School Counselor Blog

This past school year I have implemented various ideas to  boost staff morale .   One day while perusing  Pinterest , I came across the  DIY Birthday Wreath  pictured below.  Source:  blog.embellishedbayou.com   on  Pinterest I thought creating a wreath like this would be a super cute, fun, and inexpensive way to celebrate staff birthdays.  Creating a Happy Birthday! / Happy Un-Birthday! Wreath  I did not see the wreath until around February when the school year was half way over. I decided to make the wreath an inter-changeable Happy Birthday and Happy UN-Birthday wreath.  My intern, Christine, and I purchased all of the supplies for the wreath at the dollar store.  We purchased 8 packs of curly ribbons, a roll of yellow ribbon, and a foam circle (which we did not end up using). We purchase 4 solid color packs and 4 packs that had little birthday cakes on them! :) We at...

Today is the last day of Teacher Appreciation Week. One week just does not seem like enough appreciation for any educational professional! We need encouragement and appreciation all year round! Way back in February, my co-school counselor and I made decided to make water-bottle gifts for staff during National School Counseling Week . My co-school counselor saw something similar on Pinterest . We purchased bulk packs of water bottles and individual drink mix packets in a variety of flavors. We printed the message "Together we help  'quench' the 'thirst' for knowledge! We appreciate you!" on yellow card stock. We then punched a hole in the top and tied the cards on with embroidery floss.  We used glue dots to affix the individual drink mix packets to the cards. The water bottles turned out really cute and the staff loved them!  They were inexpensive, simple, and quick to make. I love that they look so bright and cheery! These water bottles are a simpl...

It was difficult to pick my 11 favorite posts of 2011 considering I wrote 108 posts this year, not counting this post! 2011 was a pretty great year. I had the opportunity to present at the  ASCA conference in Seattle, WA , started School Counselor Tweet Chats , hosted lots of giveaways , made video posts , and much more! I have enjoyed connecting with you in 2011 and can't wait to see what is in store for 2012! Below I outlined 11 of my favorite posts and why they made the list. Serving Up Career Standards Through Community Involvement One of my biggest accomplishments of the 2010-2011 school year was starting Career Cafe at my school.  It has been an amazing ride since implementing it.  Students are so excited to learn about careers first-hand from people in their community.  I am learning so much from the speakers too! Career Cafe  is one of my favorite programs I implement as a school counselor. Many School Counselor Blog readers have emailed me...

On Friday, after putting HUGs in mailboxes and bringing breakfast treats, I decided I wanted to spread some more cheer. There is a bathroom at the end of the hallway that is just depressing looking inside.... and don't know about you, but I very much dislike school soap. Over the summer I bought some Bath and Body Works soap in fun scents to keep in my office. Before I moved downstairs to the Student Services Suite I had a sink in my office. They kids enjoyed using fun smelling soap. I got the idea the other day to "donate" my scented soap to this dismal bathroom. Then on Friday, when I was on my way to take the soap to the bathroom I got an idea. I turned around and went back to get my window markers . I drew a sun, some clouds, grass and flowers on the bathroom mirror. I also wrote " Have a great day!" on the mirror. (It is hard to see in this picture because of the reflection of the paper towel holder.) I put my Citrus Blueberry Swirl soap on...

I got the idea to give the staff at my school HUGS during the S chool Counselor Tweet Chat about collaboration . Kelly (@KJohnson222) , a school counselor who participated in the School Counselor Tweet Chat , mentioned that she puts Hershey's Kisses in the staff mailboxes at her school. She doesn't tell anyone it was her. She uses this as a moral booster. I loved this idea! Our school is in definite need of a morale boost. I decided to use Hershey's Hugs instead of Hershey's Kisses. I made little cards that say "Thought you could use a HUG or two!" to use the play on words with the Hugs .  I put the card and two Hugs in each mailbox. I put an additional card and more Hugs near the sign in sheet. I did not write on the cards that the Hugs were from me. :) Just the act of giving Hugs boosted my morale and really made my Friday much better than usual! School has been very stressful and challenging lately. This was a great pick me up because...