The Elementary school
counselor works with all children in the school, and is in a position to address
the developmental needs of each child.
As well as working with all children in the school, the counselor works with
teachers, administrative staff, and parent. The counselor's role is
viewed as threefold: counselor, collaborator, and consultant.
Judy Jacobs
&
Michele Rensler
| As Counselor: |
Provides
classroom guidance Small group counseling Individual counseling |
| As Collaborator: | Engages in classroom
visitation Teacher/counselor planning Conferences with teacher, parent and child In-service for teachers Community resources services and agencies |
As Consultant: |
Engages in parent
conferences Parent study groups PTA program Parent newsletter |
The Elementary school counselor functions within the educational framework and
the child's total environment to enable each child to learn to
make choices that lead to responsible behavior. The counseling and guidance
program provides elementary students with assistance in many
areas:
Self-understanding and self-awareness Building self-confidence and self-esteem
Adjusting to a new school learning to make decisions
Becoming aware of the world of work
Talking about educational, personal, or social concerns
Developing skills in getting along with others in school
The services of the Elementary counselor focus on identifying and providing for
the individual needs of all students. The students needs can
best be met by recognizing the counselor as a child advocate. The elementary
school counselor provides the leadership for a
cooperatively-planned program involving all members of the educational team by
doing the following:
Consulting with teachers to identify the needs of the students
Helping students learn more effective skills for interacting with their children
Promoting positive attitudes and awareness of the guidance program within the
school community
Using the services of the school psychologist, pupil personal worker, school
administrator, and community
referral agencies to assist in delivering appropriate services.
Elementary school guidance, as a part of the total Student Support Services,
strives to give all students a feeling of self-worth and to help them
develop full potential and make effective decisions. The program, under the
direction of a certified counselor in each elementary school, can
aid in the social, emotional, personal, and academic development of students.
The objectives of the elementary guidance program are to assist students in
developing:
The skills for effective learning a positive self-concept and self-direction
Successful coping behaviors an awareness of the world of work
Effective communication skills
