Activity, Counselor Role Scenarios Worksheet, and Cool-Down Reflection.
  • Customize the Counselor Intro Slide Deck with the counselor's name, picture, and specific school contact information/procedures.
  • Ensure projector/screen and computer are set up and tested.
  • Print enough copies of the Counselor Role Scenarios Worksheet and Cool-Down Reflection for all students.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Share & Connect

5 minutes

  • Display the Warm-Up Activity on the screen.
  • Instruct students to reflect on the prompt: "What's one question you have about high school, your future, or navigating social situations?"
  • Ask a few students to share their thoughts, emphasizing that there are many different types of questions students might have during high school.

Step 2

Introducing Your Counselor: Your Partner in Success

10 minutes

  • Begin the Counselor Intro Slide Deck.
  • Follow the prompts and talking points in the Counselor Intro Script to introduce yourself, your role (academic, career, personal/social support), and common reasons students might meet with a counselor.
  • Encourage students to ask questions throughout the presentation.

Step 3

When to Connect: Scenario Practice

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Counselor Role Scenarios Worksheet.
  • Explain the activity: Students will read short scenarios and decide if a counselor is the primary person to help, or if another school resource might be more appropriate.
  • Give students 5-7 minutes to work individually or in pairs.
  • Review answers as a class, facilitating a brief discussion on why certain choices were made and clarifying when to approach the counselor versus other staff (e.g., teacher, administrator, nurse).

Step 4

Cool-Down: Reflection & Next Steps

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Cool-Down Reflection.
  • Instruct students to complete the reflection questions: "One thing I learned about my school counselor today is..." and "One question I still have for my school counselor or about school support is..."
  • Collect the cool-downs as students leave. This provides valuable feedback and identifies any remaining concerns.
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Slide Deck

Counselor Connect: Your Crew!

Welcome, 10th Graders!

Today, let's meet your school counselor and learn how they can support your journey through high school and beyond!

Welcome students and introduce the purpose of today's session: to get to know their school counselor and understand how they can be a support system throughout high school.

Meet Your School Counselor!

[Insert Counselor's Name Here]

[Insert Counselor's Photo Here]

My passion is helping students like you navigate high school successfully and prepare for what comes next!

Introduce yourself! Share your name, role, and maybe a brief, relatable fun fact or a sentence about why you love being a counselor. This helps to build rapport.

What Does a School Counselor Do?

We're here to support you in three main areas:

  • Academics: Course selection, study skills, managing workload
  • Career & College Planning: Exploring interests, post-secondary options, applications
  • Personal & Social Development: Managing stress, healthy relationships, problem-solving, emotional well-being

Explain the three main pillars of a school counselor's role. Use simple, clear language. Emphasize that it's broad support, not just for 'trouble.'

When Should You Connect With Me?

You might want to see your counselor for things like:

  • Thinking about what classes to take next year
  • Feeling stressed about school or life
  • Questions about college, jobs, or future plans
  • Trouble with friends or social situations
  • Needing someone to talk to confidentially
  • Discovering your strengths and interests

Provide concrete examples of situations where students might reach out. This helps demystify the process and normalize seeking support.

How to Reach Out & Connect

It's easy to get in touch!

  • Email: [Insert Counselor's Email]
  • Sign-Up: [Explain Sign-up Process, e.g., "Sign-up sheet outside my office"]
  • Drop-In: [Mention specific drop-in hours or if appointments are preferred]
  • Emergency: If it's an emergency, please talk to any trusted adult in the school immediately.

Clearly state the school's specific procedures for students to connect with their counselor. Be explicit (e.g., "Come to my office before school," "Email me," "Fill out a referral form").

Quick Check-in: Scenario Time!

Let's put our knowledge to the test!

We're going to look at a few scenarios and think about when connecting with your counselor is the best next step, or if another awesome school resource might be a better fit.

Transition to the Counselor Role Scenarios Worksheet. Explain that this activity will help students practice identifying when counselor support is appropriate.

Questions for Your Counselor?

This is your chance to ask anything you're wondering about my role, how I can help, or anything else about navigating high school support!

Open the floor for any questions. Be prepared for a variety of questions and answer them honestly and reassuringly. If a question is too personal, offer to discuss it individually.

You've Got This, and I'm Here to Help!

Remember, my door is always open (or my email inbox is always ready!)

I'm excited to support you this year. Don't hesitate to reach out!

[Counselor's Name]
[Counselor's Email]
[Counselor's Office Location]

Conclude by reiterating your availability and expressing a positive, welcoming message. Provide your contact information again.

lenny

Script

Counselor Connect: Your Crew! - Script

Warm-Up: Share & Connect (5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Thanks for having me today. To kick things off, let's do a quick warm-up. Take a moment to think about this question, which is up on the screen right now: 'What's one question you have about high school, your future, or navigating social situations?'"

"You don't have to write it down, just think about it for a moment. If anyone feels comfortable, would you like to share what came to mind?"

Acknowledge student responses. Validate that these are common thoughts/questions.

"Great shares, everyone. As you can see, there are so many different things we might wonder or worry about during high school, and that's totally normal. Today, we're going to talk about a resource available to you for all these kinds of questions and more: your school counselor."

Introducing Your Counselor: Your Partner in Success (10 minutes)

(Transition to Slide 1: Counselor Connect: Your Crew!)

"So, as the slide says, today is all about making a 'Counselor Connection.' Think of me as part of your crew here at school – a go-to person to help you navigate your high school journey."

(Transition to Slide 2: Meet Your School Counselor!)

"And that person is me! My name is [Counselor's Name]. You can find my office [mention office location, e.g., 'down the hallway from the main office' or 'in the student services suite']. My passion is truly helping students like you succeed, feel good about yourselves, and prepare for whatever exciting things come next after high school."

