The Elementary / Middle School Counselor's Survival Guide

An expanded edition filled with ideas, strategies, and tools for school counselors This Survival Guide helps counselors plan and implement an effective counseling program tailored to the needs of all students. Step by step, the book walks readers through every aspect of the school counselor job, including: designing a comprehensive counseling program, communicating with students and fellow staff, facilitating groups, promoting positive school discipline, integrating a guidance curriculum, intervening in times of crisis, and taking personal and professional care of oneself. Discusses how to reach out to diverse student and parent populations Shows how to integrate the American School Counselor Association's National Model for designing, delivering, and evaluating a school's counseling program Reveals how new technology can improve services to students and parents Other titles by Wiggin: I.O.U.S.A., Demise of the Dollar, and Financial Reckoning Day This comprehensive resource also includes a wealth of reproducible worksheets, letters, checklists, and forms designed to save time and effort for busy school counselors.

About This Book ix About the Author xi Acknowledgments xiii Introduction 1 1 What, Who, and How of Your School Counseling Program 5 Describing the Program 7 Choosing a Language 7 Leading the Charge 10 Focusing on a Comprehensive Program 11 Adapting the ASCA National Model and Other Approaches 14 Advocating for All Students 15 Seeking Input 16 Winning Support 16 Sharing Ownership 20 Defining What You Do: A Glossary of Responsive Services 22 Identifying Responsive Services 22 Communicating Your Role 24 Chapter 1 Scenarios 1.1 Why Are Counselors in Schools? 5 1.2 Role Identity 6 Chapter 1 Worksheets 1.1 Program Assessment Scale 13 1.2 Facility Checklist for a School Counseling Center 19 Chapter 1 Exhibits 1.1 The School Counseling Program and the School Counselor 9 1.2 Comparison of Traditional and Comprehensive Programs 12 1.3 Advisory Committee Volunteers/Advisory Committee Form 21 2 Developing Your Role and Creating An Identity 27 Determining Who Does What 28 Creating a Counselor Identity 31 Advertising the Program 31 Promoting Yourself 33 Balancing Time 35 Setting Priorities 35 Establishing a Schedule 36 Using Resources 38 Chapter 2 Scenario 2.1 Is There a Problem? 27 Chapter 2 Worksheets 2.1 Time-Balance Worksheet 37 2.2 Schedule Worksheet 39 Chapter 2 Exhibits 2.1 Ten Keys to Implementing a Comprehensive Program 28 2.2 Friendship Week Assignments 29 2.3 School Counseling Brochure 32 2.4 Sample Time-Balance Sheet 35 2.5 Sample Schedule 38 2.6 Sample Master Schedule for a Middle School Counseling Program 40 3 Setting Sail and Staying Afloat 41 Planning 42 Assessing the Program 42 Organizing the Program 47 Evaluating Services 54 Coordinating 59 Receiving Referrals 63 Scheduling Services 63 Keeping Records 65 Following Up 66 Organizing a Peer Helper Program 66 Using Volunteers 67 Orienting Students, Parents, and Teachers 67 Helping with School Transitions 67 Coordinating a Teacher Advisement Program 68 Using Technology 68 Chapter 3 Scenario 3.1 You’ve Got It Good! 41 Chapter 3 Worksheets 3.1 Primary Student Needs Assessment 44 3.2 Middle School Parent Needs Assessment 45 3.3 Teacher Needs Assessment 46 3.4 School Climate Survey 48 3.5 Annual Planning Sheet 50 3.6 Middle School Counselor Monthly Report 55 3.7 Group Counseling Evaluation 57 3.8 Teacher Form for Individual Counseling Evaluation 58 3.9 Student Evaluation of a Middle School Counseling Program 60 3.10 Parent Evaluation Form 61 3.11 Teacher Evaluation Form 62 3.12 Teacher Referral Form 64 Chapter 3 Exhibit 3.1 Sample Case Card 65 Chapter 3 Figures 3.1 Elementary School Counseling Center 51 3.2 Middle School Counseling Center 52 3.3 Inaccessible Counseling Center 53 3.4 Accessible Counseling Center 54 4 Identifying Responsive Services 71 Counseling 72 Individual Counseling 72 Brief Counseling 76 Group Counseling 78 Parent and Teacher Counseling 81 Your Philosophy and Effectiveness as a Counselor 83 Consulting 86 Consulting About Situations 86 Providing Information 88 Delivering Instruction 89 Delivering Classroom Guidance 94 Appraising 96 Testing 97 Observing 99 Interviewing 101 Reviewing Records 101 Chapter 4 Scenarios 4.1 School Anxiety 71 4.2 Girls’ Bathroom 86 Chapter 4 Worksheets 4.1 Teacher Survey for Group Counseling 80 4.2 Information Request 90 4.3 Teacher In-Service Survey 92 4.4 Sample Classroom Guidance Evaluation Form 95 4.5 Learning Objectives Summary 98 4.6 Student Observation Notes 100 Chapter 4 Exhibits 4.1 Interviewing Children 75 4.2 Seven Steps to Brief Counseling 77 4.3 Group Pass to the Counselor’s Office 79 4.4 Counselor’s Checklist for Group Counseling 82 4.5 Ten Ground Rules for Participating in Group Counseling 82 4.6 Questions About Your Counseling Services 85 4.7 Ten Ideas for Leading Successful Presentations 93 Chapter 4 Figure 4.1 Counselor-Teacher Consulting Relationship 87 5 Integrating A School Counseling Program With The Curriculum 103 Affective Education: Integration and Infusion 105 Guidance: Everyone’s Responsibility 106 Planning Guidance Integration 107 Locating Resources 107 Presenting Guidance Lessons and Activities 108 Character Education 109 Homework 109 Educational Planning and Placement 110 Test Results and Improved Instruction 112 Teachers and Testing 113 Students and Testing 114 Parents and Testing 115 Career Development 117 A Lifetime of Learning Through Positive Behavior 118 Chapter 5 Scenarios 5.1 Classroom Behavior 103 5.2 Test Results 112 Chapter 5 Worksheet 5.1 Parent Survey of the School’s Testing Program 116 Chapter 5 Exhibit 5.1 The Edinburgh Middle School Continuing Progress Award 112 6 Reaching Out To Diverse Populations 121 General Guidelines 122 Exceptional Children 127 IDEA and Section 504 128 Approaches with Exceptional Students 129 Consulting with Parents of Exceptional Children 133 English Language Learners (ELL) 134 Culturally Diverse Populations 136 Celebration of Cultures 138 Guidance and Counseling Services 138 Chapter 6 Scenarios 6.1 Struggling Student 121 6.2 Differences 136 Chapter 6 Worksheets 6.1 Student Services Record 123 6.2 School and Community Specialists 125 6.3 Assessing Your Cultural Encapsulation 126 6.4 Token Economy Agreement 132 6.5 A Multicultural Checklist 137 7 Preparing For Crisis Intervention 141 Definition and Description of a Crisis 143 Characteristics of Crises 143 Types of Crises 143 A Crisis Team and Plan 144 Factors to Consider 144 The Crisis Team 146 The Crisis Plan 147 General Guidelines 147 Specific Procedures 149 Staff Development 150 Preventive Activities and Programs 152 Classroom Guidance 152 Developmental Counseling 152 Peer Helper Programs 153 Parent Education Programs 153 Safety Education 153 Crisis Counseling 154 Assessment 155 Plan of Action 155 Follow-Up and Evaluation 156 After Trauma or Tragedy 157 Chapter 7 Scenario 7.1 Bus Accident 141 Chapter 7 Worksheet 7.1 Crisis In-Service Survey 151 Chapter 7 Exhibits 7.1 Checklist of Crisis Guidelines 148 7.2 Communication with Superintendent’s Office 149 8 Selecting Responsive Services To Address Students’ Concerns 159 Bullying 160 Cyberbullying 163 Divorce 163 After-School Child Care 167 Loneliness 168 Relocation 169 Stress 170 Underachievement 171 Technology 174 Chapter 8 Scenario 8.1 Head Slapper 159 Chapter 8 Exhibits 8.1 Monitoring Student Assertiveness and Coping Skills 162 8.2 Sample Postcard for Student Transfers 170 8.3 Sample Student Contract 173 9 Responding To Critical Concerns 177 Child Depression and Suicide 178 Self-Injury 183 Child Abuse 184 Chronic and Terminal Illness 186 Substance Abuse 187 Intervention 188 Prevention 191 Loss 192 Poverty 194 Violence 194 School Phobia 195 Chapter 9 Scenario 9.1 Socioeconomic Disparities 177 Chapter 9 Exhibits 9.1 Child and Adolescent Motives and Behaviors Associated with Suicide Attempts 179 9.2 Additional Adolescent Motives and Behaviors Associated with Suicide Attempts 180 9.3 Questions to Ask Suicidal Students 181 9.4 Self-Protection Agreement 183 9.5 Indicators of a Family Drug- or Alcohol-Related Problem 188 9.6 Indicators of Possible Drug or Alcohol Use 190 9.7 Middle School Drug and Alcohol Assessment 191 10 Belonging and Being With The School 199 Establishing Relationships 200 Relating Personally 202 Being Visible 202 Being Invisible 205 Relating Professionally 206 Seeking Input 206 Sharing Information 208 Following Up 209 Facilitating Support Groups 209 Leading Staff Development 210 Promoting Positive Discipline 211 Being With Versus Doing To 214 Chapter 10 Scenario 10.1 Ongoing Challenges 199 Chapter 10 Worksheet 10.1 Workshop Evaluation Form 212 Chapter 10 Exhibit 10.1 Behavior Management Plan 213 11 Involving Significant Others 217 Knowledge of Family and Community 218 Interview Students 218 Review Cumulative Records 219 Orient Parents 221 Visit Homes 221 Assess Parent Needs 221 Communication and Information 222 Special Events 222 Worksite Visits 222 Test Reports 223 Parent Conferences 223 Letters and Communiqu´es 225 PTA and PTO Presentations 227 Volunteers 229 Parent Education Programs 230 Discussion Groups 230 Commercial Programs 232 Program Planning 233 Chapter 11 Scenario 11.1 Parental Involvement 217 Chapter 11 Worksheets 11.1 Cumulative Record Survey 220 11.2 Volunteer Application Form 231 11.3 Parent Education Evaluation 235 Chapter 11 Exhibits 11.1 My Family and Me 219 11.2 Progress Letter to Parent 226 11.3 Memo to Parents 227 12 Playing According To The Rules 237 Legal Considerations and Resources 238 School Principal 238 Counseling Supervisor 239 School Board 240 Professional Associations 241 Ethical Considerations 241 Responsibilities to Students 242 Responsibilities to Parents 242 Responsibilities to Colleagues and Professional Associates 243 Responsibilities to the School and Community 244 Responsibilities to Yourself 245 Responsibilities to the Profession 245 Responsibilities to Maintain Ethical Standards 246 General Guidelines for Ethical Practice 247 Advertising Your Services 248 Knowing When You’ve Gone Far Enough 252 Understanding Volunteerism in Counseling 252 Following Through 253 Understanding Your Values 254 Informing Parents 254 Seeking Assistance from Others 254 Caring for Yourself 255 Chapter 12 Scenario 12.1 Therapeutic Counseling 237 Chapter 12 Worksheet 12.1 Ethical Decision-Making Checklist 256 Chapter 12 Exhibits 12.1 Four Key Questions 247 12.2 ASCA School Counselor Competencies 249 13 Helping Yourself To Help Others 257 Self-Assessment 258 Personal Caring 260 Physical Well-Being 262 Emotional Well-Being 263 Social Well-Being 266 Professional Caring 267 Intellectual Development 267 Counselor Competence 268 Conclusion 271 Chapter 13 Scenario 13.1 Self-Health and Performance 257 Chapter 13 Worksheet 13.1 Personal and Professional Goals 261 Resources 273 Bibliography 273 Web Sites 278 Index 281