It's Elementary, Dear Counselor!
Helping young students be college and career ready.
Issue I, Volume 5
In this edition you'll find...
Great information on school counseling advocacy via social media, no-cost PD just for school counselors and lots of links to help you prepare students as you head into the spring testing season.
It's National School Counseling Week!
It's National School Counseling Week! While we hope your school celebrates you as a school counselor this is a week for advocacy and educating your stakeholders on your school counseling program. The American School Counselor Association has a few quick and easy social media activities to promote and advocate for the profession.
For Counselors Only Conference
Register Now! For Counselors Only This conference is for school counselors PK-12 and Career Tech. While the title states For Counselors Only this is offered at no cost to Oklahoma Educators. This might be a great way for your administrator to partner with you in learning more about effective school counseling programs and best practices.
STEM for Preschool Students
I recently ran into this unique resource Architecture and Engineering for Preschool on Playground Parkbench website. This would be a great way to introduce career pathways to our youngest students.
Getting your students and school ready for testing season.
I know most of our Oklahoma school counselors have a lot to do to get ready for OSTP. However, we know that there is so much more a school counselor can do to help a school and students be prepared for the big day, besides counting test booklets and begging/bribing friends and family members to be test monitors.
Check out this book review from Books That Heal Kids. My teachers always appreciated my lessons addressing the importance of self talk messages. This is a great time to review with students the power of self talk, before testing preparation and execution begins.
I'm also a big fan of this Math Anxiety resource from Math Insider. The article discusses 8 practical ways parents can help their students with math anxiety. The infograph is my favorite.
Elementary School Counseling Blog shared this video from Sid the Science Kid, which will help demonstrate mindful breathing practices to students. I couldn't help but breathe more deeply when I watched it. So, if nothing else save it for you... when you've had just enough of building test coordination responsibilities.
Check out this book review from Books That Heal Kids. My teachers always appreciated my lessons addressing the importance of self talk messages. This is a great time to review with students the power of self talk, before testing preparation and execution begins.
I'm also a big fan of this Math Anxiety resource from Math Insider. The article discusses 8 practical ways parents can help their students with math anxiety. The infograph is my favorite.
Elementary School Counseling Blog shared this video from Sid the Science Kid, which will help demonstrate mindful breathing practices to students. I couldn't help but breathe more deeply when I watched it. So, if nothing else save it for you... when you've had just enough of building test coordination responsibilities.
Build your Professional Learning Network!
How do you grow and improve your school counseling program? Twitter is a hot place for advocacy and professional learning networking (PLN). I'm sure you have heard of the #oklaed chat every Sunday night. What a great tool for school counselors! It's widely accepted as a school counselor you are on an deserted island, in most of our schools and district settings. Twitter is a way for school counselors to network and create a virtual school counseling team. There are several national school counselor twitter chats. This month Oklahoma held it's first school counselor chat! Big thanks go out to Nick Hughes, founder of #okscchat and 2015 Oklahoma School Counselor of the Year. Nick moderated a chat focused on principal/school counselor collaboration. February's #okscchat will be held on February 4th and 18th at 7:00. Get a twitter account and join in!
Erica Harris, Advisement Specialist, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education
Hi, I'm Erica Harris, I work for the Oklahoma Department of Career & Technology Education. I have served as a counselor for PK-Post Secondary. Being with the Career & Academic Connections division at ODCTE, I'm an adviser to school counseling and career development initiatives. This newsletter is designed to share great ideas and tools specific for College & Career Readiness in Elementary School Counseling. My hope is to spark creativity and growth in your comprehensive school counseling program. Please let me know if you have any special requests or needs. ~ Erica
Email: erica.harris@careertech.ok.gov
Website: http://www.okcareertech.org/educators/career-and-academic-connections
Phone: 405-743-5164
Twitter: @counslradvcate