New Find!

I posted previously about using Google Drive to keep track of my counseling notes. I love Google Drive and will continue to use it to survey teachers for groups and other programming.

As I was searching my favorite blogs for back to school ideas, I came across noteCounselor.  I have explored many different ways to keep my notes that is both convenient and easily accessible.  noteCounselor has it all!  All of my notes are in one place that can be accessed from anywhere!  I have a link on my computer as well as my iPad so I can access my notes wherever I am.  Amanda Lea Chambers developed this secure note taking device especially for school counselors.  

Another feature that I like about noteCounselor is that it keeps track of the amount of hours I spent on all the facets of my job.  It is actually very rewarding to look at how much I do (and we just finished the 2nd week of school)!  

Even though I have just begun to use this resource, I HIGHLY recommend noteCounselor to all of the incredible school counselors out there!  

Click on the picture to learn more!

Google Drive...Yes, please!

Where has Google Drive been all my life???!!!

In an effort to become more organized, I began a Counseling Notebook to house all of my important documentation and information.  You can read about this notebook in a previous post.  I love this notebook and am very happy with the way it has kept me organized.

I will still use my Notebook for certain things but I was able to convert a few of my forms to Google Drive, thanks to the brilliant work of Andrea J Burston at JYJ Counselor Blog and Traci at Elementary School Counselor's Blog.  You can click on their blog names to check out the forms they created.  They use Google Drive for Minutes Meetings (stay tuned as I explore this during this school year) and the students that have been seen for the year.  I recreated these same documents and I am so excited to use them this year.

I was thinking of other ways I document throughout my program to see how else I could incorporate this wonderful bit of technology.  I created a Parent Communication Log form on Google Drive.  I currently keep this in my notebook and it ends up taking up so much space.  Google Drive automatically keeps a spreadsheet for all of my parent communications eliminating the need for paper copies. I'm all about saving the trees.....and my time!

I added all of the links right to my iPad for easy access (they look just like apps).

I am still thinking about other ways I can use Google Drive in my program and will post others that I come up with.  How do you use Google Drive in your counseling program?

Small Group Counseling

Small group counseling is an area in my program that I feel needs some adjusting and fine tuning.  I don't feel that my efforts have been as successful as I would like.  I have been looking at other counseling blogs, Pinterest, and asking other counselors about how they run their small groups and if they are successful.  The good thing is that I am doing what other counselors are doing (validation is always a good thing).  The bad thing is that I don't feel that it is working...for me.

I am the only counselor in a K-5 elementary school with about 350 students. I see groups once a week for 6-8 weeks.  Once a week just does not seem sufficient for little guys.  The time in between is too long for them to really grasp what I am trying to teach them.  Plus, I am lucky if I get to them for each session, so it could be two weeks before I see them again. Ugh!  Talk about not feeling effective!

While sitting in training last week, the assistant principal and I were tossing around the idea of seeing groups consecutively for a shorter duration.  For example, every day for a week or two.  I LOVE THIS IDEA!!!!  I can give some intense time and hopefully see better and faster results.  Now, I am not sure exactly how this will look or if it will be logistically possible, but I am sure going to give it a try!

I am also going to push into classrooms to intervene early to reduce the number of students requiring small group support.  Whew, things will be changing, but I'm up for the challenge.  Bring it on!

Organization Revisited

Now that school is out and I am thoroughly enjoying my summer, it is time to reflect on the year.  This is the time that I look at my counseling program to tweak before the next school year.  I will be adding to the documents that I already have on the following link all summer so check back periodically.  Happy summer! 

TpT Store

A Little Treasure

I love the dollar section at Target!  I found these thought cloud sticky notes and just knew I could put them to good use.  I work with several students who have a difficult time sharing their thoughts out loud.  I was working with one such student today and decided to break out the thought clouds.  It worked!  I got more out of using the thought clouds for 5 minutes than I have gotten out of him all year! Something about writing on these little pieces of paper seemed to make him less vulnerable and more willing to share. Who knew that such a small thing could make such a big difference!  I am already thinking about all the possible uses!  I highly recommend this Target dollar aisle treasure!

Data Continued

I am currently looking at AIMSweb for behavior.  There is data tracking, action planning and interventions embedded in this program.  Is anyone using this program?  I want to hear the practicality and benefits of the program.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Data, Data, Data!

Data drives most of our decisions in education. When I was a classroom teacher, it was easy to gather data about student progress.  I am finding data collection as a school counselor more challenging.  I see students at various times for varying lengths of time. I teach students strategies to use in the classroom and everyday life.  Then they go back to class.

How do I know that what I have taught them is being transferred and is effective?  I meet with teachers during scheduled monthly meetings, quickly in the hallway in between students or classes, via email and phone.  All of the communication is wonderful but I still have no hard evidence that what I am doing is "working."  I don't want to teach students random things that they are never using.  I NEED solid proof.  Pre and post evaluations are great but I want more regular data along the way.

So...my wheels have begun to turn.  How do I collect data without making the teachers more overwhelmed by filling out cumbersome date sheets (they have enough on their plates, as is).  I also become overwhelmed thinking how I will manage all of this data.  I am currently seeing approximately 85 students in groups or individually on a regular basis.  This does not include the responsive services I provide (when a student is in crisis or needs immediate attention), the classroom lessons I teach, the meetings I attend, the phone calls I make, the fires I put out,  the emails I send, the paperwork I complete, and the list goes on and on........

The thought of gathering and managing data makes my stomach turn over a bit.  But I am determined to figure something out!  Stay tuned as I muster through this time consuming, yet very important data collection process.  If anyone has anything they love, please share!  I love seeing what other awesome counselors are doing!

To be continued..................