School Counseling Simplified Podcast

Latest Episodes:

220. Empowering Students to Be Upstanders Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

October is Bullying prevention month. I couldn't let the month get past without touching on the importance of teaching students to be "upstanders" as a key bullying prevention strategy. I am introducing the concept of an upstander as someone who witnesses bullying and intervenes to stop it, in contrast to a bystander who does nothing.We will discuss the benefits of empowering students to be upstanders, including preventing future bullying, supporting targets, and reducing bullying-related anxiety and depression. I will also touch on several teaching strategies for introducing the upstander concept, such as traditional lessons, interactive games, and digital resources.

Some highlights from this episode include:

Learning the importance of teaching students the different roles in bullying (bully, target, bystander) and avoiding stigmatizing language like "victim."
Diving deeper on the concept of an upstander is defined as someone who witnesses bullying and intervenes to stop it, in contrast to a bystander.
Highlighting the numerous benefits of teaching upstanders as a highly empowering bullying prevention
Teaching methods, including lessons, games, Boom Cards, and videos, to introduce and reinforce the upstander concept.

Listen in and see what you can implement before the month is over!

Resources mentioned:

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Check out this Upstander blog

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More About School Counseling Simplified:

School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.

You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!

219. TBT: Create Counseling Games with Halloween Candy Buckets Oct 22, 2024

Show notes

Halloween is just around the corner, and I know you are looking for fun and engaging ways to incorporate the season into your lessons and activities.

In this episode, I'm sharing 5 creative ways you can use Halloween candy buckets to liven up your counseling sessions. From identifying and changing negative thoughts to practicing self-regulation, these activities are sure to get your students excited and eager to participate.

Grab your pumpkin-shaped buckets and get ready for some spooky counseling fun!

Some things covered in this episode are:

Using candy buckets to sort negative and positive thoughts, helping students reframe their mindsets
Sorting "tattling" vs. "reporting" scenarios to teach appropriate communication
Exploring growth mindset vs. fixed mindset by categorizing statements into corresponding buckets
Practicing problem-solving skills by sorting problems into "tiny," "small," "medium," "big," and "huge" buckets
Utilizing the color-coded "zones" of self-regulation by sorting feelings and behaviors into the appropriate buckets

I'm giving you all the detailed instructions and examples for each of these engaging activities, making it easy for you to implement in your counseling sessions. I would love to see you to share your experiences on social media, and tag me @BrightFuturescounseling for a chance to inspire others.

Whether you're looking to add a seasonal twist to your lessons or simply want to try something new and interactive, these Halloween candy bucket activities are sure to be a hit with your students. Tune in to learn more and get ready to spookify your counseling sessions!

Resources mentioned:

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
5 Ways to Use Halloween Buckets- Blog
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More About School Counseling Simplified:

You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!

218. Small Group Planning Start to Finish (Part II) Oct 15, 2024

Show notes

It's Part 2 of the Small Group Planning podcast episodes. Today I am diving into the planning and implementation of small group counseling.

If you didn't catch Part I, I covered the logistics of getting small groups started, but now we will focus on the curriculum development, group structure, and data collection involved in running effective small counseling groups.

Some highlights from this episode:

Importance of standards-aligned small group curriculum planning
Using pre and post-assessments to collect data and determine student progress
Essential components of an engaging small group structure (feelings check, group rules, icebreakers, main activities, discussion, reflection)
Leveraging the Impact membership resources for small group curriculum and support
Transitioning students between tiers of intervention based on small group outcomes

Listen in to get a clear roadmap for planning and facilitating small counseling groups that meet the unique needs of your students.

Resources mentioned:

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with Rachel:

More About School Counseling Simplified:

You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!

