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Your Counselor: Who, What, Why?

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Desirae Skelley

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Your Counselor: Who, What, Why?

Participants will identify and understand the various roles and responsibilities of a school counselor within the educational setting.

Understanding the multifaceted role of a school counselor is crucial for all school staff to foster effective collaboration, improve communication, and better support the holistic development and well-being of students.

Audience

Adult Educators and Staff

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, presentation, and reflective activities.

Materials

  • School Counselor Roles Slide Deck, - Warm-Up Activity: Counselor Connections, - Chart paper or whiteboard, - Markers, and - Cool-Down Activity: One Big Takeaway

Prep

Preparation Checklist

15 minutes

  • Review the School Counselor Roles Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content.
    - Print or prepare to project the Warm-Up Activity: Counselor Connections questions.
    - Gather chart paper or ensure a whiteboard is available, along with markers.
    - Review the Cool-Down Activity: One Big Takeaway.
    - Ensure technology (projector, computer) is set up and working for the slide deck.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Counselor Connections

5 minutes

  1. Distribute the Warm-Up Activity: Counselor Connections or display the questions on a screen.
    2. Ask participants to silently reflect and jot down their initial thoughts about the questions: 'What comes to mind when you hear 'school counselor'?' and 'What do you think are the primary responsibilities of a school counselor?'
    3. After 2-3 minutes, invite a few participants to briefly share their responses with the whole group. Emphasize that there are no right or wrong answers at this stage.

Step 2

Presentation: Decoding the Counselor's Role

15 minutes

  1. Begin the presentation using the School Counselor Roles Slide Deck.
    2. Follow the Teacher Script: Decoding the Counselor's Role to guide the discussion through the various slides.
    3. Pause at key points to encourage questions and share brief, relevant examples of how counselors support students (e.g., academic planning, social-emotional learning, crisis intervention, college/career readiness).
    4. Encourage participants to relate the information to their own experiences or observations within the school.

Step 3

Group Discussion: Bridging the Gaps

7 minutes

  1. After the presentation, facilitate a brief group discussion.
    2. Pose questions like: 'What was something new you learned about the school counselor's role?' or 'How can a better understanding of the counselor's role enhance our collaboration as a school staff?'
    3. Encourage participants to share specific ways they might partner with the school counselor in their daily roles.
    4. Write down key points on chart paper or a whiteboard.

Step 4

Cool-Down: One Big Takeaway

3 minutes

  1. Distribute the Cool-Down Activity: One Big Takeaway or display the prompt.
    2. Ask participants to write down one significant takeaway or action they will implement based on today's discussion.
    3. Collect the cool-down slips as an informal assessment of understanding and engagement.
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Slide Deck

Your Counselor: Who, What, Why?

Understanding the Vital Role of School Counselors in Our School Community

Session Goal: To explore and clarify the diverse responsibilities of school counselors and how we can best collaborate with them.

Welcome participants and introduce the session's topic: understanding the school counselor's role. Ask a quick rhetorical question like, 'Who here knows everything a school counselor does?' to pique interest.

Warm-Up: Counselor Connections

What comes to mind when you hear 'school counselor'?

What do you think are the primary responsibilities of a school counselor?

Facilitate the warm-up activity as described in the lesson plan. Give them a few minutes to think and write, then invite sharing.

More Than Just 'Guidance'

School counselors are highly trained professionals who support students in three main areas:

  • Academic Development: Helping students succeed in school.
  • Career Development: Preparing students for future jobs and education.
  • Social-Emotional Development: Supporting students' feelings, relationships, and well-being.

Introduce the idea that counselors wear many hats. Explain that their role is comprehensive, focusing on academic, career, and social/emotional development for ALL students. Mention ASCA National Model.

A Comprehensive Approach

School counselors work with ALL students to:

  • Promote academic success
  • Foster social-emotional learning
  • Guide career exploration and planning
  • Advocate for student needs

They deliver services through:

  • Classroom lessons
  • Small group counseling
  • Individual counseling
  • Consultation with families and staff

Explain what comprehensive counseling means. It's not just reactive; it's proactive and developmental. Emphasize supporting all students, not just those in crisis.

