Why Elementary School Counselors
"Today's young people are living in an exciting time, with an
increasingly diverse society, new technologies and expanding opportunities.
To help ensure that they are prepared to become the next generation of
parents, workers, leaders and citizens, every student needs support, guidance
and opportunities during childhood, a time of rapid growth and change.
Children face unique and diverse challenges, both personally and
developmentally, that have an impact on academic achievement."
("Toward a Blueprint for Youth: Making Positive Youth
Development a National Priority" - U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services)
Elementary School Students' Developmental Needs
The elementary years are a time when students begin to develop their academic
self-concept and their feelings of competence and confidence as learners.
They are beginning to develop decision-making, communication and life skills,
as well as and character values. It is also a time when students develop and
acquire attitudes toward school self, peers, social groups and family.
Comprehensive developmental school counseling programs provide education,
prevention and intervention services, which are integrated into all aspects
of children's lives. Early identification and intervention of children's
academic and personal/social needs is essential in removing barriers to
learning and in promoting academic achievement. The knowledge, attitudes and
skills that students acquire in the areas of academic, career and
personal/social development during these elementary years serve as the
foundation for future success.
Meeting the Challenge
Elementary school counselors are
professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and
respond to the challenges presented by today's diverse student population.
Elementary school counselors don't work in isolation; rather they are
integral to the total educational program. They provide proactive leadership
that engages all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to
help students achieve school success. Professional school counselors align
with the school's mission to support the academic achievement of all students
as they prepare for the ever-changing world of the 21st century. This mission
is accomplished through the design, development, implementation and
evaluation of a comprehensive, developmental and systematic school counseling
program. ASCA's National Standards in the academic, career, and
personal/social domains are the foundation for this work. The ASCA National
Model: A Framework For School Counseling Programs (ASCA, 2002), with its
data-driven and results-based focus, serves as a guide for today's school counselor
who is uniquely trained to implement this program.
Elementary School Counselors Implement the Counseling Program by Providing:
School Guidance Curriculum
- Academic support, including organizational, study and test-taking skills
- Goal setting and decision-making
- Career awareness, exploration and planning
- Education on understanding self and others
Peer relationships, coping strategies and effective social skills
- Communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution
- Substance abuse education
- Multicultural/diversity awareness
Individual Student Planning
- Academic planning
- Goal setting/decision-making
- Education on understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
- Transition plans
Responsive Services
- Individual and small-group counseling
- Individual/family/school crisis intervention
- Conflict resolution
- Consultation/collaboration
- Referrals
System Support
- Professional development
- Consultation, collaboration and teaming
- Program management and operation
Elementary School Counselors Collaborate with:
Parents
Parent education
Communication/networking
Academic planning
College/career awareness programs
One-on-one parent conferencing
Interpretation of assessment results
Teachers
Classroom guidance activities
Academic support, including learning style assessment and education to help
students succeed academically
Classroom speakers
At-risk student identification and implementation of interventions to enhance
success
Administrators
School climate
Behavioral management plans
School-wide needs assessments
Student data and results
Student assistance team building
Students
Peer education
Peer support
Academic support
School climate
Leadership development
Community
Job shadowing, service learning
Crisis interventions
Referrals
Parenting classes
Support groups
Career education
**These examples are not intended to be all-inclusive
Why Elementary School Counselors?
Elementary school years set the tone for developing the
knowledge, attitudes and skill necessary for children to become healthy,
competent and confident learners. Through a comprehensive developmental
school counseling program, counselors work as a team with the school staff,
parents and the community to create a caring climate and atmosphere. By
providing education, prevention, early identification and intervention,
school counselors can help all children can achieve academic success. The
professional elementary school counselor holds a master's degree and required
state certification in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes
on-going professional development to stay current with education reform and
challenges facing today's students. Professional association membership
enhances the school counselor's knowledge and effectiveness.
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