Small Group Planning Start to Finish (Part I) Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

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In this episode of School Counseling Simplified,I am diving deep into the topic of small group counseling. As a small group enthusiast, I'm sharing my expertise on the benefits of small group work and provides a step-by-step guide for school counselors on how to effectively plan and implement small groups from start to finish. This episode is packed with practical tips and strategies to take the stress out of small group planning. Some Highlighted from this episode:

The two main reasons Rachel loves facilitating small groups: efficiency in seeing more students in less time, and the opportunity to watch students connect, bond, and learn from one another.
The importance of having a referral system in place to identify students who would benefit from small group counseling.
Tips for recruiting students for small groups, including reaching out to teachers and parents.
The necessity of obtaining parent permission before starting a small group, and suggestions for what to include in the permission slip.
Strategies for scheduling small groups, including navigating potential pushback from teachers and finding the best time that works for all students involved.

Don't miss out on the rest of my advice on small group planning. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about this efficient and impactful tier of school counseling services.

** And don't forget to tune in next week for Small Group Planning Start to Finish Part II**

Resources mentioned:

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
School Counseling Referral Form
Editable Parent Permission Slip
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with Rachel:

More About School Counseling Simplified:

You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!

216. Implement Schoolwide Classroom Calm Down Corners Oct 01, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, I am talking on the importance of creating a classroom calming corner - a designated safe space for students to manage their emotions. I'll be discussing the benefits of calming corners for teachers, counselors, and students, as well as practical steps for setting them up effectively. I'll also touch on how to handle potential pushback from teachers and strategies for implementing a school-wide approach to this valuable tool.

Some highlights from this episode include:

Identifying Calming corners as a toolkit to help students self-regulate and manage their emotions rather than a punishment
Highlighting the Benefits of calming corners which include happier teachers, less burdened counselors, and more regulated students.
How to set up Calming corners so they can be distinguished from the rest of the classroom and include visuals, soft furnishings, and a calm-down toolbox.
How to address potential teacher concerns and how taking a school-wide approach are key to successful implementation of calming corners.

Listen in and let me know what you think and what you plan to implement.

Resources mentioned:

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
Snag my free Curriculum Map Here
How to create a calming Corner
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Connect with Rachel:

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You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!

215. Scheduling Class Lessons for the Entire School Year Sep 24, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, I am discussing strategies for scheduling class lessons for the entire school year. I'm breaking down the benefits of batch work and encouraging you all to plan lessons in advance to save time and reduce stress. We are going to dive into some digital tools like Google Sheets and Airtable that can be used to create checklists and track the status of scheduled lessons.

Some topics covered:

How to schedule class lessons for the entire school year using batch work so you can significantly improve efficiency and organization.
Using Google Sheets to create a simple checklist for monitoring the status of scheduled lessons, including teacher names, grade levels, topics, dates, and lesson planning progress.
Looking into Airtable for a more visually appealing and feature-rich alternative to Google Sheets, allowing for customizable fields, color-coding, sorting, and filtering options to manage classroom lesson planning.
Learning the Importance of Staying organized with digital tools like Google Sheets or Airtable so you can save time and allow you to focus more on serving students.

Listen in and tell me what you plan to incorporate this school year!

Resources mentioned:

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
Grab my 30-60-90 Day Plan for FREE
FREE Curriculum Map
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with Rachel:

More About School Counseling Simplified:

You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!

214. Get Teacher Buy-in for Scheduling Class Lessons Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified.

Today, we're diving into a topic that's crucial for the success of our counseling programs - getting teacher buy-in and support when scheduling those all-important classroom lessons. As we all know, building strong relationships with our teaching staff is key to delivering impactful services to students. And when it comes to those classroom lessons, having the teachers on board can make all the difference.

In this episode, I am sharing some incredibly practical strategies to help you navigate this process and ensure your lessons are welcomed and valued by your teaching team.