Academic Superheroes!

Counselors help students:

  • Choose appropriate courses and develop academic plans.
  • Improve study skills and time management.
  • Set and achieve academic goals.
  • Understand graduation requirements.
  • Connect with tutoring or academic support services.

Delve into academic support. Provide examples: course selection, study skills, academic planning, goal setting, identifying academic barriers, linking students to resources.

Mapping Future Paths

Counselors support career readiness by helping students:

  • Explore different career options and interests.
  • Develop resumes and interview skills.
  • Navigate college applications and financial aid.
  • Understand vocational and technical training paths.
  • Connect their academic choices to future goals.

Discuss career development. Explain it's not just about college, but all post-secondary options. Examples: career exploration tools, college applications, trade school information, financial aid resources, interview skills.

Nurturing Well-being

Counselors assist with social-emotional health by:

  • Teaching conflict resolution and communication skills.
  • Providing individual and group counseling for stress, anxiety, grief, etc.
  • Promoting positive peer relationships and anti-bullying efforts.
  • Connecting students and families to community mental health resources.
  • Developing self-awareness and self-management skills.

Focus on social-emotional support. This is often where staff have the most direct interaction. Examples: conflict resolution, grief support, anxiety/stress management, bullying prevention, connecting to outside mental health resources, developing coping skills.

Partners in Student Success

How can we collaborate effectively with school counselors?

  • Referrals: Knowing when and how to refer students.
  • Communication: Sharing academic or social-emotional observations.
  • Consultation: Discussing student needs and strategies.
  • Respecting Roles: Understanding the boundaries and expertise of each role.
  • Advocacy: Working together to advocate for students and programs.

Emphasize collaboration. This slide is key for the adult audience. How can teachers/staff work with counselors? Referral process, sharing observations, mutual support. Clarify what is not a counselor's role (disciplinarian, substitute teacher, administrative tasks).

Questions & Discussion

Any questions about the roles of school counselors?

How can a better understanding of the counselor's role enhance our collaboration as a school staff?

Open the floor for a brief Q&A and then transition to the cool-down activity.

Cool-Down: One Big Takeaway

On an index card or a piece of paper, write down one significant takeaway or one action you will implement based on today's discussion about the school counselor's role.

Conclude the session with the cool-down activity. Thank participants for their engagement.

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Script

Teacher Script: Decoding the Counselor's Role

Slide 1: Your Counselor: Who, What, Why?

"Good morning/afternoon everyone. Welcome to this session on understanding the vital role of school counselors in our school community. Our goal today is to explore and clarify the diverse responsibilities of school counselors and how we can best collaborate with them to support our students."

"Let's get started!"

Slide 2: Warm-Up: Counselor Connections

"To kick us off, I'd like you to take a few moments to think about these questions: What comes to mind when you hear 'school counselor'? And what do you think are the primary responsibilities of a school counselor?"

"You can jot down your thoughts on the Warm-Up Activity: Counselor Connections handout or just reflect silently. We'll take about 2-3 minutes for this."

(Pause for 2-3 minutes)

"Alright, who would like to share one or two thoughts that came to mind? Remember, there are no right or wrong answers here; we're just getting our initial ideas out."

(Facilitate brief sharing from 2-3 participants. Affirm all responses.)

"Thank you for sharing! It's clear we all have some ideas, and today we're going to dive deeper into the many hats our school counselors wear."

Slide 3: More Than Just 'Guidance'

"Often, the term 'guidance counselor' is still used, but the role has evolved significantly. School counselors are highly trained professionals who support students in three main, interconnected areas: academic development, career development, and social-emotional development. These three areas are crucial for helping students navigate their school journey and prepare for life beyond."

"They work from a comprehensive model, meaning they address the needs of all students, not just those experiencing difficulties. This is often guided by the ASCA National Model, which provides a framework for effective school counseling programs."