(Transition to Slide 3: What Does a School Counselor Do?)

"A lot of students might think counselors are just for 'trouble,' but that's a big misconception! My role is much broader. I'm here to support you in three main areas:

  • Academics: This means helping you with things like choosing the right courses, understanding graduation requirements, study strategies, or even just managing your workload if you're feeling overwhelmed.
  • Career & College Planning: Even in 10th grade, it's never too early to start thinking about your future! We can explore different careers, talk about college options, vocational training, military paths, or even just help you figure out your interests and strengths.
  • Personal & Social Development: This is about helping you thrive emotionally and socially. We can talk about managing stress, dealing with friendship challenges, building confidence, or just having a confidential space to talk through any worries you might have."

(Transition to Slide 4: When Should You Connect With Me?)

"So, when should you actually come see me? Here are some common reasons, but remember, if you're wondering if you should see me, you probably should!"

Read through the bullet points on the slide, offering brief, relatable examples for each.

"For example, if you're feeling really stressed out before a big test, or if you're not sure what you want to do after high school, or even if you're just having a tough day and need a listening ear – these are all great reasons to connect."

(Transition to Slide 5: How to Reach Out & Connect)

"Connecting with me is easy. The best ways are:

  • Email: You can always send me an email at [Counselor's Email]. I check it regularly.
  • Sign-Up: I have a sign-up sheet [explain location, e.g., 'outside my office door']. Just add your name, and I'll call you down when I'm available.
  • Drop-In: [Explain drop-in policy, e.g., 'If my door is open and I'm not with a student, feel free to pop in for a quick chat.']
  • Emergency: If you ever feel unsafe or like it's an emergency, please don't wait for me. Talk to any trusted adult in the school immediately – a teacher, administrator, nurse, or security guard. They will help you get the support you need."

"It's important to know that what we talk about is confidential, meaning I won't share it with others unless it's a matter of safety for you or someone else. My main goal is to help you, and sometimes that means bringing in other support, but I'll always try to talk with you about it first."

When to Connect: Scenario Practice (10 minutes)

(Transition to Slide 6: Quick Check-in: Scenario Time!)

"Alright, let's do a quick activity to help us think about these things. I'm going to hand out a short worksheet called Counselor Role Scenarios Worksheet."

Distribute worksheets.

"On this worksheet, you'll find a few scenarios. For each one, I want you to decide if seeing a counselor is the primary person to help, or if another school resource might be a better fit. You can work individually or quickly chat with a partner next to you. You'll have about 5-7 minutes."

Monitor students, offer clarification if needed.

"Okay, let's quickly go over these together. Who wants to share their thoughts on Scenario 1? Why did you choose that?"

Facilitate a brief discussion, clarifying roles and encouraging students to explain their reasoning. Correct any misunderstandings.

"Excellent discussion, everyone! It's clear you're getting a good sense of when and how I, or other school staff, can best support you."

Cool-Down: Reflection & Next Steps (5 minutes)

(Transition to Slide 7: Questions for Your Counselor?)

"Before we wrap up, does anyone have any immediate questions for me about my role, how I can help, or anything else about navigating high school support?"

Answer any questions.

"To finish up, I'm going to hand out a short exit ticket called Cool-Down Reflection. Please take a minute to answer the two questions: 'One thing I learned about my school counselor today is...' and 'One question I still have for my school counselor or about school support is...'

Distribute cool-downs.

"Please fill these out and turn them in as you leave today. This helps me understand what landed with you and if there are any other questions I can answer for you individually."

(Transition to Slide 8: You've Got This, and I'm Here to Help!)

"Thank you all for your time and engagement today! Remember, my door is always open – or my email inbox is always ready – to help you with anything you need. I'm excited to support you this year. Don't hesitate to reach out! Have a great rest of your day!"

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lenny

Warm Up

Warm-Up: High School Questions

Instructions: Take a moment to think about the question below. Be ready to share your thoughts with the class if you feel comfortable.

What's one question you have about high school, your future, or navigating social situations?












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Worksheet

Counselor Role Scenarios: When to Connect?

Instructions: Read each scenario below. Decide if a school counselor is the primary person to help in this situation, or if another school resource might be more appropriate. Explain your reasoning.


Scenario 1:

You are worried about your grades in a particular class and think you might be failing. You're not sure how to improve.

Who to connect with: (Circle one)

School Counselor / Teacher / Administrator (Principal/Assistant Principal) / School Nurse

Why?







Scenario 2:

Your best friend seems really down lately and has stopped coming to lunch. You're worried about them and don't know how to help.

Who to connect with: (Circle one)

School Counselor / Teacher / Administrator (Principal/Assistant Principal) / School Nurse

Why?







Scenario 3:

You have a stomach ache and feel feverish during class. You need to go home.

Who to connect with: (Circle one)

School Counselor / Teacher / Administrator (Principal/Assistant Principal) / School Nurse

Why?







Scenario 4:

You're starting to think about colleges and vocational schools, but you're not sure how to even begin researching or what questions to ask.

Who to connect with: (Circle one)

School Counselor / Teacher / Administrator (Principal/Assistant Principal) / School Nurse

Why?







Scenario 5:

You witnessed someone cheating on a test and are unsure if you should report it or who to tell.

Who to connect with: (Circle one)

School Counselor / Teacher / Administrator (Principal/Assistant Principal) / School Nurse

Why?






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Cool Down

Cool-Down Reflection: Counselor Connect

Instructions: Please answer the following questions honestly and to the best of your ability. Your responses will help your counselor better understand your needs.


1. One thing I learned about my school counselor today is...













2. One question I still have for my school counselor or about school support is...












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