ASCA National Model – American School Counselor Association

Latest Episodes:

Strategies to Ensure Students Attend College and Persist Oct 10, 2018

Show notes

As a high school counselor how can you ensure and verify your students are well-prepared for and pursued postsecondary education? How can you improve and monitor your college- and career-readiness programs to confirm they are truly making an impact in students’ lives? Hear one county’s strategies and data-driven approach to improve higher education persistency rates with the support of National Clearinghouse Student Tracker. Download accompanying handouts here.

Learning objectives:
After viewing this webinar you should be able to:

Recognize the National Clearinghouse Student Tracker and the data provided.
List effective strategies to monitor and measure your college- and career-readiness program effectiveness.
Use data to assess and address student needs and barriers to pursuing postsecondary education.

Speaker:
Catalina Cifuentes, Executive Director-College and Career Readiness, Riverside County Office of Education, Riverside, Calif.

Original air date: Oct. 9, 2018

The Art of Group Counseling in Schools Sep 27, 2018

Show notes

Running small groups in schools requires a strong set of leadership skills, the most important being the ability to make groups interesting and engaging. Running small groups is about the art of engagement and control. Hear specific skills, such as drawing out, cutting off and using rounds, that are necessary for school counselors. Additionally, learn more than 15 creative activities you can use to make group leading effective and fun. Download accompanying handouts.

Learning objectives:
After viewing this webinar you should be able to:

Define at least three essential group leading skills.
Identify movement activities you can use in small groups.
Brainstorm writing and drawing activities for small groups.
Describe effective processing skills for creative activities in small groups.

Speakers:
Christine Schimmel, Associate Professor, West Virginia University
Ed Jacobs, Associate Professor, West Virginia University

Original air date: Sept. 27, 2018

Restorative School Practices in Action Sep 27, 2018

Show notes

Restorative practices enable all members of the school community to integrate and normalize a collaborative approach by focusing on building, maintaining and when necessary, repairing relationships among all members of a school. When students feel like they have an increased connection to school, they will have more educational motivation, classroom engagement and improved school attendance. Learn about principles in problem solving, communication amongst students, staff and community to establish a positive school culture. Download accompanying handouts here and here.

Learning objectives:
After viewing this webinar you should be able to:

Explain restorative practices and how they will affect your school.
Access a toolbox of materials and ideas to utilize in your school.
Implement community and problem-solving circles in your program.

Speakers:
Bonnie Robbins, School Counselor, Whittier Middle School, Poland, Maine
Shawn Vincent, Principal, Whittier Middle School, Poland, Maine

Original air date: Sept. 13, 2018

SEL + School Counseling = Thriving Students Sep 21, 2018

Show notes

Given the rise in student mental health needs, it becomes increasingly imperative that school counselors embrace an integrated campus approach to support the whole child. Social/emotional learning (SEL) provides a framework that aligns with the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors to create a proactive school counseling program. Hear how one district blends ASCA’s Mindsets & Behaviors with SEL to create positive student outcomes. Download accompanying handouts.

Learning objectives:
After viewing this webinar you should be able to:

Describe the core competencies of social/emotional learning.
Implement presented SEL activities with students.
Reflect on how to best integrate SEL principles into daily counseling practice.

Speakers:

Kristina Kern, School Counselor, Austin ISD, Austin, Texas
Teri Wood, Elementary Counseling Coordinator, Austin ISD, Austin, Texas
Pam Martin, Social & Emotional Learning Specialist, Austin ISD, Austin, Texas

Original air date: Sept. 21, 2018

School Counselors Making a Difference Sep 07, 2018

Show notes

Share this brief video with your stakeholders to show the difference a good school counseling program can make.

Increase Attendance Rates with PBIS Strategies Aug 28, 2018

Show notes

Attendance and behavior are two major factors in improving or impeding access to learning at school. Learn how to integrate your existing attendance process and policy with positive behavior intervention supports (PBIS) to increase positive student behavior and attendance. Leave the session with concrete techniques on how to update PBIS and attendance policy and process to improve student success through student contact. Download accompanying handouts.

Learning objectives:
After viewing this webinar you should be able to:

List specific techniques to integrate PBIS with attendance policy and process.
Increase your school’s attendance.
Examine similarities between PBIS and attendance policy and recognize how to integrate attendance policy into a tiered system of support.
Implement PBIS and attendance policy as an integrated system

Speakers:

Kathryn Buchan, School Counselor, Buljan Middle School, Roseville, Calif.
Tonia Stallions, School Counselor, Chilton Middle School, Roseville, Calif.

Original air date: Aug. 27, 2018

Tools for New School Counselors Aug 27, 2018

Show notes

Each year brand new school counselors navigate through the job search process and land their first job as a school counselor, or seasoned counselors transition into a position in a new setting. Through this panel session, learn tips and tricks for navigating the first year in a new position. Leave with relevant materials and tools to assist you in your new journey. Download accompanying handouts.

Learning objectives:
After viewing this webinar you should be able to:

Identify resources for building your comprehensive school counseling program aligned with the ASCA National Model.
Discuss the importance of forging professional mentorships and community resources.
Explain the importance of continuous professional development and professional membership at the national and state level.

Speakers:

Jan Gay, School Counselor, Summerdale School, Summerdale, Ala.
Rebecca Winberg, School Counselor, Daphne Elementary, Daphne, Ala.
Lyle Cooper, School Counselor, Counselor-Gulf Shores Elementary, Gulf Shores, Ala.
Patrice Davis, Intervention Supervisor, Baldwin County Public School System, Loxley, Ala.

Original air date: Aug. 23, 2018

ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success Aug 10, 2018

Show notes

The ASCA Student Standards have guided school counselors’ practice for many years. But student developmental needs are always changing, and ASCA’s standards have been updated based on the latest research and best practice to enhance student achievement and promote college and career readiness. The ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success: K-12 College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Every Student describe the knowledge, skills and attitudes that students need to achieve academic success, college and career readiness and social/emotional development. The standards are based on a survey of research and best practices in student achievement from a wide array of educational standards and efforts.

Focusing on the Competencies: ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success Aug 10, 2018

Show notes

The ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success: K-12 College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Every Student describe the knowledge, skills and attitudes students need to achieve academic success, college and career readiness and social/emotional development. The standards address students at all grade levels, and the competencies bridge the Mindsets & Behaviors standards with academic core curriculum at specific grade levels. Attend this webinar to learn more about the competencies, the competency database and how to write competencies specific to your student’s needs.

Learning Outcomes
• Discover the importance of student competencies aligned with state standards.
• Focus on the ins and outs of writing useful competencies.
• Learn how to navigate the student competencies database to find already-written competencies you can use for your needs.

Improving Students’ Body Confidence and Self-Esteem Aug 07, 2018

Show notes

Students who are 11-14 years of age experience rapid change, extended freedom and see their peers and adults in new roles. Body confidence and self-esteem can take major blows based on external influences, namely peers and media. This webinar will focus on the social/emotional impact peers, social media and appearance ideals have on these youth and the educator’s role in helping students successfully navigate through these potentially negative external influences. You’ll learn how to support students and help guide them toward better body confidence and positive self-esteem using research-based lessons. Download accompanying handouts here.

Learning objective

After attending this webinar you should be able to:

Identify and explain at least two physical, mental, emotional or intellectual changes of the 11-14 year old
Explain the connection between body confidence and self-esteem
Discuss how to implement a body confidence and positive self-esteem program

Speaker:
Antionette Meeks is the Cadre Coordinator for the Dove Self-Esteem Project at Cairn Guidance.

Original air date: July 26, 2018