Slide 4: A Comprehensive Approach

"So, what does this comprehensive approach look like in practice? School counselors work with all students to promote academic success, foster social-emotional learning, guide career exploration, and advocate for student needs."

"They deliver these services in various ways: through classroom lessons, like teaching a lesson on conflict resolution; in small group counseling, perhaps focusing on friendship skills; through individual counseling, addressing personal challenges; and through consultation with families and us, the school staff, to create a support network for students."

Slide 5: Academic Superheroes!

"Let's break down each area. First, academic development. Our counselors are truly 'academic superheroes' in many ways. They help students choose appropriate courses, develop effective academic plans, and improve essential skills like studying and time management."

"They also assist students in setting and achieving academic goals, understanding graduation requirements, and connecting with vital resources like tutoring or other academic support services. Essentially, they help students build the skills and make the choices that lead to academic success."

Slide 6: Mapping Future Paths

"Next up, career development. This isn't just about 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' anymore. Counselors support students in mapping their future paths by helping them explore diverse career options and interests, often starting as early as elementary school."

"For older students, they assist with developing resumes, practicing interview skills, navigating the often-complex college application process, and understanding financial aid. They also provide information on vocational and technical training paths, ensuring students are aware of all post-secondary opportunities and how their academic choices connect to their future aspirations."

Slide 7: Nurturing Well-being

"Perhaps one of the most visible and critical roles, especially in recent years, is nurturing students' social-emotional well-being. Counselors assist with social-emotional health by teaching vital skills like conflict resolution and effective communication."

"They provide individual and group counseling for common challenges such as stress, anxiety, grief, and family changes. They also play a huge role in promoting positive peer relationships and leading anti-bullying efforts. Crucially, when a student's needs extend beyond what the school can provide, counselors are key in connecting students and families to appropriate community mental health resources."

Slide 8: Partners in Student Success

"This brings us to a very important point for all of us: How can we collaborate effectively with school counselors? They are our partners in student success."

"Key ways we can work together include: knowing when and how to make appropriate referrals for students who need more intensive support; maintaining open communication by sharing academic or social-emotional observations we might notice in the classroom; consulting with them when we need strategies or insights into student behavior or needs; respecting their professional roles and boundaries, understanding that they are not disciplinarians or substitutes; and finally, working together to advocate for our students and for comprehensive school counseling programs."

"A counselor's role is distinct from that of a teacher or administrator, and understanding these boundaries helps everyone function most effectively."

Slide 9: Questions & Discussion

"Before we move to our final activity, do you have any questions about the various roles of school counselors that we've discussed?"

(Address any questions.)

"Great. Now, let's open it up for a brief discussion. How can a better understanding of the counselor's role enhance our collaboration as a school staff? Think about specific ways you might partner with your school counselor."

(Facilitate a 5-7 minute discussion. Encourage participation and draw out practical examples of collaboration. Jot down key ideas on the whiteboard/chart paper.)

Slide 10: Cool-Down: One Big Takeaway

"Thank you for that insightful discussion. To wrap up our session, I'd like you to complete a quick 'Cool-Down' activity."

"On the Cool-Down Activity: One Big Takeaway handout, or a piece of paper, please write down one significant takeaway or one action you will implement based on today's discussion about the school counselor's role."

"This could be something new you learned, a new way you plan to interact with the counselor, or a change in your own practice. We'll collect these as you leave."

"Thank you all for your active participation today. I hope this session has provided valuable insights into the indispensable work of our school counselors."

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Warm Up

Warm-Up: Counselor Connections

Take a few moments to reflect on the following questions and jot down your initial thoughts. There are no right or wrong answers at this stage!

  1. What comes to mind when you hear the term "school counselor"?



  2. What do you think are the primary responsibilities of a school counselor in our school community?






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Cool Down

Cool-Down: One Big Takeaway

Before you leave, please take a moment to reflect on today's discussion about the roles of a school counselor. On this sheet, write down:

One significant takeaway or one action you will implement based on today's session.












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