How did you spend your day?
I have been SOOO busy lately. I am sure most other school counselors out there can agree that we are in the busiest time of the year. And oh, yeah, it's state testing crunch time! So needless to say I have not been blogging lately, but I am trying to get back into the swing of things.
Which brings me to the email I got today...
I got an email from one of our district curriculum coordinators today asking me to document how I spent my time for a few days. She is working on a grant and will use the data to advocate for more counseling positions. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommends one counselor to every 250 students. I am currently serving about 400 students in fourth through eighth grade. I was more than happy to document my time! Anything to get more counselors! I am going to do it every day this week and see what I come up with.
Here is how I spent my time today:
Arrive at 7:15am
7:15am – 7:30am check email
7:30am – 7:50 am – give a tour to a new 8th grade student, talked to him about applications that are available for the district's technical school and math/science academy.
7:50am – 8:30am – began to organize applications for the technical school and math/science academy.
8:30am – 9:00am – facilitated an anger management group for boys in fourth grade.
9:30am – 10:00am – spoke with a presenter from the YWCA about the programs she will facilitate this week (the planning and organization took countless hours, but the "body rights" will be presented to each class in the entire school).
10:00am– 10:45am – facilitated a classroom lesson about responsibility in 5th grade (about 25 students).
10:45am – 11:45am – scheduled Truancy Elimination Plan meetings, filled out home visit forms, made lots of copies.
11:45am - 12:00pm – met with a parent who stopped in.
12:00am - 12:15pm – followed up with a student regarding a bullying incident.
12:15am - 12:35pm – met with one of our school based therapists from an outside agency regarding a student.
12:35pm – 1:10pm – met with a group of students (6) over lunch and talk about goals for an positive academic and peacemaking group they want to start.
1:10pm – 1:50pm - organized applications for the technical school and math/science academy to determine who needs to give me information or an essay.
1:50pm – 2:05pm – walked around to all of the 8th grade classes to collect information I need and to remind students what is due and when it is due (THURSDAY!! ahhhh!).
2:05pm – 2:30pm – met with a student who is being cyber-bullied. Informed the School Resource Officer in the building about the incident, informed the principal and assisted in determining a course of action.
2:30pm – 2:35pm – called the mother of the student being cyber-bullied and discussed the incident with her. Also spoke to her about programs being offered at the YMCA and how her child could benefit.
2:35pm – 3:15pm - continued to organized applications for the technical school and math/science academy. Emailed the nurse for copies of immunization records. Emailed people back.
Other things I did throughout the day... (though I am not sure when, where, or how I fit these in...)
Checked email multiple times
Talked to teachers in passing about what students they want me to meet with or scheduling concerns.
Received referrals from teachers for students to meet with.
Met with other professionals in the building for consultation briefly in the hall.
Talked to students who popped their head in my door.
Well, there you have it.
How did you spend your day? Comment below, email me, tweet, or share on the School Counselor Blog Facebook Page!
Danielle is a K-12 Certified School Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and blogger at School Counselor Blog, a place where school counselors share innovative ideas, creative lesson plans, and quality resources. Contact Danielle via email, follow her on twitter, and become a fan of the School Counselor Blog Facebook Page.
