Author: Rachel Davis
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Social Emotional Learning Activities for Elementary School
Social emotional learning is an essential component of today’s education landscape. Before we can expect children to succeed academically, we must first equip them with the social-emotional skills needed to manage their emotions and interact with their peers. As school counselors we are responsible for SEL instruction through our class lessons, small groups, and individual…
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Top 5 SEL Books to Kickstart the New School Year
By: Neeti Sarkar One of the things I love most about working with kids is that I get to use a treasure trove of SEL resources with them, in multiple ways. And books that focus on different aspects of personal, social, and emotional growth and development are aplenty. Here are my top 5 SEL books…
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The Calm Corner – Everything You Need to Know About Setting It Up and Helping Students Use It Effectively
By: Neeti Sarkar Whether you refer to it as a calm corner, a peace corner, a zen den, or a take-a-break spot, among other quirky iterations of the same concept, it is a game-changer, in my experience as a school counselor. If you are looking to set up one or have one but need a…
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5 Sure-Shot Ways to Get Faculty Invested In Your School Counseling Program
By: Neeti Sarkar A new school year is here and that means here we are, back again, doing what we do best, but also advocating for our role and the services we provide. Getting buy-in from admin and staff is, in my experience, more challenging than my actual job of working with students. And there…
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3 Meet the Counselor Lessons You Must Try!
It’s essential that you teach a “meet the counselor” lesson at the beginning of the school year. You want people to know who you are and what you do! It’s simply a fun way to introduce yourself. Oftentimes, counselors will ask me if it’s necessary to do one if you are a returning counselor and…
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Dealing with School Refusal: A School Counselor’s Role
By: Neeti Sarkar I’m sure you’ve heard this joke before but for the benefit of those who haven’t, this has got to be the realest, most relatable teacher joke there is. Here goes: Early one morning a mother went to her sleeping son and woke him up. “Wake up, son. It’s time to go to…
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6 BTS Must-Dos For A Smooth Sailing Year
By: Neeti Sarkar It’s here. A new school year. While I wish summer lasted longer, I am also excited to see what this year will be like. That said, it can be overwhelming to resume work after this period of rest. So if you need a to-do list of sorts for your first month back…
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4 Hands-On Ways To Spruce Up Your Meet The Counselor Lesson
By: Neeti Sarkar A brand new school year is here already and this means you’re probably gearing up for your annual school-wide Meet the Counselor lesson/s. Over the years, with my younger students, I’ve used a picture book for a read-aloud session during which I’ve introduced myself and what I do at school. The older…
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Setting Up Your Year for Success: Communicating Your Unique Role
By: Rebekah Murphy In my experience, one of the most misunderstood roles in a school is that of a School Counselor. Teachers, administrators, students, and parents may not fully understand your role in supporting students’ mental, social, and emotional health. Many have misconceptions. Teachers may see you as someone to send their troubled students to…
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3 Essential Teacher Training Sessions You Should Lead
By: Neeti Sarkar “Guidance counselor.” Do you also cringe whenever you’re called that, especially by a colleague? If I had a nickel for the number of times I’ve corrected staff members who’ve referred to me as the guidance counselor, I’d probably have enough money to furnish my hygge dream office! But seriously, what are some…