CSI/504 Organization

The first week was great! All of my intro lessons worked beautifully. The older kids had such a wonderful time with the Quiz. I had many of them debating with me about whether or not ice cream sundaes were appropriate for my favorite food answer. I was also impressed with the 3rd and 4th graders ability to relate a counselor to a beach bum/hairstylist. They were doing a great job making the connections.

 I have been so busy with CSI/504 requests, that I decided it was important to get organized. I created a spreadsheet to keep track of who we were collecting/monitoring, who we had scheduled for a CSI (this is our problem solving team where we decide what we should do, keep monitoring/test/504/whatever else), and those scheduled for 504s (to keep track of when they are). I have a separate sheet for all 504s, but this was nice to see everything in one place. If you would like a copy, leave a message with your email address and I will send it over. It is interesting to me how there wasn't a system before, so this will definitely keep things much more organized. My principal and I can send it back and forth and add as we get names from teachers.

 

What do you do to keep track/organize these students?

 

First Week & Schedule

Whew! I am exhausted.  I started my weekend before the first week of school with a major kidney infection.  Yay!  Seriously though, I kept a positive attitude because so much was going on.

I shadowed the principal the first day.  We spent the morning greeting students and parents and directing traffic (my morning duty from 7:50-8:00).  Then, we went in and out of classrooms saying hi to students.  Lunch period (11-12:40), I walked around the lunchroom talking to students and introducing myself.  I met with some of our students with special needs and organized 504 folders.

Today was another busy day.  The principal and I met with every grade level during their specials to talk about the new programs we are putting in place.  I also found out the large number of 504s and 6th grade ARDs I have.  So many going on in the first 6 weeks.

The rest of this week is going to be extremely crazy busy, but I am ready.  I attached a copy of my schedule, so you can have an idea of what I have posted on my board as well as on my website each week.  This is the same format my school counselor mentor used last year and I loved it! It was so nice for the students to be able to see if they had a group, individual session, or guidance lesson with their class. ( I blacked out teachers names and students initials for the internet)

CounselorSchedule

Do you have a schedule you use?

My Counseling Room- 2013-14

I posted a sneak peek here earlier this summer.  Well, this morning I made a video tour of the room and completely forgot to ask Colton (my husband) to take photos.  These are camera photos and they will have to do.  I am so happy with how everything turned out.  I reposted the before pics so you won't have to go back and forth.  

View looking right from the front door:

Before

After (large group area)

Directly to the left of the door (remember, it was a science lab):

Before

After (still need to add more to the doors & make the counter pretty)

Just past the sinks...

Before (All of the science stuff blocking everything)

After: Play therapy area & sand tray

Directly against the back wall 

Before (I wish I would have got a picture of the whole wall, but the bookcase was surrounded by 3 metal cabinets..

After (no more metal cabinets!!)

Front Wall

Before

After: Character words along top border

 More photos:

Another view from front door

Close-up of bean bag area (grey canvas bag is full of stuffed animals)

Large group area & supplies

LOVE my supply area!

Sorry for the bad quality photos.  It doesn't do the room justice.  I am so excited about the progress I've made in it.  I have several more bulletin boards to finish, but this is what it will look like Monday morning!  Throughout the years, it will just get better and better.  

School Counseling Introductions: 5th & 6th grade

My last post on introductions is for 5th and 6th grade.  I will change 6th grade's lesson next year, but this year they will be the same.  I am so excited to have my whole first week of lessons planned out.  I love the idea of doing something different for every grade level and love the flexibility of adding and taking things away each year to make it better.

After searching ASCA Scene, I saw someone said they created a quiz for the students to answer questions about the counselor.  I thought it was a great idea and made a little powerpoint to go along with the questions (& assigned point values to different answer choices).  I think it will be fun to hear their answers and then discuss what a school counselor does.  The lesson plan and quiz are attached.


I hope these lessons have helped you get ideas for your introduction guidance lessons.  :)

Other introduction lessons I'm using:
Kindergarten
1st & 2nd
3rd
4th

School Counselor Introductions: 4th

Very similar to the 3rd grade lesson, the 4th grade is School Counselors are like Hairstylists.

Here is the file...



and the Powerpoint...


Other introduction lessons I'm using:
Kindergarten
1st & 2nd
3rd
5th & 6th

School Counselor Classroom Introductions 3rd

Part 3 of my classroom introductions!!  I am so excited to be knocking these out.  Part of my plan this year is to see how these work and the students' reactions to them so I can modify them for the next year.     The 3rd and 4th grade lessons are very similar.  I got the ideas from a message board on ASCA scene and made my own powerpoint.  These would be great for a Promethean or Smart board, but I don't have either, so I will just use a PowerPoint.  I attached the lesson plan AND power point for each one.

Third Grade....Counselors are like Beach Bums (which is fitting, because I am a beach/pool bum in the summer)

and the third grade powerpoint...


Other Introduction lessons I'm using:
Kindergarten
1st & 2nd
4th
5th & 6th

School Counselor Classroom Introductions: 1st and 2nd

In my previous post, I discussed the importance of creating lessons to introduce myself as the school counselor at my school.  Since it is my first year and first time doing this, my first and second grade lessons will be very similar (the only difference is that I will read 2 different storybird books).  However, next year, I will change the second grade lesson up a bit so that the first graders will not know what to expect.

Marissa has several into lessons listed on her page.  I was intrigued by Storybird, so I did some research and I love it!  I cannot wait to start creating my own books. This year, I am using the books she suggested.  They are listed below.

For my first grade lesson, I will use What is an Elementary School Counselor by Thiggins.


For my second grade lesson, I will use The School Counselor by Michelle Rollins on Storybird.


What 1st and 2nd grade introduction lessons are you using with your students this year?

Other Introduction lessons I am using:
Kindergarten
3rd
4th
5th & 6th

School Counselor Classroom Introductions: Kindergarten

I believe it is important early on to establish a presence in your school, as well as explain to teachers and students the purpose of a school counselor and when/how to meet with her.

I have scoured websites, Pinterest, and blogs and have included my classroom introduction ideas.  I want each grade level to be different and have their own powerpoint and activity.  My school has 2 teachers per grade level (K-6).  I will spend the first couple of days walking around the hallway, cafeteria, and classrooms introducing myself.  I am planning on meeting with each class during the first week to present the following lessons.  Like I mentioned in my previous post, I plan on making a video like Marissa that I will include with every presentation.

The next 7 posts will be my lessons for each grade level.  Today I will start with Kindergarten. (I found this adorable lesson on ASCA scene, which is a part of the ASCA website for members.  It is a great resource for collaborating with other school counseling professionals.)

Mr. Potato Head Lesson (attached)

I am so excited to try this lesson out.  I would love to hear from you.  What will you do for your kindergarten introductions?  Do you do the Mr. Potato Head lesson?  What modifications have you made?

Other Introduction Lessons I am using:
1st & 2nd
3rd
4th
5th & 6th