Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Back to Decorating I Go!

Today was my first day back in my Counseling Corner classroom since painting furniture in early June.  I couldn't wait to move all of the furniture around and begin to see my vision for my room start to come together.

Naturally, this is the easy part, it's the organizing of the books and materials that might take a bit longer.  :) 

All of the furniture was either in our storage gathering dust or was donated to me by amazing teachers and staff!  

Here are some pictures of my classroom so far:

Before and After!!

View from the doorway

My Counseling Corner!

*Click on "Decorating Diva" for the slideshow with more pictures from my space!  :)

I definitely decided against a lengthy Mod Podge project on my small group table.  I saw an inexpensive vinyl tablecloth at Party City and went with that instead.  Vinyl tablecloth + skirted tablecloth = a happy counselor!  :)

I can't wait to add children-created posters and projects into this space!

Referrals to the Counselor

Referrals to the Counselor

This year I have devised a plan to become more streamlined with how parents, staff, and students make referrals to the counselor.  

All students on my campus are taught about self-referrals to the counselor.  During my first guidance lessons with the grade levels, I talk with the students and teachers about what constitutes a referral to the counselor.

Students in grades 2nd - 5th may complete a "Counselor Pass" and either leave it in my mailbox or slide it under my door for privacy purposes.  The Kindergartners and First Graders talk with their teacher about their request to see me.  

This year I am THRILLED to use Google Docs to help with the referral process!  I have created a form online within Google Docs for this process. 

Google Docs are AWESOME!  

If you are unfamiliar with how this works, here are some quick tips to creating a form:
1. Create a Google Account
2. Click Create: Click Form
3. You can change the "theme" at the top in the toolbar 
4. Title your page and start posting your "questions"
5. I use "checkboxes" and "paragraph text" as the format for their answers
6. Select "choose response destination" and click "new spreadsheet" - all answers will be placed into a spreadsheet for you!  :)

How to Receive a Notification

If you would like to receive a notification whenever the form is submitted:
1. Go back to your drive and "hover" over the green box beside the title of your form.  Make sure you click on the one that is the spreadsheet
2. Go to your spreadsheet and select "Tools" from the toolbar at the top
3. Click on "Notification Rules" and choose when you would like to receive the email
   *I chose immediately :)

Just a reminder, the notification will be sent to your Gmail account associated with your Google Doc!  

Grants Galore!

Grant Ideas Galore! 

I absolutely LOVE to write so I have channeled that love to apply for several grants within my school district's education foundation. Here are some of the grants I have won as a counselor:

1. Get RAMPed Up With Counseling - Driving students up the RAMP to success (all geared towards an effective ASCA model counseling program)

 *This is my newest one that I will be implementing this school year!  I will post updates as I plan the activities!

2. Girl T.A.L.K. - ideas for a positive approach to relational aggression

3. T.O.O.L.S. for Parents: Constructing a Bridge to Close the Achievement Gap

Targeted Activities

Organized by Skills

Offering Extensions of

Learning for

Students and Parents

RtI toolkits for parents ~ Brief Project Summary:

Our innovative project focuses on the parenting piece to Response to Intervention. (RtI)  We aim to provide the necessary tools and resources at home in order to support the current interventions in the school setting.  Parents need to have at their fingertips the necessary supplies and appropriate materials in order to effectively support the interventions and to help personalize learning for students.  We truly let our imaginations take flight as we delved deeper into creating innovative “RtI Parent Toolboxes” in order to provide appropriate interactive, educational resources for parents within a school and home partnership in learning.    

4. Love and Logic Grant - Teaching and Parenting with Love and Logic

Teacher's Book Study with the Teaching with Love and Logic Book
Parenting Classes: Parenting with Love and Logic

What are some ideas for grants? What have you always wanted to have as a part of your school counseling program?

Adding Pizzazz with Prezi!

I absolutely LOVE using Prezi to support my guidance lessons with students!  Thankfully, this year I will have my own classroom with a projector and screen so I won't have to roll my computer cart or have to rely on other classrooms' equipment to work!

Teacher Treats

During the week prior to the students' first day of school, we have a week of district and campus determined training for the teachers and staff.  I always like to incorporate fun activities and provide special treats for the teachers!  

What are some wonderful ideas for:

1. Icebreaker Activities

2. Cute/Fun Teacher and Staff Treats

Let Me Introduce Myself...

~Graduated May 1995 from Stephen F. Austin State University with a B.S.I.S. and an Early Childhood Minor


~Graduated May 11, 2007 from Sam Houston State University with a Master's Degree as a Professional School Counselor

~Completed over 3,000 hours of counseling in order to obtain my certificate as a Licensed Professional Counselor

I began my student teaching at an elementary school in kindergarten and then in a first grade classroom.  During these special months interacting and learning from these students and teachers, I knew I had found my "home" working with children.  

My teaching experience includes nine years as a first grade teacher and two as a third grade teacher.  I always enjoyed our tremendous journeys of learning together.  The children learned from each other throughout our many problem-solving interactions with partner, small group, and whole group activities.


A New Chapter Began...
This year I will begin my ninth year as an elementary school counselor in Texas.  I absolutely LOVE being a school counselor!

All of us are on a journey of learning together.  This partnership will help us grow to become lifelong learners.  I know the children understand what they have learned once they can articulate and then "show" what it means through their own words and actions.

"Intelligence plus character ~ that is the goal of true education."
Martin Luther King, Jr.