Counselor's Corner
Counselor’s Corner
Welcome to the School Counseling webpage! My name is Lisa Spera, the School Counselor at Ebb Valley Elementary School. This page provides you with information about the School Counseling program, upcoming counseling-related activities and events, and counseling topics and resources.
EVE School Counseling Mission Statement
The EVE School Counseling program aims to create and maintain a safe, collaborative learning community where comprehensive services are delivered to every student to maximize his/her achievement as well as his/her personal, social, academic, and career-related potential.
EVE student-generated mission statement:
"Our mission at Ebb Valley is to safely and respectfully work together, doing our very best each day."
What is a School Counselor?
-a certified, trained, and caring professional who works with all students, parents, teachers, staff and the community, in order for each student to achieve academic and social success. School Counseling services are delivered in four specific ways:
• School Guidance Curriculum- designing ,structuring, and delivering classroom lessons designed to achieve specific competencies in all grades K-5 (personal/social, academic, career)and driven by the needs of the school population
• Individual Student Planning- assisting students with goal formation/planning (behavioral, academic, etc.)
• Responsive Services- meeting immediate student needs (counseling, crisis intervention, consultation, referral, peer mediation, information-providing)
• System Support- schoolwide program planning and implementation (PBIS, Instructional Leadership Teaming, etc.), consulting with other professionals, coordination of various supports for students and families
What types of counseling supports are delivered by a School Counselor?
*Individual Counseling A process where students discuss issues in a safe, positive, and confidential setting (for a limited time, ongoing therapy is not available at school). Topics are based on the needs of the students and may include: feelings, changing families, peer pressure, friends, stress, academics, social skills, academics, bullying, getting along with others, problem-solving, and decision-making.
*Small Group Counseling A process where students, sharing similar issues and concerns, work together in a small group environment consisting of about 5-8 peers. The group sessions usually last about 30 minutes and are held for approximately 6-8 weeks. Topics are based on the needs of the students and may include divorce or changing families, grief and loss, friendship and social skills, study skills, conflict resolution, anger management, self-esteem, and stress-management.
*Classroom Guidance/Classroom Counseling A process that requires the School Counselor to develop and implement K-5 classroom curriculum. This K-5 curriculum addresses personal, social, academic, and career-related needs at the child's developmental level. Topics may include self-esteem, conflict resolution, study skills, anger management, career awareness, tattling/reporting, friendship/social skills, responsibility, respect, teasing/bullying, feelings, cooperation, goal setting/decision-making, and peer pressure.
EVE Programs Coordinated by the Counselor
- Support the development, implementation, and monitoring of behavior plans
- PBIS Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports
- Education that is Multicultural
- Schoolwide Developmental Classroom Counseling Program
- Take a Stand, Lend a Hand, Bully-Prevention/Intervention Program
- Social/Emotional Learning/Character Development
- Parent-partnerships: conferencing, resourcing, programming
Resources Commonly Used to Assist Students
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Ice-Breaker Exercises
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Art -Therapeutic Experiences
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Play- Therapeutic Experiences
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Bibliotherapeutic Experiences (relevant books)
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Conflict-Resolution Contracting
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Video-clip discussion/analysis
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Behavioral Coaching/Role Plays
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Therapeutic Games
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Active Listening Skill-Development
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Classroom Counseling Programs and Games
Notes from Mrs. Spera:
Another school year is fast approaching! Is your child excited to come back to school? Any time we experience change, it's normal for us (adults and children) to feel uneasy or anxious. If your child experiences anxiety, you may want to acknowledge these feelings with him/her. Let your child know that every person feels "butterflies" when adjusting to a new situation. As we take a deep breath and move into the "change", those feelings subside and we relax. The best part about feeling this way is that each time we step through those nervous feelings, we "bank" coping skills and confidence!! As always, if you have personal/social/academic concerns about your child, please contact us at school.
PBIS Notes:
In June, 2011, Ebb Valley was designated a PBIS Gold-level Exemplar School! Thank you to all the staff, students, and parents who work together to demonstrate and reinforce Respect, Safety, Preparedness, and Responsibility.
EVE PBIS team will continue our focused approach to teach and reinforce behavioral expectations at our school. We will be highlighting specific traits from our Eagle Flight Plan on a quarterly basis. Please keep an "Eagle-Eye" out for more information in upcoming 2011-2012 Ebb Valley newsletters!
Highlighted Traits for 2011-2012
Quarter 1- Respect
Quarter 2-Safety
Quarter 3-Prepared
Quarter 4-Responsible
Great Website Resources for Parents (more to come!):
School Counselor Role:
Carroll County Public Schools: School Counselor Role and Student Services
American School Counseling Association
Maryland School Counseling Association
Child Development:
Education News Parents Can Use
Parenting/Discipline:
Developmentally-Appropriate Discipline
Keep Kids Healthy/Parenting Styles & Discipline
American Academy of Pediatrics: Discipline Guidelines
List of Children's Books dealing with Counseling topics
Comprehensive List of Parenting/Education organizations
Minimizing Summer Learning Loss:
Positive Parenting Tips for Summer: American School Counselor Assoc.
Minimizing Summer Learning Loss: MSNBC
101 Worthwhile Summer Activities: Parents.com
Back to School:
Back to School Readiness Checklist
Simple Kids: Suggestions for building a great morning routine for your child
Printable Checklists.com (morning routine checklist)
Bullying:
Take a Stand, Lend a Hand, Stop Bullying Now! (kid-friendly webisodes and games)
Internet Safety:
Common Sense Media Internet Safety
Netsmartz.org (partner of Nat'l Center for Missing/Exploited Children)
Study Skills:
Resources for Parents: Homework Help
Diverse Populations/ Special Needs:
Maryland Disability Resources List
Overcoming Shyness in Young Children
MD Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health
Computers for Families in Need
Lance Armstrong & PBS Arthur: Talking w/kids about cancer
CHADD-Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder
MSDE ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Resource Site
Military Active Duty/National Guard/Reservist Family Support:
Military Child Coalition (MCEC) -ensures quality educational opportunities for military children
Military One Source (MOS) -free counseling, legal, accounting, clergy services, etc.
Our Military Kids -provides $500 grant for extra-curricular activities
National Guard Programs for Educators and Parents
Courage Lions -visit children in crisis
**Numerous other resources available. Please contact Lisa Spera or Bob Mitchell for further info.
Grief/Loss:
ADEC (Grief Education/Counseling)
Transitioning to Middle School:
PBS Kids: Middle School Transitions
Smoothing your Child's Transition to Middle School
Scholastic.com Making the Transition to Middle School
North Carroll Middle School Web Page
National Middle School Association- Transitioning to Middle School
Great "EI" (emotional intelligence) Website Resources for Kids (more to come!):
PBS Kids: Arthur's Feelings Game
Julia's Rainbow Corner: Feelings Game
Character Education
"Bucketfillers 101": Kindness and Respect
Teaching Tolerance: Diversity Acceptance
Counseling Resources in Carroll County (more to come!):
Carroll County Youth Service Bureau
Carroll County Community Mediation
Get Connected Family Resource Center