Some highlights include:

Learning how to share the "why" behind the counseling lessons, such as citing data or research on the benefits
Getting teacher input by conducting a needs assessment survey to understand their perspectives on lesson topics
Having a backup plan in case some teachers are resistant, such as leveraging administrator support or using alternative scheduling
Offering "as needed" lessons tailored to specific teacher requests, even if they don't align perfectly with the overall lesson plan
Emphasizing the importance of ensuring all students receive the counseling lessons, even if it requires creativity and persistence in working with teachers

Be sure to listen in, take some notes and start implementing these strategies to build stronger partnerships with your teachers. Happy listening, friends!

Resources mentioned:

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
30-60-90 Day Plan- FREEBIE
Grab my FREE Curriculum Map
Join Stress Free School Counseling
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with Rachel:

More About School Counseling Simplified:

You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!

213. Game Changing Tools for Scheduling Class Lessons Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, host I am sharing game-changing tools for scheduling class lessons as a school counselor. I'm covering three main tech tools - Google Sheets, Calendly, and Google Calendar - that can streamline the scheduling process.

The key highlights include:

Using Google Sheets to have teachers sign up for available class lesson times, allowing them to take ownership of the scheduling.
Utilizing Calendly, a free scheduling app that makes it easy for teachers to book appointments for lessons.
Leveraging Google Calendar to create recurring calendar invites with reminders once lesson times are scheduled.
The importance of being strategic about your availability and scheduling lessons first before filling in other commitments.

By implementing these scheduling tools and strategies, school counselors can get their class lessons scheduled efficiently in advance, allowing them to better manage their overall schedule and priorities throughout the school year. Listen in and change the game for yourself!

Resources mentioned:

Curriculum Map Freebie
Stress Free School Counseling
Free Training happening TODAY!
Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with Rachel:

More About School Counseling Simplified:

You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!

212. Figure out the Process of Scheduling Class Lessons Sep 03, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, I am sharing my 3-step process for effectively scheduling class lessons at your school. Learn how to determine the location, setup, and frequency of your classroom lessons to feel prepared and deliver engaging counseling sessions.

I know how overwhelming this can be whether you are brand new or a seasoned veteran, but I have nailed down a process so you don't have to recreate the wheel. This process will help you feel prepared and ready to deliver effective counseling lessons.

Some highlights I cover are:

Join my FREE TRAINING Engaging Individual Counseling Sessions. Struggling with one-on-one sessions? Then this Free live training on using individual counseling curriculum is for you all Live Attendees receive free curriculum set and PD certificate!
Breaking down the 3-step process for scheduling class lessons: which include, location, materials and frequency!
Emphasizing the importance of feeling and being prepared to deliver effective counseling lessons.
My biggest tip for Avoid last-minute stress and engage students better- JOIN IMPACT

Listen in for all the details. You don't want to miss out!

Resources mentioned:

Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!
30-60-90 Day Plan - FREE
Curriculum Map- FREE
Join Stress Free Class Lessons!
FREE LIVE TRAINING- How to use individual counseling curriculum to engage students and effectively track data!
If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with Rachel:

TpT Store
Blog
Instagram
Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Pinterest
Youtube
More About School Counseling Simplified:

You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!

211. What to do your first 90 days of school Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

Back to school season is in full swing and I'm popping in today's episode to break down your first 90 days of school. We are going to break down my free 30-60-90 Day plan, so that we can break down that seemingly overwhelming to do list that you have. Tune in and follow along with your freebie in hand! I'm breaking down each month piece by piece so that you can be create the impact you are wanting to this school year, without the overwhlem. Some highlights from this episode:

What to do in your first 30 days- like identifying needs through a needs assessment, meeting with new administrators, introducing yourself to students
How to establish your counseling caseload in your first 60 days- scheduling class lessons, preparing data collection tools, planning small group curriculum, and organizing school-wide activities.
Building Conistency in your program- By the 90 day point, you should be implementing your services.
The 30-60-90 day plan helps break down the overwhelming back-to-school to-do list into manageable, prioritized steps to ensure you're on track in the first few months.
Having this structured plan in place from the start of the school year will help you be more proactive, organized, and prepared to deliver effective counseling services to students.

Resources mentioned: