What do professional school counselors do?

Teach guidance lessons in each classroom once a month, using the Elementary Guidance Curriculum objectives.
Lesson and objective choices are guided by a needs assessment that was filled out by the school’s staff and administration and randomly selected parents and students.


Curriculum addressees the following areas:

Understanding myself and others
Learning to make good decisions
Learning about the world of work
Learning to take tests, study and set goals
Getting along with others
Coping with personal problems


Professional School Counselors facilitate small group counseling.

Most groups last for 10 weeks and meet for a half an hour once a week during the school day.



The following groups are offered at different times throughout the school year:

Divorce

Self Control

Self Esteem

Study skills

Grief

Incarcerated parents

Anger management

Focus

Friendship


Professional School Counselors facilitate mentoring between teachers and students.

SSTAR Club(Staff and Students Together Achieve Results)

Staff mentor students
Students attend weekly group counseling sessions
Students attend monthly after school meetings
Students help the school community by recycling each Friday

Professional School Counselors help teachers with students who have social, emotional, behavioral or academic problems.
Counselors help teachers to develop behavior plans for students who have behavior or social problemsCounselors help teachers brainstorm interventions for students who have academic problems.Counselors help teachers deal appropriately with students who have emotional problems.

Professional School Counselors help parents whose child is having social, emotional, behavioral or academic problems.
Counselors offer advice and professional opinions to parents.Counselors refer parents to appropriate agencies and professionals.Counselors offer reading material and direct parents to websites that deal with the issues they are facing.
Professional School Counselors help families in need or crisis.
Counselors find resources for families in need or crisis.Counselors refer families to the appropriate agencies when they are in need or in crisis.

Professional School Counselors offer individual counseling.
Counselors meet with students individually to help with ongoing personal issues.
Counselors meet with students individually to help with issues that occur occasionally or one time.

Professional school counselors work with students with disabilities to develop social skills.
Counselors facilitate Circle of Friends groups.

Professional School Counselors coordinate achievement testing.
Missouri Achievement Program MAP testing is for 3-5 graders.
Terra Nova testing is for grades 1 and 2.testing.

Professional School Counselors initiate testing for Accelerated Education and Special Education as needed.

Professional School Counselors write 504 plans for eligible students.