Counselor's have specific curriculum guidelines to follow. Please see the ASCA site for more details. http://www.ascanationalmodel.org/

What do elementary school counselors do?

• School counselors serve all students at a school and help them be their best
• Facilitate classroom "Life Skills" lessons aligned with state standards in each classroom
• Organize school-wide service projects and special events as applications of our character education program
• Consult with parents, teachers, and administrators
• Provide materials to teachers and parents on topics related to the guidance and counseling standards when needed
• Connect families with school and community resources
• Talk with students who have a problem they'd like help solving or have something on their mind they'd like to talk about
• Visit with students in small groups built around shared needs like divorce/changing families, grief, anger management, etc.
• Counsel students individually
• Teach social skills and coping skills

What topics are part of the elementary school guidance and counseling standards?

• Emotional awareness and coping skills
• Conflict resolution
• Friendship/social skills
• Self-esteem
• Goal-setting
• Decision-making
• Character education (respect, responsibility, kindness, trustworthiness, etc.)
• Personal safety
• Behavior, choices and consequences & responsibility
• Career awareness and preparedness
• Academic skills and achievement
• Appreciating individual differences

What do we do in group and individual counseling?

• Draw pictures, play games, play with puppets or toys, work on projects
• Talk about little things, big things, or anything in between
• Build a positive relationship and connection at school
• Develop problem-solving abilities
• Teach coping strategies, social skills, etc.
• Build self-esteem and confidence
• Help children cope with difficult and/or unchangeable life events
• Help children recognize and make use of their potential
• Give children a neutral, open place to share their concerns and feelings
• Give children the opportunity to connect with students having similar experiences