CLASSROOM GUIDANCE
Students have Guidance class once per week which focuses on providing knowledge and skills in three different domain areas:
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Personal/Social topics include:
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Career topics include:
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Academic topics include:
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Harrassment
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Emotion Management
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Problem-Solving
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Friendship Skills
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Teamwork
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Following Directions
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Test Taking
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Organization
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Curriculum includes both purchased and original lesson plans. Links to purchased curriculum providers can be found here:
SMALL GROUP COUNSELING
As part of the guidance program at Augusta Elementary, I will be offering small group counseling to students. These groups are a time for students to meet together and share concerns or issues they may have in common with one other. Small groups are educational in design, and created to offer coping and problem solving skills that support and enhance their academic and social development. Being part of a small group of people who have similar experiences helps to give students a feeling of hope that they are not alone. Confidentiality is a very important component of each small group to ensure the privacy of students and what they share in the group. This can be a difficult concept for children to understand. Therefore, I explain confidentiality by telling students that they can feel free to share what the topic was in group or what he or she said in group, but not what other students have shared. Confidentiality is explained during the first meeting and enforced every single week thereafter. The small group rules (as seen below) are also discussed during the first meeting.
Small groups will be held throughout the entire school year. Whenever possible, groups try to meet during a time that causes the least interruption to core academics. These groups will meet once a week for 15-20 minutes. Groups consist of 3-6 same aged peers and can last anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks long. A brief letter explaining the group will be sent home to the parents/guardians before our first meeting.
Students may request to meet with me any time if they have a problem or concern they need help with. Students may also be referred to me by teachers, staff, or family members. I encourage parents/guardians to reach out to me for any reason!
Small Group Rules:
- What happens in group, stays in group.
- Be RESPECTFUL of group members.
- Use positive language.
- Always try your best.
The small groups offered at Augusta Elementary are listed below. Feel free to suggest additional topics that will meet the needs of specific students.
Changing Families: students learn to cope with stress of divorce, separation, or any difficult family change.
Self-esteem: students learn strategies that can be used to help maintain or boost their self-esteem. Students learn how to use positive self-talk in order to reframe the negative views they have of themselves and turn those thoughts around to accent their strengths.
Coping with Anxiety: students learn to identify their triggers as well as learn strategies to help calm their bodies down when they are feeling anxious.
Managing our Anger: students learn positive ways to express their anger, which in turn helps students better control some of these intense feelings. Students should leave the group with better decision making skills as well.
Friendship/Social Skills: students are taught positive social skills, learn how to make and keep friends, and given practice to handle a variety of social situations.
Grief/Loss: students learn many strategies to cope with the grief they are experiencing. This can be about someone the student knew who passed away or moved away that the student no longer sees.
Academic Success: Many times, students will learn how to better organize themselves as well as explore strategies to assist them in achieving academic success.
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
The counselor will also meet with students individually when they have issues, questions, concerns or other problems that they need to discuss. The counselor and student will work together to come up with a goal that supports emotional, behavioral and/or academic growth. Referrals for individual counseling can be made by the student, parent or school staff member.
CONSULTATION & COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
A variety of resources and information is available to students and families of the Augusta Elementary community. The counselor can offer referrals to outside services, connect students and families to community agencies and programs, and offer assistance with emotional, academic and behavioral problems that occur outside of school. Please see the "Resources" page or contact the counselor directly if you would like more information.
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