EXPLORE
EXPLORE
What does a school counselor do?
The role of the elementary counselor is to guide, advise, recommend, consult, and assist with the near limitless variety of concerns that students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the community at large may have. Specifically, the thrust of the counseling program is defined by three major goals:
To assist students with personal and academic concerns such as coping with stress, learning to study, and behaving appropriately in class.
To help students develop educational and career decision-making skills including knowing how to make decisions, developing individual interests and abilities, and learning about job and careers.
To aid students in developing interpersonal skills such as resolving conflicts.
Who is a school counselor?
A Professional who has earned a Master’s Degree in school counseling.
An Educator who holds state certification in school counseling to include counseling theories and practices, human behavior, career education, individual appraisal, and social/cultural issues. Maintaining certification includes on-going professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today’s students. Professional association membership enhances the school counselor’s knowledge and effectiveness.
A Specialist who has expertise in age-specific developmental stages of student growth, and the needs, tasks, and student interests related to those stages.
Classroom Guidance Lessons
Classroom Guidance is a developmental program of classes designed to foster students’ academic, career, and personal/social development. Classes are preventative in nature and empower students with self-knowledge, coping strategies, and life skills that will assist them in becoming problem solvers, collaborative workers, and responsible citizens.
Common Classroom Guidance Topics:
School Wide Programs
At Curtis Elementary, we have many school-wide programs to reinforce the importance of our core values of Integrity, Equity, Teamwork and Ingenuity. These include, but are not limited to:
Individual Counseling
Individual Counseling is a one-to-one meeting with the counselor to discuss a problem or topic of interest that may be affecting their academic success. Friendship issues, worries, conflict resolution, difficulty coming to school, grief, and anger management are frequent issues facing children.
During sessions, students might:
Referrals for students to meet with a school counselor can be made by classroom teachers, principal, parents, or through student self-referrals. Parents are welcome to call or e-mail the counselors at any time to request individual counseling for their child. While students may see us at any time for brief discussions, parental permission must be granted in order for a counselor to work with a student for a series multiple, planned sessions.
While we provide many services for students and their families, we are unable to testify in child custody matters. We are also unable to provide intensive, long-term counseling services to students.
Group Counseling
Small group counseling (typically 6-10 participants) is needs based and usually meets once a week during recess for four to six weeks in order to be least disruptive to the learning environment. Small groups provide members the opportunity to share ideas and learn from each other. Group topics are chosen based upon student needs, and can change throughout the school year. Participation, which is voluntary and confidential, requires permission from a parent or guardian. Referrals for groups are made by parents and teachers. Priority is given to students who show an academic need.
Common Small Group Topics: