week 9 Classroom Guidance Activity

Overview of Activity:

I actually used this activity for my 2nd tape.  We meet with our seniors about what they need to be doing for college.  I have made a PowerPoint that we go over with them in their homerooms.  There are about 20-30 students and we give them a copy of their transcript as well.  We have a parent night with a similar PowerPoint as well.

Purpose:

To educate seniors about college planning and credits needed to graduate.

Age Group:

seniors

Materials:

Power point, transcripts

Intervention:
I would say this is prevention because you are helping students plan ahead.

Activity:

Just follow the PowerPoint slides that I will post tomorrow.  It usually takes approximately an hour depending on how many questions you have to field at the end.

Follow up act activities:

I will meet with students one on one to address their specific post high school plans and then have follow up meetings as needed to help them carry out whatever they have chosen to do.

Contingency Plan:

Remember to always remain calm and keep your sense of humor.  The main problem that I have had in the past is if the computers are not working for the PowerPoint.  If that happens. I have a hard copy of the PowerPoint with me. However,  it is more effective when the students can see it as well as hear the information on the PowerPoint.

week 7

I wish I had a tape recorder on me at all times so I could pick my best counseling performance.   The main thing I need to work on is not feeling rushed while I am with a student.  I, sometimes, get so overwhelmed that I need to make sure I am giving the students enough time to elaborate their thoughts when I am counseling them.  Many times, I may need to get several things done with the student when I have time to meet with them which leads to me feel rushed.  I feel rushed because I have so many students and there is no way I could take an hour with every student.  Also, during the counseling session they made need multiple items done such as college or clerical stuff.  Listening to my own tape and listening to the feedback made me realize this.  Next tape I am going to take my time and forget about the distractions.

week 6 5 goals

5 Goals

1)  Increase my knowledge and ability to utilize technology:
The blog is helping to do that and working with the blackboard.

2) To gain experience in a non high school setting:
I am doing some of my hours at an elementary school.

3)  Refine counseling skills:
I am doing this by listening to other people's counseling during class and on tapes.

4)  To get my standard certificate in counseling:
I will hopefully have this if I pass this class.

5)  Being part of a professional community other than my school
It has been exciting to hear ideas from other schools and other types of mental health facilities in class.

Week 6 MOVIE POST

One of the movies that I would watch is Freedom Writers.  We actually were able to hear Manny Scott,  one of the actual students in the film, speak as an entire district before school started.  He had a great message and was highly entertaining.  I would highly recommend him to any school district as a speaker.  The main thing he taught me was to never give up on a student.  The student who may be getting on your nerves the most may be the one who needs you the most.  Here is the link to his web site which, also, has the movie.
http://www.manuelvscott.com/




The other movie I selected is Prince of Tides
It is entertaining and much of the movie is spent in counseling sessions.  It taught me that people sometimes have self destructive behavior due to past experiences.  It, also, shows someone reluctant to get counseling and how the counselor overcame his fears.

Week 6

This week was a challenging week.  We lost our second student this year to senseless gun violence.  We lost 2 other students at another local high school last week.  In Fayette County, there is a crisis team that comes to schools where tragedy occurs.  They were very helpful and liked their idea of creating a giant poster where kids could draw or write a tribute to the deceased student.  One of the students that died had been on my case load 2 years ago.  Lexington really needs to address the teen violence problem that is growing in our town.  These kids are seeing too much glorification of the gangster lifestyle in the media.  I, also, think when the economy is not doing well people tend to turn towards crime.  I wish I could find more ways to show these young kids that there is better life for them if they choose to work for it and have the right attitude. At the school level, we are working very hard to stop the teen violence.  It is going to take the whole community to try and change the culture of these areas where teen violence is becoming too common and accepted. 

week 4

This was, as usual, an interesting week at school.  I had an incident with one of our most behaviorally challenged kids and his sister in which they thought their mother had died.  I ended up, along with 2 other teachers, going with the students to their mother's house to check on her.  Luckily, she was fine.  The mother told her son that he now knew how she felt when he was running the streets at night.  It made me realize that even though many staff members, and justifiably so, view this student as a behavior problem, he really is just a kid that cares about his mother.  I, also, called my mom soon afterwards to let her know how much I appreciate her! 

week 3

This was a short week.  We had open house Tuesday so I was able to meet many of my parents.  Wednesday, I had a 3 year reval 504 meeting.  Friday, I was able to go to the annual college day at Papa John's Stadium in Louisville.  It is beneficial to learn new things being offered by our local colleges.  The theme that kept coming up for me this week was my role as a mediator.  I am constantly mediating between parents, teachers, and students.  After watching the political conventions the last 2 weeks maybe we could use more counselors in government so they can actually get something done through mediation!