Diary of the First Year

Ready, Set, Go Kristin Wright - M.S., NBCT

Lincoln Elementary School Counselor

Ready!Know Your School

Needs Assessment

Casual conversations with teachers, secretaries, aides, paraprofessionals, custodians, administration

Email communication through the summer

Advisory Council – formal and informal

Existing school-wide programs

Observation during the year

Classroom Lesson Preparation

Standards Folders Themes Create a calendar Classroom Lesson Prep

(103) Kindergarten = 36

lessons for 25 minutes each

1st = 36 lessons for 25 minutes each

2nd = 18 lessons for 35 minutes each

3rd = 13 lessons for 50 minutes each

Parent notes and take-home items

Website Organize Resources

Folders for each lesson Online – Pinterest

board, livebinder, dropbox, evernote, google.docs

School-wide Initiatives

Culture of the School Bulletin Boards Post cards CUBS Foundation Team It starts with you!!

Watch DOGS – Dads of Great Students More

parents/dads/men in the school

School safety Public relations

Set!Know the People

The First Weeks of School

Get to know the student names Introductory lessons

with students Be at enrollment Meet parents

Earn the trust of teachers Classroom guidance a

priority Meaningful lessons Help with common

language Listen to teachers Communicate

Kick-off Events Dads and Kids Pizza

Night Project LEAD Harvesters

Be visible Bulletin boards & signs Notes home Website Classroom lessons with

a display/product

Address Immediate Needs

Small Group Preparation Military Kids Social skills groups Friendship groups Girls groups Leadership groups

Classroom behavior interventions Parent communication Behavior plans Teacher support

Few

Some

All

Program Organization

Grab-and-Go Classroom Guidance Bags for classroom

guidance Lesson folders Student notes

prepared

Counseling Notebook Personal calendar Student session notes Lesson plans

General Info Notebook Schedules Class lists Back Snack list PLC/SIT Information

Calendar Posted in office

Go!Know Yourself!

Where do you fit in? Assessment

Student surveys about counseling program

Student/Parent/Staff survey about school climate

Watch DOGS Survey Observation

Reacting to Needs Parent follow-up PBIS in the lunch room Recognizing Positive

Behavior School safety/personal

safety Mentoring

Promote Your Program National School

Counselor Week Presentations in the

Community Website Emails Discussions with

Principal Leadership

opportunities Be dependable

Moving Forward

Reflection In 3rd grade more often, Boo-hoo breakfast, Parent

coffees, alignment with classroom lessons, leadership groups, more for new & military students, etc.

Professional Development Join organizations: ASCA, KSCA, KCA, KNEA, KEEN Volunteer work: Church groups, CASA, Clay Counts Professional Learning: ASCA National Conference,

KCA Spring Conference, Connecting 4 Kids, Webinars, KEEN Conference

Self-Care

Thank You!Kristin Wright

Lincoln Elementary School Counselor kristinwright@usd379.org

www.usd379.org

School Counselors Rock! Get some lesson plans and videos on my Dropbox at:http://bit.ly/10s2jLc