Guidance is an integral part of the elementary education program. The counselor is a child advocate. A goal of elementary counseling is to be preventative in nature while also identifying and addressing current problems. Another goal is to help children understand themselves and others.
The elementary program is characterized by intervention and prevention techniques. Counselors help students develop social skills including conflict resolution, interpersonal relations skills, decision making and problem solving. Counselors also assist students in their transition to Randolph schools and in moving up to the middle school. Counselors conduct individual and group session, classroom lessons, district-wide programs, and parent consultations as needed. Counselors work collaboratively with other school personnel, especially the classroom teacher, and serve on each building's Pupil Assistance Committee. Counselors attend professional conferences and belong to professional associations.
The counselors are available to consult with parents, teachers, and administrators to help address specific academic, social, and/or personal concerns of students. Counseling is for everyday people with everyday problems. Elementary guidance counselors are responding to today's needs by providing children with developmental school counseling programs and support.
Elementary Guidance counselors work to serve the needs of all students by:
- Helping children understand themselves and others
- Helping children develop communication skills
- Helping children develop successful behavior patterns
- Helping make school a successful experience for all children
- Helping prevent problems from developing
- Including parents in their children's education
- Providing crisis intervention
Group Instruction Topics
Careers
Red Ribbon Week/drug awareness
Bullying
Self-esteem
Cooperation
Problem solving
Transitions
Character Education (monthly themes)
Small Group Instruction Topics (These topics will change as needed.)
Social skills
Friendship
Anger management
Transitions (grief and loss, new sibling, school transitions)
Conflict resolution
Parent Education
The Parent Network
Parent Teacher Association
Orientations
Parent/family counseling
Family referrals to outside agencies
Communication
The Home and School Connection newsletter
Articles in the PTA newsletter
Upcoming events flyers
Randolph Township Schools Web site, http://www.rtnj.org
Community Outreach
Service projects
Senior Citizen Outreach
Participation in community programs - i.e. Municipal Alliance Committee, Child and Family Resource Center, Randolph CARES
Each grade level has a specific focus:
- Kindergarten: Meeting the counselor - students will be introduced to a special school helper, the elementary guidance counselor
- Grade 1: Understanding feelings - students will be able to identify and describe different types of feelings
- Grade 2: Cooperating within a group - Students will be able to identify the importance of compromise, cooperation, and what occurs when cooperation doesn't take place
- Grade 3: Building self-esteem and respecting self and others - students will be able to identify what makes them feel good about themselves and others
- Grade 4: Problem solving and decision making - Students will be able to examine and apply the steps of problem solving
- Grade 5: Transitioning to middle school - Students will be able to explore the social and emotional aspects of transitioning to the middle school
- Individual and group counseling
- Classroom lessons addressing cooperation, respect, self-esteem, problems solving and decision making
- Red Ribbon Week events
- Programs for parents
- School Counseling Week activity
- Pupil Assistance Leaders
- Lunch Bunch
- Character Education
- The Parent Network
- Community Service Projects
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