ECED 13 SAMPLE GUIDANCE PROGRAM

ECED 13 SAMPLE GUIDANCE PROGRAM

RESPONSIVE SERVICES

Individual Support
Guidance Counselors provide support for students through individual interactions in which they work together on a problem or a topic of interest. Individual counseling meetings offer students a safe environment in which to freely explore ideas, feelings, and behaviors. Counselors build trusting relationships with students and always consider their actions in terms of the rights, integrity, and welfare of students and families.

Individual counseling generally addresses the specific concerns of targeted students with identified needs. Students can be referred to the Guidance Department by parents/guardian, teacher, administrator or staff member. Counselors use individual counseling sessions to evaluate student needs and create plans for support. When appropriate, the Guidance Counselors may recommend that students receive additional support from school staff and/or outside resources.

Small Group Counseling

In small groups counseling, the Guidance Counselor works with two or more students together. Group size generally ranges from five to eight members. Group counseling meetings may be based on structured learning activities or may be flexible depending on the needs of the group. Group members have the opportunity to learn from each other. They can share ideas, give and receive feedback, increase their awareness, gain new knowledge, practice skills and think about their goals and actions.

Group counseling may be problem-centered, where attention is given to particular concerns or problems. Counseling may also be growth-centered, where general topics are addressed related to personal and academic development. Areas addressed in group counseling may include social skills development, family issues, anger management, or academic and behavioral concerns.

Consultation

The primary focus of consultation is to help parents, teachers, and administration to be more effective in working with each other on the behalf of students. This team approach is a key factor in supporting and advocating for our students. During consultation, the Guidance Counselors work with teachers or parents to identify problems and concerns, develop strategies to address student needs, and create systems to provide academic, emotional and/or behavioral supports for students. Consultation may take place in individual or group conferences, through staff development activities, or parent education classes.

INDIVIDUAL PLANNING

Guidance Counselors serve as members of the Teachers Assistance Team (TAT), which meets to develop individualized intervention plans for students in need of academic, emotional or behavioral support. Guidance Counselor also work as members of the Special Education Team to provide consultation services regarding students who are being referred for evaluation or who have been identified as educationally disabled.

Students who have a handicapping condition or medical disability which substantially limits their access to education may be eligible for a Section 504 Plan under the Americans with Disability Act. The Guidance Counselor serves as the Section 504 Plan Coordinator and chairs the Section 504 Team, which is responsible to identify students in need of a 504 Plan and design appropriate environmental and academic adjustments.

The Guidance Counselor also works with members of the Placement Team to determine appropriate grade level and classroom placements for all students.

SYSTEM SUPPORT

School-Wide Programming
The Guidance Department conducts numerous school-wide programs designed to meet the needs of all student.

Service Education
School-wide service programs are designed to cultivate personal, civic, and intellectual growth for students through meaningful and effective service experiences. Under the leadership of the Guidance Department, students collaborate with community partners and participate in activities which provide for people in need throughout the Hudson School District.

Parenting Education
The Guidance Counselor provides structured parenting education through workshops and seminars. The goal of parenting education is to assist parents in refining skills and learning strategies which enable them to best promote their children’s healthy development.

Community Partnerships
The Guidance Counselor serves as the coordinator of community partnerships which bring community resources into the school for the benefit of students. These partnerships include:
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters which matches community members with students in need of adult mentors.
• New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation, which provides career and college exploration activities for fifth grade students.
Support for Academic Development
• The Guidance Counselor works with teachers and staff to develop programs which directly support academic development.

Coordination of Standardized Testing
The Guidance Counselor coordinates school-wide standardized testing, including the NECAP (New England Common Assessment Program) for third, fourth and fifth grade and the NAEP (National Assessment of Education Progress) for fourth grade. Test coordination includes ordering and inventorying test materials, determining necessary accommodations and staffing, maintaining test security, and assisting with test administration.

