Ranger Values ~ Focus Cards

 I love what I call "focus cards."  I use these to start each guidance lesson and they are reflected in my lessons.

Always remember to be friendly and greet someone with a smile.  Look them in the eye.

Sometimes we have to do hard things.  Don't shy away from hard work.  This goes along with initiative.

The storm in this situation is internal.  Anger, sadness, anxiety.  Stop and think of  what you're thankful for and it will help you with your "storm."  This goes along with hope and contentment.

This goes along with cooperation for the 2nd six weeks!

Perseverance.  We don't back down when life gets hard.

Work hard, be brave, and love others.

This goes along with self control.  What does it mean to draw the line?  It means knowing when your behavior is out of control and reeling yourself back in.  Also, when someone else isn't doing what is right and you let them know (or at the least don't join in.)  Be an upstander not a bystander.

Make the most of today!  You can choose to have a bad attitude and be a bad friend and make bad decisions and have a horrible day.  Or you can choose to have grit, be positive, be a good friend, and have a great day!  You have more control over your day then you think if you will take ahold of it! Seize the day, shout it out, and throw your fist in the air like a superhero!

Ranger Values

My guidance this year was focused on the cowboy values that settled the state of Texas.  Our mascot is the Ranger, and values are important out here in West Texas.  These were based on the book Cowboy Ethics by James P. Owen.  Here are the Ranger Values I chose to focus on this year:

We chose to award character certificates at the six weeks and semester marks.  Here is an example of the certificates we used.

And here are the images I put on our school TVs (last six weeks STAAR got me!):

I'll share my lessons next! 

School Counseling Week 2018!

School Counseling Week was celebrated on February 5-9, 2018.  We always use this week to advocate for our school counseling program.

During School Counseling Week, we set off on a 100 compliment challenge with staff and students.  A compliment card box was placed in the library and we hoped to have it full of 100 compliments by the end of the week.

Don't you wish you had a way to let that special person know how awesome they are? YOU DO! Honor school counseling week by stopping by the GHS library to spread a little kindness! #NSCW18 #100ComplimentChallenge pic.twitter.com/FrHc3PUhIL

— GHS Counseling Dept (@counseling_ghs) January 31, 2018

The compliment challenge went over very well and there were over 300 compliments sent out to students and staff!  We were blown away with the kindness shown by Graham High School.

Do you know that sometimes you have to throw your own party?  That's what we have discovered!  We threw a "Coffee with the Counselors" party for GHS Staff to celebrate NSCW.  We offered coffee, hot chocolate, and chocolate candies, as well as inspirational cards for staff to "take what they need."

It's National School Counseling Week! Coffee with the Counselors has been a fun event today! We celebrate the wonderful GHS staff who helps make our counseling program a success. #NSCW18 pic.twitter.com/zVcNdd6HIU

— GHS Counseling Dept (@counseling_ghs) February 6, 2018

Finally, for students and parents, we offered a Friday Forum opportunity to learn more about dual credit.

We hope you will join us to learn more about Dual Credit at this week's Friday Forum with the counselors! Target Audience: Current 10th and 11th graders/parents. Friday @ 2:40 in Room 118. Please RSVP in Parent Square or email your counselor! #NSCW18 pic.twitter.com/JFNR5jNAiG

— GHS Counseling Dept (@counseling_ghs) February 5, 2018

This was a great opportunity for parents to learn more about dual credit.  You can access the slideshow here.

It was a very rewarding week and we appreciated the compliment cards, shout outs, and love we received from our students, staff, and administration.  #NSCW18 was AMAZING!

A BIG SHOUT OUT for our school counselors!  We are blessed with the best... Natalie Pollard Husen, Molly Morris, Lori Kramer, Kelli Walker, Marie McClendon Stephenson, Brandi Goble Menard. Happy National School Counseling Week and thanks a ton for your service!!! pic.twitter.com/BVehxRJen9

— CruseSonny (@CruseSonny) February 7, 2018

David's Law Presentation for Counselors in Schools

I have been researching David's Law for a presentation I'm giving in August.  Here is the current presentation I am working on!
If you have to present over David's Law, you can order David's Pledge Stickers from David's Foundation.  Click here and scroll down to "contact us."  I received my pledge stickers very quickly!

School Counseling Week!

The first week of February is School Counseling Week!  It's not school counselor's week, so although you might get some appreciation ~ IF YOU ARE  REALLY LUCKY ~ typically it is a week for you to advocate for your program.  Here are some ideas!

