School Counseling Simplified Podcast

Latest Episodes:

54: What to do When Everyone's Not on Board Aug 31, 2021

Show notes

With a new year upon us, there are always changes that are made in the public schools. This can be new students, new staff or administration, a new school placement or even a new district. Not to mention new protocols or procedures that may impact the program that you intended on using.

These inevitable changes are one of the many reasons that school counselors have to be flexible. They're also a reason that you have to be proactive about getting your school community on board with your goals. There are many ways you will do this throughout the year by helping your students, but you must remember to communicate your successes with your school community as well. You deserve the recognition for all your hard work!

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Rachel on social media:

If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

53: 3 Ways to Advocate for Your Position at the Beginning of the Year Aug 24, 2021

Show notes

As the school year is upon us, I'm sure you've been busy preparing your lessons and materials. You're probably ready for your individual, group, and classroom lessons or have at least thought about what you may want to try, or not try, for this new school year. But have you thought about what you can do from day one that may make the whole year seem easier?

That question can easily be answered by knowing whether or not each teacher in your building knows who you are. Let's actually go a little further and agree that it's not only every teacher, but every staff member in your building that should know who you are. Once everyone knows who you are and what services you provide, the easier your job will become. In this episode I'm going to tell you how to make that happen!

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Rachel on social media:

If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

52: How to Use the ASCA National Model When Planning for the Year Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

I'm sure I'm not the only one who was familiar with the ASCA National Model, but didn't quite know what it meant to see it in action. Of course we all heard of what it meant in grad school, but like many other areas of our profession it is very different when you have to put it into practice with your own students. That's why I will be walking you through the different steps so you can feel more confident this school year!

In this episode I will be using an example of a student and provide you with the steps you should take during the referral process. From creating goals to collecting data, you will have a clear understanding of how to ensure your program aligns with the ASCA National Model. As an added bonus I will also let you know how to use this information to share with parents and stakeholders.

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact

Resources mentioned:

Connect with Rachel on social media:

If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

51: Back to Basics: Why 3 Tiered MTSS? Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

Whether you're a new counselor or a veteran, when you think of MTSS you are likely picturing the pyramid that outlines the system previously referred to as Response to Intervention. It's so important because it is the foundation that our program is based on. This evidence-based system may be approached by multiple positions in the school, but I'm going to outline how school counselors can support students using this framework.

If you've listened to my previous episodes you've likely heard me talk about individual, group, and classroom lessons. You're probably feeling confident in those areas, but have you thought about how you're interacting with families, school personnel, and the community? That may sound overwhelming to you, but I'll walk you through how to do this very easily and you'll probably be surprised that you're likely doing some of these things already!

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact

Resources mentioned:

Connect with Rachel on social media:

If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

50: How to Create a School Counseling Curriculum Map Aug 03, 2021

Show notes

Back to school season is quickly approaching, or may already be here for many of you! When it comes to getting all your ducks in a row for a new school year, you could wing it, or you could make things a lot easier for yourself and have a curated plan. August is the perfect time to get organized while you have the time! One of the first things that I recommend you spend time preparing at the beginning of the year is a school counseling curriculum map.

With a well designed curriculum map, you can map out your class lessons, small groups, and individual sessions while being mindful of factors such as your schedule, student population, and even seasons. In this episode I'll show you how to break your planning down into smaller manageable chunks. Don't forget to leave white space in your planning so you can fill in timely topics that come up throughout the year!

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact

Resources mentioned:

Connect with Rachel on social media:

If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

49: How to Design Small Group Curriculum That Works Jul 27, 2021

Show notes

I don't know about you, but I have really loved this month's Small Group Series! I am super passionate about this topic and hope you feel prepared for next school year after listening to these episodes. I can't believe school will be starting soon, but it's the perfect time to talk about something very important: small group curriculum.

You may be thinking that you have already purchased a curriculum for next year and it's too late to change. Or maybe you don't have a curriculum prepared and you are scouring the internet for ideas. Luckily, I have found that the best curriculums are actually a mix of different programs. Most importantly, if you find what works for you while focusing on the standards, you will be set!

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact

Resources mentioned:

Connect with Rachel on social media:

If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

48: How You Can Organize Your Small Group Materials to Incentivize Attendance Jul 20, 2021

Show notes

For today's "small group series" episode, I'll be talking about how to organize your small group materials to incentivize attendance. I'm sure you're thinking that those two things don't relate at all. I promise it will make more sense once you listen to my suggestions!

I'm sure we can all agree that what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for all. That is true for curriculums as well as material organization. We need to make sure students are motivated, which is especially important as students get older and while using virtual platforms. Whether you prefer folders, binders, or digital systems of organization, I will be sharing how you can increase attendance and buy-in with your students.

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact

Resources mentioned:

Connect with Rachel on social media:

If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

47: How You Can Use Your Small Group Data to Form Your Groups and Determine Their Effectiveness Jul 13, 2021

Show notes

I'm excited to share this episode with you this week while I'm at the ASCA Conference! Make sure to come say hello if you see me! I'm also excited because this week I'll be talking about small groups again. The students in these groups are the ones that need more than that in class lesson but aren't in need of that individual session.

So how do we decide who belongs in this group? Data, of course! It is so important to measure how students are reacting to the sessions for so many reasons. As school counselors our services are not meant to be long term, so it is imperative to make sure students are receiving the correct intervention and that it is being transferred to their classroom. This episode will show you how to make sure you are doing just that!

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact

Resources mentioned:

Connect with Rachel on social media:

If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

46: Everything You Need to Know About Establishing Small Groups Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

As you begin to think about going back to school, it's the perfect time to think about how to best establish small groups. Over the next few weeks, I'll be doing a new deep dive series on small groups so that you can feel prepared to dive right into forming effective small groups! In the following episodes I'll discuss using small group data, organizing small group materials, and how to design a small group curriculum that works.

There's a lot to consider when it comes to forming small groups. How do I determine which students should be in which group? Is it okay to mix grade levels within the same group? How large should groups be? How long should I meet with groups and for how many weeks? I'm answering all of these questions and more in today's episode as I share three things you need to know when it comes to establishing small groups.

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT: https://www.stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/impact

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Rachel on social media:

If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

45: Your 30,60,90 Day Plan as a New School Counselor Jun 29, 2021

Show notes

Today's episode is a great one because you get a sneak peek into my new counselor bootcamp! Now if you're not a new counselor, believe me you'll still want to listen. Newbie or veteran, I'm always here to support my fellow counselors no matter which stage you're in!

This episode will help those of you in all different seasons of your counseling career. When I entered a position that didn't have any sort of curriculum, this 30, 60, and 90 day plan allowed me to get up and running without any hesitation. You will feel prepared from the first to the last day of school when you put these strategies in place in order to maximize your ability to reach more students!

Resources mentioned in this episode: