Parent Information Worksheet: Starting Strong

Student Name: _________________________ Grade: 7th

Date: __________________________

Part 1: Academic Overview

1. What are your son's current strengths in school subjects?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Are there any subjects or areas where he struggles or seems disengaged?
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Describe his typical study habits at home. Does he have a dedicated space and time for homework?
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. How does he approach school assignments and projects? Is he organized or does he often procrastinate?
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Have you noticed any recent changes in his academic performance or attitude towards school?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Social and Extracurricular Life

1. How would you describe your son's social life at school? Does he have a close group of friends?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Does he participate in any clubs, sports, or activities at school or outside of school? If so, what are they?
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Have there been any recent changes in his friendships or social interactions?
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. How does he typically resolve conflicts with peers or siblings?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 3: Emotional and Behavioral Well-being

1. How would you describe your son's general mood and temperament?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Have you noticed any recent significant changes in his mood, behavior, sleep patterns, or appetite?
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. What are some things that typically make your son happy or excited?
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. What are some challenges or worries your son might be currently facing (e.g., anxiety about school, social pressure, family changes)?
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. How does your son typically cope with stress or disappointment?
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. What are your hopes and goals for your son during his 7th-grade year?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Counselor Discussion Guide: Starting Strong

I. Opening & Purpose (5 minutes)

• Welcome and Context:

  • "Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. I appreciate you coming in to discuss your son, [Student's Name], and how we can best support him as he navigates 7th grade. My role is to be a resource for both students and families, and your insights are incredibly valuable."
    
    
    
  • Refer to Introduction Slides as you speak.
    
    
    

• Purpose:

  • "The main goal of this session is to gather a holistic picture of [Student's Name]'s experience – academically, socially, and emotionally – from your unique perspective. This will help us identify any areas where he might benefit from additional support and collaborate on the best way forward."
    
    
    

• Confidentiality:

  • "Please feel free to speak openly. Everything we discuss today is confidential, meaning it stays between us, unless there's a safety concern for [Student's Name] or others, which I would always communicate with you about."
    
    
    

II. Academic Overview (10 minutes)

• Teacher Script for this section: (Guide the conversation using the Parent Information Worksheet as a reference point.)

• Prompts to Elicit Information:

  • "Let's start by talking about [Student's Name]'s academic life. Looking at the Parent Information Worksheet, what are some subjects where you see him really excel or show a lot of interest?"
    
    
    
  • "Are there any subjects or types of assignments where he seems to struggle more, or perhaps lose motivation?"
    
    
    
  • "Can you describe his typical routine for homework and studying at home? What does that look like in terms of organization and focus?"
    
    
    
  • "Have you noticed any changes in his grades or his overall attitude towards school recently? If so, what do you think might be contributing to that?"
    
    
    

III. Social and Extracurricular Life (10 minutes)

• Teacher Script for this section: (Transition to social aspects, again using the Parent Information Worksheet as a guide.)

• Prompts to Elicit Information:

  • "Moving on to his social life, how would you describe [Student's Name]'s friendships and interactions at school? Does he have a core group of friends, or does he tend to connect with a wider circle?"
    
    
    
  • "Is he involved in any extracurricular activities – sports, clubs, community groups – either here at school or outside? What does he enjoy most about these?"
    
    
    
  • "Have there been any recent shifts or challenges in his social dynamics that you're aware of?"
    
    
    
  • "How does he typically handle disagreements or conflicts with friends or even siblings?"
    
    
    

IV. Emotional and Behavioral Well-being (10 minutes)

• Teacher Script for this section: (Shift to emotional health, referring to the Parent Information Worksheet. Approach with empathy and sensitivity.)

• Prompts to Elicit Information:

  • "Now, let's talk about [Student's Name]'s emotional well-being. How would you describe his general mood or disposition? Is he usually calm, energetic, thoughtful?"
    
    
    
  • "Have you observed any recent or significant changes in his mood, behavior, sleep patterns, or appetite? For example, is he more withdrawn, irritable, or anxious than usual?"
    
    
    
  • "What are some things that reliably bring him joy or excitement?"
    
    
    
  • "Are there any particular worries or stressors that you think [Student's Name] might be experiencing right now? This could be anything from school pressure, social challenges, or changes at home."
    
    
    
  • "How does he typically cope when he's feeling stressed, sad, or frustrated? What strategies does he use, or how do you help him through those moments?"
    
    
    

V. Hopes, Goals, and Next Steps (5 minutes)

• Teacher Script for this section: (Conclude by looking forward and outlining next steps.)

• Prompts:

  • "Based on everything we've discussed, what are your primary hopes or goals for [Student's Name] this school year? What would success look like for him from your perspective?"
    
    
    
  • "Is there anything else you'd like to share or any specific concerns we haven't touched upon that you feel are important for me to know?"
    
    
    
  • Summarize: "To summarize, it sounds like [mention 2-3 key points about strengths and 1-2 areas for support]. Your insights are incredibly helpful."
    
    
    
  • Next Steps: "Based on this conversation, here's what I propose for next steps: [e.g., I'd like to check in with [Student's Name] directly, I can provide you with some resources on X, we can schedule a follow-up in a few weeks]. We'll work together to implement strategies that best support him."
    
    
    
  • "Thank you again for your time and for being such an involved part of [Student's Name]'s education. Please don't hesitate to reach out if anything comes up."