Las Vegas Presentation!

On a daily basis my email is inundated with requests to attend various counseling conferences and webinars.  This spring there was a particular email that caught my attention.  I found myself completely engrossed in a flyer discussing a national counseling conference in LAS VEGAS!!!  

I saw the line that read "call for proposals".  Why not??  I have helped to facilitate a workshop session at the state level with two of my district's student support services team members, I could do this, right?!  Before I could talk myself out of taking this leap, I completed the online proposal and pressed SUBMIT!

Done!

No going back!

The next day I received an email with my letter of acceptance!!  Fast forward ahead....

I presented a technology session called, "The Tech-Savvy Counselor" at the Wired Differently/National Conference on Innovative Counseling Skills and Strategies, June 11th - 14th.

SMORE Newsletter with Tech Tips!

The Tech-Savvy Counselor Prezi

The Techy Counselor

Smore, oh how I love thee so!

I have seriously become absolutely fascinated with using this type of newsletter to communicate with parents, staff, and administration on the fun happenings in the world of counseling!

This particular Smore newsletter highlights how to use technology within your counseling program.  Why of course, there are MANY additional technology applications to use, I have chosen to highlight those seen in this newsletter.

Enjoy!

https://www.smore.com/d8hk

Sensational Small Groups!

How I love thee Google Docs, let me count the ways!  ;-)

In the past I have given each grade level a sheet for small group counseling nominations.  Naturally, I have decided to simplify this process by creating a Google Doc for teachers/staff to submit names of students they would like to possibly be in one of my counseling groups.  Google Docs will transfer the responses and places them into a spreadsheet!  
So EASY!

I gave the teachers a week to submit names via the Google Doc.  Once all names are submitted I review the nominations and assign groups.  I will "Juggle" all nominations by having the students participate in either group counseling or individual sessions with me.

Of course, I may have opened Pandora's Box...   

:)

These nominations help to give additional information regarding specific students who may not have needed an official referral to the counselor before.  (i.e. academic/skills group and grief)

Huge Shout Out to some fabulous followers on my FB page for providing these creative names for the groups!

Here is the link to a copy of the Google Doc for the teacher nominations:

http://goo.gl/kNlZNq

Panther P.A.L.s (Peers as Leaders)

At a district counselor meeting during the fall semester, a wonderful colleague of mine mentioned a peer leadership program that she has with her students.  I was thrilled with this awesome idea and wanted to replicate it on my campus!

The special program, "Panther P.A.L.s" (Peers as Leaders) was introduced to the fourth graders as an opportunity to show leadership and volunteering on our campus.  I sent a letter of explanation and application home with each of our fourth graders.  (I chose fourth grade since our fifth graders have the opportunity to join Student Council)  Since this was my first year to have a program of this nature, I just couldn't say no and accepted all students who applied, who also met the application requirements.  To date, we have over 35 students who are Panther P.A.L.s!

At our first meeting, the students wrote their name on sticky notes and selected various committees:
*helping teachers
*working with students
*mentoring students
*performing Random Acts of Kindness on campus
*No Place for Hate Committee

These students have volunteered to either help a teacher before or after school and/or during their RECESS time!  I know!  AWESOME!

Some Panther P.A.L.s also have the distinct honor of working with a peer either as a tutor or a peer mentor through our M&M Time (Mentor & Me Time) program.

The Panther P.A.L.s and I meet during their lunch times as a group on several occasions in order to establish roles for the students, expectations for the roles, and to award each P.A.L. with a "HERO bracelet" from Positive Promotions.  Each Panther P.A.L. has a special lanyard with a badge identifying him/her as a P.A.L. The children wear these lanyards when they are performing their specific duties as a P.A.L.

Counselor Newsletters

For eight years I have submitted various articles to be included within our weekly newsletters to parents. I have often considered the idea of creating my own newsletter to not only inform parents of counseling events on campus, but to also educate parents regarding my role as the counselor.

Yesterday, based on the recommendation from someone who posted on my Facebook post about Glogster, I have discovered www.smore.com!!! 

WOW!

This was by far the EASIEST format for a newsletter that I have ever used!  I was able to write my first flyer and email it to all of our parents in less than an hour!  I love how you can track how many people have viewed the flyer as well!  Amazing! 

Coffee with the Counselor: Bullying from Two Perspectives

I just hosted my first Coffee with the Counselor of 2014!  The topic of this chat was, "Bullying from Two Perspectives: In the Girls' World and in the Boys' World".  I had a wonderful time meeting with the parents and talking with them about the topic of bullying.  The chat was interactive with a PowerPoint presentation that included music videos and various tips on how to help their child.

Here is the link to the presentation:

Bullying from Two Perspectives - Prezi Presentation

Enjoy!

Girl's Day Out!

Girl's Day Out!

Empowering girls through lessons on self-esteem, relational aggression, and body image.

This is one of my FAVORITE activities to do with the students on my campus.  I found some wonderful ideas on one of my favorite blogs: 

http://www.schcounselor.com/ with regard to lessons to do with girls to help empower them.

I chose two days last year to work with each grade level of girls.  On our campus our students go to "Specials" class: computers, music, library, p.e., art, etc....  The boys went to P.E. while the girls and some of the Specials teachers joined me in the music room for some Girly FUN!  

During our forty-five minutes together the students listened to music videos, participated in group activities, and ended with an individual quick writing portion.  

I paired the fourth and fifth grade girls together for over an hour for their lesson.  This year I plan to create special "invitations" for this day and present them to each of the girls.

(The kindergarten and first grade presentation was shorter: 

no Prezi, reading The Recess Queen, and looking into the Mirror: "What do I Like When I look in the Mirror?")

**Before you ask, yes, I had a Boy T.A.L.K. day**

Activities:
Back to Back: Girls sat with their backs to each other and had to only use their backs/legs to get up.  :)

Mirrors: (Students are sitting in a circle) Look into the mirror and either say it out loud or think it inside, what do you like about the person looking back at you?  2nd time around: One person holds the mirror and the girl to her right says something about her that she likes (body image).

Paper Chain: Students are given a slip of colored construction paper.  Brainstorm one thing you can do to help empower girls, make a difference on our campus, or help someone in your community. Staple links together to make a long chain of powerful statements! (Together we can be the change we wish to see in the world!)

The program's design for grades 2-5 is outlined 

in this PREZI: