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Counselors Chatboard

Graduation Coach Application Question

by Ayanna

Aug 25, 2010

I saw a posting for a graduation coach position. I have been interviewing for different positions and have unfortunately not been hired as of yet. I am fortunate enough to be substituting for a counselor that is on leave. I just wanted to get some input on how I can answer the following question in order to apply for this particular position. I fee...See More

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Anorexia Nervosa

by Leah

Aug 26, 2010

Today on the Today Show they were discussion this extremely important mental health issue, especially among girls. For a signs, risks, causes, etc., click below:

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Leah On 8/26/10, Leah wrote: > Today on the Today Show they were discussing this extremely > important mental health issue, especially among girls. For > a signs, risks, causes, etc., click below:

Aug 27, 2010

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temper tantrums when time to work

by 1a

Aug 28, 2010

I have a student who seems to have a very low self esteem, and becomes frustrated when time to work. He does have deficits with several skills; yet is able to do more than he produces. After I explain an assignment and sit down to assess a student (which I need to have completed by a deadline),he begins pulling his hair, whining, and crying. The no...See More

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vet counselor Is he graded on his work? Does your school award grades on report cards? In either case, his best work will earn him a lower grade, won't it? He has skill deficits - so from the get-go, his best work won't make him the best or anywhere near to the best student in the class. And I'd say - most kids in this situation know it. They know that their bes...See MoreIs he graded on his work? Does your school award grades on report cards? In either case, his best work will earn him a lower grade, won't it? He has skill deficits - so from the get-go, his best work won't make him the best or anywhere near to the best student in the class. And I'd say - most kids in this situation know it. They know that their best work is still going to be far from the best. Kids learn young their work is always compared to the others and they compare their work to the others.

Has anyone addressed this with him? I believe too he's capable of doing more than he does but to what avail? I'd also say likely he feels more confident when someone is by his side and if he has any attentional issues at all, he is going to be benefit from having someone by his side as he works - it would help him to stay focused.

Which of course is not possible for you to do - in the ideal world, this kid would benefit from a wrap-around aide. Is it possible for him to sit by your side while you assess another student? At least in this first part of the year until he settles in more? That's one thought.

Is a volunteer possible to do the same?

Or reduce the assignment from the beginning - it's not uncommon to modify work for students with skill deficits. Why wait until after the assignment has been given? He's learned that to get a reduced assignment he has to whine and cry. Does he have an IEP? It sounds as if he should but even without one, I'd modify his assignments before handing them out and quietly point that out to him.

And has anyone sat down with this child and spoken to him kindly but seriously about his skill deficits and how they are not his fault and how doing the modified assignments will help to bring his skills up? Kids don't naturally understand that we are all at different points on the line and we have a way in school of suggesting that kids with weak skills have not worked hard enough - though they are usualy born with those weak skills and learning differences.

I'd have a heart to heart with this child -has anyone done that? Some kids do need more of a teacher's time than the others. Is there a child who could take an interest in this child? Could he have a 'buddy' from among the students with strong skills?

Overall, I'd like to see my school and others use volunteers more but that's not always easily made to happen. I'd say try the heart to heart, don't grade his work whenever possible, modify his work before you give it out, not after he starts to cry and let him sit by you whenever possible in the beginning of the year while he gets his feet on the ground.

Sending him to the office will quiet your room but clearly has done nothing in the long run for this child. Let's remember that he's crying - he's not screaming resistance - he's crying and that's a sign of distress and frustration, not anger or resistance. Crying isn't a temper tantrum - temper is stamping feet, throwing chairs, yelling in anger. We need to be careful to recognize distress as distress.

"Charles, we've talked about this and your work has been changed to be just right for you and we both know you can do this. Once you start it, it won't feel hard and it won't take long. I want you to try for 5 minutes - see the clock? 5 minutes isn't long. If after 5 minutes you feel you absolutely can't do this, then I want you to come and calmly tell me why. Your crying tells me only that you're upset but it doesn't tell me anything more than that. When things feel hard, crying doesn't make them less hard - it only makes it more hard to get the hard thing done. Use words, not crying but for the next 5 minutes, it's working, not words and you might find that in 5 minutes, you're done."

