Wednesday, October 17, 2001
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Wednesday, October 17, 2001 |
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School counselors provide valuable resources for students and families Most people think about school counselors as the people students go to for advice on career options and higher education opportunities. However, there is much more to a school counselor's job than to prepare students for life after graduation. Some people may not be aware that the Fayette County School System has counselors available on the elementary school level as well as at middle and high schools. Elementary counseling focuses on being proactive in addressing the developmental tasks that students face. Some of these tasks include building wholesome attitudes toward oneself, learning to get along with peers, developing an understanding of the needs of others and developing habits that contribute to the learning of basic skills. Counselors use a variety of settings to address developmental issues. Some topics, such as listening skills or bullying, are addressed in a once per month classroom guidance situation. Many counselors, such as Faith Smith at Tyrone Elementary, send teachers and parents yearly needs assessments to determine the types of topics that need to be addressed in the classroom. "All counselors in the state have a guidance and individual action plan. It is important for us to know what parents and teachers think the children's needs are so that we can address problems while they are still minor. Our whole focus is to help children," says Smith. In addition to classroom guidance programs, elementary counselors also conduct weekly programs for small groups of students. Again, the topic depends on the need of the students and parental permission is required for group participation. Among the group programs Smith has conducted include anger management, getting along with others, study skills and one she has titled "It's OK Not To Be Perfect." The latter addresses the misconception among some students that everything about them has to be perfect all of the time, and if it is not, then something must be wrong with them. This type of behavior can place undue pressures on a student, which can effect both their academic and personal lives. "I remember one student who was in the program last year. One day everyone had to come to school with something out of place. The best she could do was to wear one white sock and a pale yellow one. It was a small step but it was progress," Smith recalls. Test preparation is another popular topic among Smith's small group programs. Smith says that with so much emphasis being placed on standardized testing, students can become anxious, upset or even sick. Testing can be especially frustrating for the younger student who is taking a standardized test for the first time. "Test taking can be a traumatic experience for students in the lower grades because they are used to being able to ask their teacher questions. On a regular test, if they don't understand how something is worded they can ask. On standardized testing, they have to do everything on their own," explains Smith. Among the testing tips that Smith gives students is to explain to them that the results of the test are to help the school plan for their education. She also reminds them that they should not expect to be able to answer every question on the test. At all school levels, counselors also serve as consultants for parents and teachers regarding student needs and act as liaisons with professionals in the community. Many of the programs and activities offered through a school's guidance office fall under the CARE (Children at Risk in Education) umbrella. CARE addresses the social emotional, physical and/or financial needs of students and their families. Examples of these programs include Second Step, a county-wide program that teaches students skills to reduce violent, aggressive behaviors; Lunch and Learn Parenting Programs are presented periodically to provide tips on pertinent parenting topics such as childhood anger and peer pressure. The school system's Mentoring Program is a community-based program that matches students with trained volunteers from the community to provide extra support to the student. The Rainbows/Spectrum Program is a 12-week small group support program for those students who have experienced a loss due to a parental divorce, separation or death of a significant person in a child's life. School counselors also provide free individual counseling for students and/or their families upon request. Smith points out that individual counseling does not equate to intensive therapy. The role of the counselor is to do crisis counseling. If additional intervention is needed, counselors will work with families to help them find a qualified therapist to help them with their situation. "Our goal as counselors is to try to problem solve anything that is keeping a child from doing the best that he or she can. We are here for the parents and teachers as well as the child," says Smith.
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