Pinterest and Parents

Looking for an innovative way to engage parents and students in your counseling program?  Do you want to incorporate technology into your school counseling program?

Check out my School Counseling Pinterest page at www.pinterest.com/CounselorJenn1.

Pinterest.com is an easy way to...

1. Provide parents with supplemental information about parenting, your counseling program, and mental health
2. Guide student exploration of careers, college, stress management techniques, and just about anything else
3. Create a positive public relations campaign for your counseling program

TIPS:

• Do NOT connect your school counseling program Pinterest page with your personal Pinterest page and/or Facebook page.  For example, don't use your personal email address when you set up your school counseling program page. 
• Use a quick Google drive survey or old-fashioned paper survey to find out what your parents and/or students would like to see on your Pinterest page.
• Don't clutter your professional Pinterest page. Make each Pin intentional and meaningful so that it is easy for parents, students, and staff to navigate.

Visit Pinterest's profile on Pinterest.

Use PowToon.com to Reach Stakeholders Using Technology

PowToon's motto is, "Brings Awesomeness to Your Presentations!"  PowToons is a FREE way to engage others in a visual way using technology.

As a school counselor, you can use PowToon to:

• Share data with stakeholders
• Announce upcoming events with parents, staff, and the community
• Motivate staff
• Teach a simple concept to students

The link below shows the short 3 minute PowToon video I created and shared with stakeholders, including our superintendent, assistant superintendent, and student services director.

 

Overcoming Obstacles Lesson

Small Group

I am currently running two small groups for upper grades students with low academic motivation. Some of these kids openly admit that they do not like school - and the underlying reason is often that school is difficult for them.  More difficult than it was for me and you.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Throughout this group, I have found it important to create a group environment that allows for honesty and discussion.  This group is not about students giving me the "right answers."  When I facilitate this small group, I remember one of the tenets of Carl Rogers' person-centered theory - unconditional positive regard.  This means that I accept the students as they are and without judgment.  The goal is not to tell them that they should like school.  The goal is to help uncover what is holding them back and inspire them to change.

I hope for light bulb moments - moments when they realize how their thought patterns hold them back or moments when they catch a piece of inspiration that can push them to do better.  I remember a session when one of the students shared damaging words from a relative about their potential for success.  Challenging these false beliefs and making connections for success is what this group is all about!

Videos

One thing I love to use with this group is videos.  Videos are visual, attention-grabbing, sometimes funny, and sometimes emotional.  When showing some of the videos, several of the boys have jokingly (or maybe it was truth in jest) said, "I'm going to cry!" 

When something triggers the emotional part of our brain, we tend to remember it better.

Below are several of the motivational videos I use as part of my work with these students.

Video #1



Discussion Questions:

• What was his dream?
• What stood in the way?
• What kept him going?

And the key is to always relate the content of the video back to their personal situation!

Video #2



Discussion Questions:

• What was his obstacle?
• How did he overcome it?
• How can our attitude influence our situation?

Video #3