Good luck. > I have a student who seems to have a very low self esteem, > and becomes frustrated when time to work. He does have > deficits with several skills; yet is able to do more than > he produces. After I explain an assignment and sit down to > assess a student (which I need to have completed by a > deadline),he begins pulling his hair, whining, and crying. > The noise level becomes louder and louder until I explain > to him that he needs to give it a try. I tell him to do his > best and reduce the assignment. However, when I leave to > continue my assessments, the tantrums begin all over again. > Each one becomes more aggressive (kicking, hitting, > destroying anything in his path of reach). He only puts > forth any effort when I sit one on one with him, but it is > unrealistic for me to do this for every assignment every > day. He spent a lot of time in the office last year, thus, > I believe he learned that tantrums get him out of the > classroom and the work. This is only the first week with > him and I am already having a conference with the mother > and am going to put him on a behavior plan. He responds > well to positive praise, but needs to be rewarded > consistently throughout the day. > > I am looking for any ideas to help this child. His behavior > is making it very difficult for me to teach, as I am > constantly redirecting inappropriate behavior and it is > taking away my time from the other students. Any > suggestions are welcomed. Thank you in advance.

Sep 8, 2010

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Frustration On 9/08/10, vet counselor wrote:

> > Sending him to the office will quiet your room but clearly > has done nothing in the long run for this child. Let's > remember that he's crying - he's not screaming resistance - > he's crying and that's a sign of distress and frustration, > not anger or resistance. Crying isn't a temp...See More

Sep 8, 2010

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counselor introduction lesson-elementary

by Sandy Husted

Aug 28, 2010

Does anyone have a suggestion for a brief classroom lesson that I can use to introduce myself as the school counselor?

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JAR Here is a link to a lesson I used. It is geared for primary grades, but I modified it for fourth and fifth also. In case the link doesn't work it is called "Who Is Your School Counselor?". It is available from Marco Products.

[link removed]

Aug 28, 2010

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Leah You could introduce yourself using hats: For example:

Chef Hat - cook up lessons.

Nurse Hat- Take care of the hurts.

Detective Hat - help solve a child's problems.

Baseball cap - Referee among children to resolve disputes.

Hard Hat - Build connections among families, students, faculty, etc.

Aug 30, 2010

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Dissertation study-- please help

by Myriam L. Jensen

Sep 7, 2010

Dear school counselor,

You are invited to participate in a doctoral research study examining the perceptions of school counselors and school psychologists about the cognitive abilities needed by students to complete academic tasks. Your participation in this study will contribute to the research literature on the ecological validity of Ca...See More

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My strengths activity

by Leah

Sep 11, 2010

Click below for a complimentary interest inventory for elementary students.

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Counseling, education..low pay..overworked..not worth it!

by Nexus

Sep 12, 2010

Stay away from being a counselor, teacher..any education careers..not worth it..i am looking to change careers ASAP..

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Data from Elementary School Counselors

by E. Whitehead

Sep 12, 2010

Do you conduct pre and post assessments during every guidance lesson? If not every lesson, then how often? Also, if you do pre and post assessments what are some of questions for topics like kindness, respect, honesty, and other character words?

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Book Recommendations

by JAR

Sep 19, 2010

I am a new school counselor this year in a K-8 school. I am looking for good books of interventions to use with individual counseling. The students I am working with so far have issues such as dealing with divorce, anger management, getting along with friends, anxiety, etc... If you could recommend just one book of interventions what would it be? A...See More

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Lacey [link removed].

On 12/19/10, JAR wrote: > Thanks. I recently ordered some books. The Creative > Interventions was one I ordered. I haven't received it yet. I'm > anxiously awaiting its arrival.

Dec 20, 2010

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JAR The ones I ordered are:

Creative Interventions for Troubled Children and Youth by Liana Lowenstine

More Creative Interventions for Troubled Children and Youth by Liana Lowenstein

Creative Approaches for Counseling Individual Children in the School Setting by Diane Senn

More What Works When with Children and Adole...See More

Dec 20, 2010

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National Boards

by Beth

Oct 2, 2010

I am working on National Boards and would love to hear any tips/advice from the counselors that have been through it or are currently working on it. Thanks.

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