Monday, August 5, 2013

Tips for New Counselors (updated)

Here are a few things that I learned going in (some I learned much later AFTER) my 1st year that I'd like to share with our new counselor friends starting out (and may be helpful to veteran counselors too):

-Get rid of the "G word" and don't refer to yourself as it.  The "G word" is Guidance, ugh, I cringe as I type the word.  You ARE the School Counselor.  Don't fret, people still call me the "G word" and I politely correct them.  I don't use the term Classroom Guidance, I use the term Class Visits.  Any school documents that have the "G word" on them, I update.  I even had the "G word" on my envelope for my school keys, guess what I did...made a new envelope with School Counselor on it.  Baby steps my "school counselor" friends, the more you show that the "G word" is extinct the more likely they'll adjust, if not, just keep correcting them.  My name is often mispronounced (it's ANN-dre-a not ON-dre-a) so I'm used to correcting, so just think as if someone was mispronouncing your name and politely correct them.

-To learn students and staff, see if you can get your hands on a copy of the school's yearbook from the previous year (I did this when I started working at a new school, it helped me tremendously).  When I had to see a new student and I wasn't for sure who they were the yearbook gave me a little idea of what the student looked like (they do change within a year, but you get the idea).

 JYJ yearbook, a great counselor resource.

-Make yourself visible to students so that they know who you are:  great common areas to see students include hallways during arrival, carpool during dismissal, and the cafeteria.

-If you're moving to a new area: Learn more than one route to get to work.  This may also depend on where you live/work.  Some of you may have much shorter commutes.  I don't live in the same area as I work, but I have multiple ways to get to work, just in case I run into traffic, need to stop at the store, etc (my commute is short though, about 15 mins).

-Invest in Get Well Cards:  Without a doubt a someone at school (staff, students or parents) will have an illness during the school year.  Be sure to send a get well card to let them know that you're thinking about them.  This also lets students, staff and parents know that you care and are thinking of them. 

-Invest in Thank You cards:  Without a doubt someone at school (staff, students or parents) will do something very nice for you.  To show your appreciation, take the time to write them a thank you note. I actually made my own note cards.   You can create your own note cards like the ones shown from Vista Print
Front view of personalized note cards

Back view of note cards

-Mark your items:  In education, we borrow and loan out all types of things.  I've found that writing your name or labeling things that belong to you increases your chances of them being returned.  What I've found the easiest to do is make labels using easy peel address labels (1" X 2 5/8").  I type either "JYJ Counselor" or my name on them. The labels are super easy to place on all types of items.  I have a label template to share so all you have to do is type in your name, print and stick onto your items.

-Connect with other counselors:  especially if you're the only counselor at your school.  If you have the opportunity to meet with other counselors in your district to connect, share ideas and vent by all means do so.  In my district we have PLT (Professional Learning Team) meetings once a month.  Because I work in a large district our PLT's are divided into smaller regions based on where our schools are located.  I LOVE my PLT group and was so happy that when I switched schools that I got to stay in the same PLT group. 

-There are also other means of connecting with school counselors virtually!  The ASCA SCENE is great to connect with counselors all over the country.  There's a discussion forum section where you can post questions and someone will surely respond.  Using social media sites such as Twitter to follow other counselors is also great.  You can follow and participate in monthly #scchat tweet chats.  Blogs are a another good way to connect and get ideas from other school counselors.  My list of counselor blogs that I follow is on the right hand side of this blog.  You can also can find a list of many other counselor blogs on the SCOPE counselor wiki

School Counselor Bloggers at ASCA conference this year.

-Join a professional organization:  Great ones to join are ASCA (of course) and it's also great to join your state's counselor association.  Attending school counselor conferences, workshops professional development is also a good way to network with other counselors and get ideas. 

-Don't reinvent the wheel:  There is a wealth of counselor resources available to us.  Thanks to the wonderful world of social media (#scchat) there is a wealth of school counselor resources.  Some you may have to adjust to your liking but at least you'll have a start.

-Take your time to get comfy with your role:  don't volunteer to head up every committee or project.  Take my advice this is NOT a good choice.  Yes, you certainly will head up several committees and projects just because you're the counselor, but you'll see that in some places it's the same people that head up everything or people assume because you've done so much in the past that "one more little thing" won't hurt (wrong).  A great friend once told me "don't show them all the cards in your hand at once" meaning that you can showcase some of your talents during your 1st year but not ALL of your talents.  Reveal your talents slowly, then you can build up & learn your counseling program. 

Each and every school counselor has had a first year and you are about to embark upon a fun, exciting and sometimes frustrating experience.  You are not alone in this endeavor!  If you have questions, please feel free to contact me.  I'd love to hear about your progress in your 1st year. Pin It

14 comments:

  1. Excellent advice, Andrea! I need to purchase some thank you cards, and the get well card idea is great. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. I wrote a lot of thank you and get well cards last year, they are a great investment, lol!

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  2. I so agree with the useful tip of using "cards!" A little written note goes a long way! I too use Vistaprint to get a bunch of different kinds. I've made folding cards with a picture of the front of my school, colorful bus postcards, owl postcards, letter head, etc. No matter the situation, I have just the right stationary. I tend to send the post cards in the mail to students (for various pick-me-ups, etc.), the school note-cards to parents and other community members, and I purchase (at Target or wherever) more specific sympathy cards, thank you cards, and get well cards for the staff.

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  3. I love it! I especially like the last one, I think that it can be easy to say yes to everything and that is no good, and can easily become overwhelming. I need to invest in some cards too... And just be better at the follow through.

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    1. Great advice, as always, Andrea - especially about not taking on too much at once. Oh if only there had been experienced school counselors blogging when I started out! I do birthday notes, which I write (just a couple of sentences)in one or two sittings, a month at a time. (All the summer birthdays get their notes on the last day of school. The kids whose families do not celebrate birthdays get a "great job" note at some other time during the year.) Everybody looks so forward to getting their birthday note - a little thing can mean so much! I used to write notes to all the staff for the first and last days of school, but that has fallen by the wayside the last couple of years. I'll try to do that again - thanks for the friendly prod!

      Rebecca

      Rebecca

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    2. Rebecca, I love the b-day card idea! When I was a teacher, I wrote postcards to every parent of my students (took forever...high school). But a little personalized note goes a long way!

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  4. I am constantly looking for ideas as a first year counselor. I am so thankful for all of the resources and the fact that so many counselors lookout for each other and help each other. Thank you for this post.

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  5. Thanks for the tips! They're very helpful. This will be my first year as a counselor. I have 8 years of classroom experience, but I'm so excited about this new role! I was wondering if you have a letter that you use to introduce yourself to the staff at your school each year? I've searched around online, but I just can't find anything. I want to make sure I include pertinent info without overwhelming teachers when they already have so much else going on at the beginning of the year. Thanks!! :)

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    1. Hi, sending a quick email introducing yourself is a great way to introduce yourself to the staff. Say "for those of you that I haven't met, I'm....the new school counselor here. I'm looking forward to working with you and the students at ...school. Please feel free to contact me..."Keep it short and simple. Contact me at jyjcounselor@gmail.com if you have more questions.

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    2. I like to ask my principal for a few minutes at the first faculty meeting. That way, I can go over a sheet I came up with called "what do school counselors do" and explain how I can be a resource to teachers. It helps to do this every year, not just when you are new, because we always have new teachers. If you want my sheet, email me at GrahamA@ogdensd.org

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  6. Excellent advice! I'm starting my 30th year but it seems like just yesterday I was starting my counseling career. Where does the time go?

    In the springtime, consider surveying your parents in the computer lab during Open House. That's a great way to collect data about your counseling program. And I'm with Tabitha; I'm SO glad you added that self-care tidbit to help avoid burnout. It's taken me waaaaay too long to learn what my capacity is.

    Barbara

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  7. This is my first year and I loved ready your tips! Not only am I a first year counselor, but I am also transitioning from HS to Elementary.

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  8. All I can say is thank you Andrea.

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  9. Thank you for this post! This has helped a lot!! I never thought about changing Classroom "G" to Classroom Visits but that sounds like a great move to a positive direction. Also, keeping cards is definitely a good suggestion. We have a small staff population so I hope to get some birthday cards in stock too!! THANK YOU!

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