Identify your Character Education Books

What better way to reinforce character education traits than with a good book?  As I've said numerous times, I love reading and love seeing students reading.  So I thought why not increase character education awareness even more through reading? My school's library is directly across the hall from my office and I frequent it quite often.  I'd noticed that book topics (examples: biographies, research, etc) had an identifying sticker on the spine of the book. So I thought of creating a sticker label that identifies that the book relates to character education.  I then shared this vision with the librarian (who I can't rave enough about, she's fantastic) and she said that it would be a great idea to have.

I bought some orange color coding labels at Staples ($6.79) and used the online template (it's a Word document) to type the words "Character Ed Book" on each label.

Labels

Typed labels using the template.

The librarian gave me a list of books in the library that would fall into the character education category (there were lots of qualifying books).  I put labels on some of the books, but we have parent volunteers who work in the library who put the rest on the books.

Books with Character Ed labels

I think that this will be an awesome and easier way for students to read more about showing great character.

Do you have a way to identify books for character education at your school? Pin It

Where's the counselor sign

From reading various counselor blogs I've seen a few school counselors make neat door signs like this:

From School Counselor Blog

I loved the idea of this project but this was way beyond my craft expertise.  So I created my own version of "where's the school counselor" signs to put on my door.  Here's how:

-I typed several signs using Word, printed on colored cardstock and laminated the signs.
-I use dry erase markers to write my message (easy to wipe off/re-use).
-When I leave my office,  I post my sign on my message board with magnets (if you don't have a message board, you can use Velcro strips or you could use tape to put on your signs on your door.
-Total cost for the project: $0 (my favorite price).  I already had everything!
-Total time to create the project: 15-20 minutes

Here are the finished products:

When I do classroom visits sign (download link at the end of the post).

When I will return sign

When I need to a leave a note...

Click here to download a copy of the classroom visit door sign. 
Do you have a certain way to let others know where you are when you're away from your office? Pin It

Printables to add to your counselor planner

Based on the number of emails and views on a previous post on creating your own counselor planner, I have more printables to share that you may want to add to your notebook.

-To do list:  I LIVE by a to do list and this is a great item to jot down reminders and things that need to be taken care of.  I found this free printable on Pinterest...

Printable to do list  Click here to print.

-It's not a counselor planner unless it has a calendar.  The Creative Mama blog has posted printable 2013 monthly calendars.  I LOVE these!  Click here to download/print your 2013 calendars.  I really like how they have cool colors and add a little spice to my planner.  I did print my new calendars on yellow paper (by mistake, forgot I left yellow paper in the printer) but really like the contrast between the colors.  So if you want just a little more flare, print on colored paper.  

-I like to keep track of students, classes, calls, etc that I make each week.  I created this simple template to keep track of these things.  Click here to download/print.

I also added schedules and my districts school calendar to my planner.  I will say that I couldn't be more pleased to make my counselor planner truly mine.

Do you have other suggestions on things to add to your counselor planner, please share!

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(Updated) Counselor Office Re-do plans

So in my previous post before we began summer break, I had lots of plans to update my counselor space. I have a small counselor space, but it's mine and my students counselor space so I made the best of it!  I cleaned some before I left for the summer and found that I needed to clean even more when I came back!  After saying goodbye to a few things, I said hello to some new things.  So the best way to do my office redo reveal is through pictures!

My office before:

Office before

During the cleaning process

Printer (before)

Cleaning up and going through things became quite a task

This became a great tool to have!

After Pics:

At the suggestion of a reader, I added at rug ($25 from Walmart)

This surprise (a new cabinet) was waiting for me!

New All-in-One printer!

Cabinet space, bins from Target $7.99

Flowers on the table are flower pens

Added wall storage (Staples $20 for 3)

Cleaned file cabinet area

Air freshener (wall plug-ins aren't allowed) $9 from Pier 1 Imports.  This will last the entire school year, great investment.

Found these cool laptop post-it note holders ($4 for pack of 3) Staples.

Pinterest idea for wall art

I am very pleased with my office re-do and have received compliments from staff and can't wait to hear the reactions from the students.  Did you spruce up your office for the new school year?




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My 1st attempt at a bulletin board

I'll admit that I wouldn't consider myself much of a fan of doing bulletin boards.  My high school level teaching experience just didn't really require me to do so.  By moving to the elementary level it was just a matter of time before bulletin boards would catch up to me.  So here's my 1st attempt at a bulletin board.  I don't actually have a physical bulletin board to decorate, but there's a nice (empty) wall space next to my office that I just made into a bulletin board type wall space.  My school offered to get a bulletin board installed for me but I passed up the offer.  I wasn't quite sure how this bulletin board would turn out and once you get a bulletin board installed, I'd have to keep/maintain it.  If this doesn't work out, it can easily be "converted" back to an empty wall again.

Thanks to the tips and ideas from fellow counselors on various blogs and Pinterest I had the courage to create a bulletin board.  My inspiration was from a bulletin board I saw on Pinterest.  Here's my finished product:

Counselor bulletin board

So here's what I did to re-create the "Whoo can help you with" bulletin board:

-I typed the list of reasons to see the counselor in Word and printed them on Avery clear address labels.  To download the label template click here.

-I used my school dye cutter to cut out pictures of leaves using construction paper and to spell out "whoo can help you with..." letters.  I like to laminate the construction paper before using the dye cutter (just easier for the shapes/letters to already be cut and laminated that way, but do what works for you).

