What Does a School Counselor Do?

 

Amy Storrick

 

Intern Counselor

 

Jackson Middle School

 

Champlin, MN

 

Description of Lesson:

 

This lesson introduces elementary school-aged students to the school guidance counselor and the role of the counselor in the success of a student.   This lesson is presented in 50 minute classroom format

 

Objectives:

 

1.              Students will meet their school counselor.

2.              Students will understand and define the counselorÕs role in the domains of personal/social, educational and career development

3.              Students will learn how to access counseling services

 

Materials

 

3-6 hula hoops, paper and pencils, overhead projector, overhead of Counseling Model

 

Session

 

1.              Introduce yourself and provide an icebreaking activity related to learning studentÕs names and learning a little about them.  One activity could be providing a little-known fact about self and asking students to do the same. (10 minutes)

 

2.              Introduce the developmental domains covered by the counseling department using the ÒComprehensive Guidance and Counseling ProgramÓ model (adapted for a younger audience) located on page 13 of The Minnesota School CounselorsÕ Model of Developmental Guidance and Counseling handbook (see attached)  Briefly explain Personal/Social, Educational, and Career Domains to students.  (5 minutes)

 

3.              Break students into 3 groups representing the personal/social, educational, and career development domains.  Ask them to brainstorm examples of when their areas may be experiencing difficulty (example: divorce, not handing in assignments, parents going through job change, etc.).  (10 minutes)

 

4.              To provide a visual for students, have a volunteer begin to hula hoop for each group presentation of their brainstorming session until 3 volunteers are in front of the class hula-hooping.  (10 minutes)

 

5.              Explain to the class that their lives are like hula-hooping.  For the majority of time, the hoop stays up and continues to move, but sometimes in any of these areas there may be a break in the rhythm.  The role of the school counselor is to help students identify their own personal personal/social, educational, and career rhythms, educate students on potential risks that could alter the rhythms, and provide support and planning if the rhythm is interrupted. (5 minutes)

 

6.              Provide an overhead of examples of topics of your upcoming guidance lessons, support groups that are at your school, and your individual work with students, parents, and staff.  Provide room for questions. (5 minutes)

 

7.              Provide students with information on how to access your schoolÕs counselor including where you are in the building and the best times to reach you.  Provide information on how to contact you when itÕs urgent, too. (5 minutes)

 

Connections to Related Standard, Competencies, and Domains

 

The classroom guidance lesson on the school counselor relates to the Personal/

Social, Career, and Educational Domains of the Minnesota School CounselorsÕ Model of Developmental Guidance and Counseling.

References

 

Rief, J.M. & Enestvedt, J.K. (1993).  The Minnesota School CounselorsÕ Model of Developmental Guidance and Counseling.  The Minnesota School Counselors Association.