GUIDANCE CURRICULUM

Classroom Guidance Curriculum
Large group settings (classroom guidance) offer the best opportunity to provide guidance to the largest number of students at one time. The guidance curriculum consists of organized objectives and activities and is delivered by the Guidance Counselor in the classroom. The Guidance Counselor develops and presents special guidance units, which give attention to particular developmental issues or areas of concern at each grade level.

Character Education
The Guidance Counselors implement character education initiatives designed to address the development of each child’s character as well as their minds. Each month during the school year, a character education “Word of the Month” is targeted. The Word of the Month will be displayed on a bulletin board in the front hall and discussed in weekly announcements. The Guidance Counselors develop classroom activities which are provided to teachers to reinforce character education themes.
Career Exploration Activities
Students are introduced to career exploration through the use of Career Journals. Career Journals are provided by the Guidance Department and go home with students so that family members can write about their educational and career experiences. Students then share this information with classmates.
Fifth graders have the opportunity to participate in Career Day activities. This annual event brings all fifth graders in the Hudson School District together to learn about careers from community members who present information about a variety of career fields.

Conflict Mediation Program
At Nottingham West School, students are encouraged to solve conflicts through mediation. Most typical conflicts between students in elementary school are name-calling, friendship problems, rumors and teasing. The goals of mediation are
• To resolve peer disputes that interfere with the process of education
• To build a stronger sense of cooperation and school community
• To improve the school climate by decreasing violence and hostile behaviors
Any student may request assistance from the Guidance Counselors to mediate a conflict, or may be referred to mediation by faculty, administration or parents. Students must agree to participate and agree to privacy. The conflict mediation program promotes peaceful resolution of conflicts, teaches students mutual respect through clear and direct communication and develops life skills which can be applied to the family, neighborhood and community.

Guidance Enrichment Programs
Hudson Elementary Counselors coordinate and plan special guidance enrichment programs throughout the year, and frequently partner with the elementary school PTO to provide these programs. Enrichment programs are designed to provide group experiences for all students or for students at selected grade levels. Issues which may be addressed during enrichment programs include bullying and teasing, diversity and differences, drug and alcohol awareness or other important topics. Enrichment programs enable the Guidance Counselors to provide educational experiences to the entire student population in an engaging format.

Guidance Goals
Our comprehensive guidance program works to help students learn important life skills such as:
• An awareness of self and others
• Responsibility at school and home
• Recognizing and managing feelings appropriately
• Tools for healthy friendships
• Cooperation at work and play
• Welcoming uniqueness and diversity
• Dealing with conflict, peer pressure and bullying
• Early understanding of careers
• How to make healthy decisions

Guidance Services
Nottingham West Guidance Counselors provide many services as part of a comprehensive Guidance program.
Classroom Guidance
Small Group Counseling
Friendship/Social Skills
Impulse/Anger Management
Self-Esteem
Divorce/Changing Families
Academic Support
Individual Counseling
Conflict Resolution/Mediation
Crisis Intervention and Support
Parenting Skills Training
Consultation with Parents and Teachers.
Classroom Guidance Program
Our classroom guidance curriculum provides all students with important learning experiences which are presented through classroom lessons.
The program addresses student needs in areas such as personal and social development, understanding character and values, making good choices and working with others.
Classroom guidance lessons are designed to be appropriate to each grade level. Counselors use parent and teacher feedback to plan and update the classroom guidance curriculum.
The current topics being addressed during classroom guidance lessons include:
• Grade 1: Feelings, Friendships and First Grade Behaviors
• Grade 2: Families, Diversity and Responsibility
• Grade 3: Self-Control Strategies for Success at School
• Grade 4: Learning Styles and Study Skills
• Grade 5: Growing Up and Decision Making

WHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELORS?
“Elementary school years set the tone for developing the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary for our children to become healthy, productive adults. With a comprehensive developmental counseling program, counselors work as a team with school, parents and community to create a caring atmosphere whereby children’s needs are met through prevention, early identification and intervention.”

American School Counselors Association

In other words …
There is clear connection between comprehensive guidance programs and school success. With a comprehensive guidance program, all students have the opportunity to learn how important they are and to learn the skills that will help them make the most of their education.