Dye cutter blocks (I used a maple leaf)

Dye cutter

Leaves, cut and labeled.  There are some blank ones too

I had some of my crafty students draw a tree from brown butcher paper from my school.  Another crafty student drew the cute little owl in the tree.  I liked the idea of students having a little input in the bulletin board because it shows a them a little ownership in the project (plus students are ALWAYS willing to help).

Student created tree & owl

I had a teacher friend write "Your JYJ Counselors" on a yellow sentence strip (I don't have teacher handwriting by a long shot) and I added pictures of myself and the counselor intern under the tree.

Picture of myself & counselor intern Dhruti

The trick to getting things to stick on (without falling off) concrete cinder blocks is...a hot glue gun!  It's also easy to peel off and doesn't damage the walls.  Thanks to some teacher friends that let me in on this little secret.

See how easy the glue peels off

I'm pleased with my bulletin board attempt and think that it's a great way for students, staff and parents to know what we do and that we are here to help!  I don't feel as intimidated about the whole bulletin board process, so I plan to try more in the future.  What cool or neat bulletin board ideas have you done or plan to do?


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Tips on supervising an intern

Last year was my first time hosting a counselor intern and it was a great experience for both myself and the intern.  We were a great team!  I'll be supervising a new intern this school year from NC State University and now have a better idea of ways to supervise an intern.  Here are a few tips that worked well with me:

-Invite your intern to the school to see the building, meet the staff and if permitting meet the students before the internship starts.

-If possible get the contact information (email, phone number) of your intern.  My intern this year and I planned over the summer on things that we wanted to do. 

-Ask your intern what are their counseling strengths/weaknesses and areas that they would like to focus on.

-Allow your intern to take on or share leadership positions (when they're comfortable with that)

-Be open and honest and give feedback on their progress (give clear suggestions on how to improve).

-Don't treat them as "the intern".  When I student taught and interned, my supervisors treated me just like one of them.   Meet in a non school (lunch or coffee) setting to get to know each other so you'll have a better idea of what kind of person you'll be working with for the school year. 

-Learn from your intern!  Interns have fresh ideas from school and can add creatively to the school counseling program.  While they're learning from us, we are learning from them!

Now you get the opportunity to share your school counselor experience with an intern.  I think back on my internship experiences as both a student teacher and a counselor intern and will say that I learned so much more than any text book could have ever prepared me for from being in a school interacting with students and other staff. 

Will you be supervising an intern this year? Pin It

My counselor must have's

You may be new to counseling or be a veteran counselor but there are just some things that we insist on having and without them we may feel completely lost in our counselor world.  Here are a few counselor things that I just can't see to function without:

-A counselor bag: I use my bags for everything: when I do my monthly classroom visits, go to meetings, have a bunch of stuff to carry.  I try to pack my bag the day before I go to the class so that way everything's already in place, all I have to do is pick up my bag and go!  I got these Thirty-one bags from a co-worker a few years ago who was selling them and even got a free one after a order mix up (the counselor intern uses the 2nd bag).  I love the pockets and compartments, they have been lifesavers for me.  Blogger buddy Danielle from The School Counselor Blog sells Thirty-One bags.  To order a bag from Danielle click here. 

Counselor bags from Thirty-One

-A door sign:  We're always on the go and sometimes students, parents or staff are looking for us. I'll have a post on making an easy door sign coming soon.

-Games:  Students love playing games and not to mention it's another way to re-live childhood memories for me (I loved board games as a child).  Games that are very popular with my students are Uno, Jenga, Checkers, Mancala & Perfection.

Game bin (bin from Ikea)

-Arts/Crafts Materials:  What counselor can't function without a good supply of paper, glue, markers, crayons and other craft goodies?  I try to keep all of my counselor craft supplies in a bin so that it's easier for students to find.

Crayons, colored pencils & markers separated into plastic bags

Arts & crafts supplies in a bin (purchased from Target)

Arts & crafts bin

-3M Hooks:  Who knew that these hooks would be a counselor staple?  I use them all the time to store and organize things in my office.  If you already have hooks, 3M now sells just the replacement mounting tape so you can reuse your hooks over and over again.

-Books:  are great for so many things: class visits, small groups, for students and parents to check out.  I have a multitude of books of counselor books and am constantly adding to my collection.  I would suggest that if keep a list of the books that you have so that you're aware of what you already have.  I also recommend that you make a counselor book wish list to keep of books that you would like to have in the future.

Keeping an inventory of my counselor books

-Kimochis:  My favorite cute feelings friends.  My students LOVE these and they are great conversation starters on how students are feeling.  Many students have "multiple feelings" with these fun toys.  I have several sets and also have a mini set for parents to check out and use at home (they are machine washable just in case you're wondering).

Kimochis

Mini Kimochis

-iPad & iPad VGA Adapter:  This falls on my counselor tech list, but this combo is great to have.  You can do so much with an iPad in your school counselor program!  The VGA adapter is the perfect addition to take your iPad to another level by connecting to a LCD projector, SMART or Promethan boards.

iPad & VGA adapter

Depending on your school you may be able to make a counselor wish list for parents to donate items to you. At my school teachers get tons of supply donations from parents and they give me extras (tissues, wipes, ziplock bags, school supplies, hand sanitizer) so that's another way to get supplies.


What are your counselor must haves? Pin It