School Counselors

What do Middle School Counselors do?

Middle School Counselors Implement the School Counseling Program by Providing:

School Guidance Curriculum

• Academic skills support
• Organizational, study and test-taking skills
• Education in understanding self and others
• Coping strategies
• Peer relationships and effective social skills
• Communication, problem-solving, decision-making and conflict resolution
• Career awareness, exploration and planning
• Substance abuse education
• Multicultural/diversity awareness

Individual Student Planning

• Goal-setting/decision- making
• Academic planning
• Career planning
• Education in understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
• Transition planning

Responsive Services

• Individual and small group counseling
• Individual/family/school crisis intervention
• Peer facilitation
• Consultation/collaboration
• Referrals

System Support

• Professional development
• Consultation, collaboration and teaming
• Program management and operation

*Information from www.schoolcounselor.org*

Services:

Your School counselor provides programs in three domains: academic, career, and personal/social.

A variety of services and programs help students resolve emotional, social or behavioral problems and help them develop a clearer focus or sense of direction.  Effective counseling programs are important to the school climate and are a crucial element in improving student achievement.

Counselor Standards: http://schoolcounselor.org/

Who and how do we assist?

Student Support	Parent Support	Teacher Support	Programs or Activities offered  by Counseling Department
Classroom Guidance Career Guidance Small Group Social Skills Small Group (Specific) Skills 1 on 1 Counseling Behavioral Goal Setting	Referrals for Food, Clothing, etc. Needs & Counseling Interpreting Tests Results	Referrals for Resources  504 plan managers Teacher Consultants	Backpack Buddies REACH Georgia Scholars Program 8th to 9th Grade Transitional Activities 5th to 6th Grade Transitional Activities

Tips for Middle School Success

Here are a few tips to help your child be successful in middle school:

Be organized. Use your student planner. Get everything organized for the next day before you go to bed.

Manage your time well. Use any extra time in school to get started on homework. Have a regular time and place to study.

Study smart. Even if there is no homework, there are always notes that can be reviewed. Be sure to write no homework in your planner so your parents will know you have no assignments. Break large assignments down into smaller parts.

Have an open line of communication with teachers & the school. If you have questions about your child's academics or behavior, call or email the teacher. Download the Remind 101 app so you can be up to date on school events. 

Be smart about social media. Think before you post. If you wouldn't feel comfortable with your parents seeing it, don't post it! It doesn't disappear because you delete it. Anyone can take a screenshot. Chatting online with someone you don't know can be dangerous. Be careful online and never give out personal information.  

Helpful Links:

• Study Skills
• Drug Free

Bullying:

• National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center 
• Stop the Hate
• Educational Resource Information Center
• Take Action Against Bullying
• Stop Bullying Now
• Kidscape

• Social Media Safety
• Online Safety

Homework Resources:

• Homework Resources ED.gov
• Homework Help/a>
• Parents Help Homework
• Study Skills for Middle School
• Homework Why it Matters

• Learning Styles Resources
• Organization Resources

Plan for Success Resources

• Eating, Sleeping & Learning
• Learning & Achievement

Test Taking Strategy Resources:

• Helping Your Child with Test-Taking -- Helping Your Child Succeed in School
• Help you child Reduce Test Stress