Teacher Gifts/Thank Yous:  There is a lot of debate on this topic, but I think giving is fun!  It never hurts to thank people, build bridges, and celebrate counseling!

Lifesavers!

Popcorn!

Rolos!

Sharpies!

Animal Crackers!

Student Workshops:  We partnered with our local junior college to offer workshops on ApplyTexas and College 101.  All sophomores completed their Apply Texas application for dual credit.  We also presented a local scholarship workshop for seniors.  Finally, we presented to all AP students regarding upcoming AP testing.

Mrs. Husen Rocking the Local Scholarship Workshop!

Parent Workshop:  We offered a parent workshop for the FAFSA.  All parents left with a completed FAFSA!  This was in addition to our fall FAFSA workshops and what I called the "It's not too late! FAFSA workshop."

Everyone left with a completed FAFSA!

College Visits:  We had multiple colleges visit classes during school counseling week.  The Art Institute of Dallas visited Career and Technology Classes, Weatherford Junior College visited all senior English classes, and Texas Tech visited with interested students.  

Art Institute of Dallas

Texas Tech University

School counseling week was extremely fun!  Can't wait for next year!  

Character Education is our Guidance Curriculum!

A fellow counselor and I were asked to present on the topic of "Character Education."  Our audience was the counseling staff and upper administration.  I used this opportunity to review the four components of the Model Comprehensive, DevelopmentalGuidance and Counseling Program for Texas Public Schools.  This is the presentation I put together along with our district counselors.  My goal was to review the four components and the amount of time we should IDEALLY spend on each component.

Guidance curriculum from Molly Morris - Yes the format got a little messed up on the upload!


SLIDES 1-10:  We reviewed the 4 components and discussed the recommended percentages for each component at each level.  An important note regarding the pie chart ~ we can't make a bigger pie (unless we work late and weekends ~ which we do!)  If one piece of the pie grows, one must shrink.  Typically, responsive behavior cannot shrink ("Have a breakdown sometime else!" ~ doesn't go over well.)  If individual planning shrinks, someone might not graduate.  The individual time we spend with students is so important!  And system support doesn't seem to ever shrink with the demands on counselors increasing.  So, unfortunately, the guidance curriculum often is the piece of the pie that shrinks.  This is why this topic is SO IMPORTANT TO DISCUSS!  Guidance cannot give!  The difference it makes impacts graduation, discipline, climate, AND SO MUCH MORE!

SLIDES 11-18:  We reviewed each of the objectives in the guidance curriculum component, and how we are addressing these objectives through our curriculum.  This exposed weaknesses in areas we need to address, as well as areas in which we are excelling.

This presentation went over well.  It is always good to review what we are supposed to be doing vs. what we are doing.  Our role in the school is so misunderstood and it is up to us to advocate for counselors!

Generosity! A Christmas lesson in giving.

It is important for students to consider giving, not just receiving, over Christmas.  Here is a guidance lesson for older elementary students:

• Engage - I started by asking students if they had ever received a special gift they would never forget, then I showed them my box of notes and treasures I had received from teachers and students in my past, including a painted pet rock, scribbled notes, and drawings.  
• Brainstorm - I asked students to consider things they could give this Christmas, noting that there is great joy in being able to give.  Also, it doesn't feel good to want and want all the time.  Also, I acknowledged they they probably do not have credit cards or bank accounts.  What did they have to give? 
• Summary - Then I summed up their responses with time (spending time with a loved one, helping them, chores, etc.), talents (singing, drawing, making someone smile), and treasures (donate old toys, clothes, canned goods.)

• Modeling generosity - We talked about acts of generosity and I showed these videos.  

Could you give up a ball?  How did he feel when he gave it away? Do you do the right thing, even if you don't know who is watching?

(For more information on Beary Christmas, click here. )

• Acting on generosity - Finally, I asked students if they wanted to do a random act of generosity?  Of course they did! I passed out this paper and instructed students to go to one of the websites:
• The first was FreeRice.com, which  (I incorporated a non-holiday themed website for those who do not celebrate Christmas or holidays.)

• Or students could write a letter to Santa (most played along even if, you know...) at Macy's.  Macy's donates $1 to Make-a-Wish for each letter written. Here's the link.

• Together, small acts of generosity make a big difference! Students turned in their paper slips at the end of class.  I tallied it all up, and at the last assembly in December, I announced how much money and rice we generated for the sick and hungry.  We all cheered!  Yay for generosity!