{ A Day in the Life SCHOOL COUNSELING Haviland, 2016

 Find a partner.  In “A Day in the Life of a School Counselor” I will give you scenarios I’ve taken straight from a 6-12 Counselors’ calendar.  With your partner you will discuss how you will handle these scenarios. Lets play a game Haviland, 2016

 This school counselor one of three in a 6-12 comprehensive school. Her caseload consists of 8 th, 9 th, and 12 th grade, totaling to 349 students.  On her calendar, she has an ICAP Guidance Lesson at 9am and fair share lunch duty starting at 11:35a.  On her to-do list she has two letters of recommendation, a parent to follow up with, and a student to check in with regarding a bullying issue that happened the day before.  Ready?? Begin! Lets play a game Haviland, 2016

 You walk in to your office at 6:45a to prepare for your guidance lesson this morning.  In your s you find the following: “Dear Ms. Counselor, Kimmy came home last night crying about her math teacher, Mr. Harding, bullying her. I’ve had enough! Kimmy needs to be moved out of his class immediately. How a teacher can pick on my sweet child is beyond me and I am disappointed in the school for supporting him. Please let me know when its been changed. In the meantime, I’ve told Kimmy to come sit in your office during that period. Signed, Angry Parent”  It is already 8 weeks into the semester and sadly, you don’t have any other teachers that teach Geometry that hour.  What do you do? A Day in the Life Haviland, 2016

 You were just interrupted by Sebrinia, the student you needed to check in on about the bullying incident the day before. You happen to know she has ADHD and a dad involved in a gang. These students have their first period class together.  Sebrinia is insisting that she didn’t bully her peer.  What do you do? A Day in the Life Haviland, 2016

 While you were working with Sebrinia your principal peeks their head into your office.  “Ms. Counselor I need you to pull On Track to Graduate and College Admissions data for me. Our Instructional Superintendent is on his way and just told me he wants to know where we are at with that. I need you to do it now.”  Sebrinia is already 15 minutes late for her 12 th grade English class that she currently has a D in and needs to graduate.  What do you do? A Day in the Life Haviland, 2016

 You’ve sent Sebrinia back to class and pulled the data for your Principal. You are back to preparing for your guidance lesson which is in 30 minutes.  Mr. Harding, the Geometry teacher, walks into your office and starts yelling about your student, Kimmy. Kimmy has been off the wall, texting her friends during class, refusing to put her phone down when he asks, and is just all around “a little *%&!”. He insists that you meet with her and recommends an IEP.  What do you do? A Day in the Life Haviland, 2016

 You are walking down the hall in a rush to your guidance lesson when you see the Instructional Superintendent leaving the meeting room with your principal. IS stops you midstride and asks “How much scholarship money have our students earned so far?” He is looking at you like you are able to answer him exactly and right away and the look of fear on your principal’s face is obvious. Your lesson starts in less than 5 minutes.  What do you do? A Day in the Life Haviland, 2016

 You’re in your guidance lesson. 32 students are in attendance of which, 3 students are on IEPs, 3 students are Gifted and Talented, 19 are on Free and Reduced Lunch, 12 are English Language Learners and only 27 computers are working.  Your lesson is on the FAFSA and of these 32 students you know at least 3 interested in the military, 2 who will work for their parent’s business, 1 who insists he will play in the NBA, and 26 who vary between a 2 and 4 year school.  How do you differentiate? A Day in the Life Haviland, 2016

 Your guidance lesson went well. You have 20 minutes before your lunch duty but you’re feeling confident you can squeeze more in. You get back to your office to try to call Kimmy down before her Geometry class and are writing the pass, taking the first bite of your warmed leftovers from last night, when one of your seniors walks into your office.  “Miss I need a letter of rec! I didn’t know CSU’s application was due today and its my top choice! I need you to write it now!”  What do you do? A Day in the Life Haviland, 2016

 You get back inside and to your office and look at your now cold leftovers. You go to sit down when your counterpart walks in. When he went in to the computer lab to run the second round of guidance lesson after you he tells you that on one of the computers he found a poem that reads like a suicide note.  You can’t remember which student was sitting at that computer but you’re pretty sure you remember the three girls sitting in the area.  Kimmy walks in. It is her Geometry hour with Mr. Harding.  What do you do? A Day in the Life Haviland, 2016

 Your Assistant Principal is working with you and believes she has identified the student who wrote the note based on what the other two students were saying.  Unfortunately, it is that 16 year old’s off period. She is no where to be found.  What do you do? A Day in the Life Haviland, 2016

 Your Assistant Principal is working with you and believes she has identified the student who wrote the note based on what the other two students were saying.  Unfortunately, it is that 16 year old’s off period. She is no where to be found.  What do you do? A Day in the Life Haviland, 2016

 It is near the end of the day already and the Basketball coach comes before the varsity team has to leave for their game. He needs the academic progress of two of his starting players because three days ago they had “F”s and he is desperate to have them play tonight. He is not allowed to check grades himself because of FERPA.  You still have not found your Suicidal student.  What do you do? A Day in the Life Haviland, 2016

 The bell has just rung for the end of the day and the parent of the suicidal student walks in with her. The parent is very angry with her student for making her leave work to find her so you ask to talk to the student alone when the student tells you she is suicidal because of the abuse she has received from her mom. She is afraid to go home.  What do you do? A Day in the Life Haviland, 2016

 After involvement with the police, administrators, and parent, all is resolved. It is 5:30p and you look over to see your twice heated lunch leftovers.  Kimmy’s mom spoke with the assistant principal, unhappy with your response. They worked something out together to resolve the Geometry issue.  You still have three letters of recommendation to write.  Who thanked you today? A Day in the Life Haviland, 2016

 With your partner find another group to talk with:  What was this like for you?  How did you solve the day’s problems?  What problem was the hardest for you?  What problem was the easiest for you? A Day in the Life Haviland, 2016

{ THANK YOU FOR PLAYING! A Day in the Life of a School Counselor. Haviland, 2016