Facilitating a Volunteer Appreciation Reception

Everyone loves a "thank you." 

 

Volunteers are more likely to return the following year if they feel appreciated and can see the "fruits" of their efforts.  One way I do this is by facilitating the Volunteer Appreciation Reception every year.

 

Here are a few key tips to help make your Volunteer Appreciation Reception successful:

1. Provide teachers with a paper copy (bi-lingual if needed) of the invitation that they can send home for any parents or individuals that volunteered in their classroom.  The paper copy should have a place for volunteers to RSVP.  Once returned, teachers should return the RSVP form to your mailbox.
2. If your volunteers are tech-savvy, create electronic invitations and be sure to include a RSVP.
3. Make the kids part of the reception!  Individuals volunteer because they love children.  Our kindergarten students sang and did hand motions to the song, "You've Got a Friend in Me" this year.  Our 1st grade students decorated flowers for the place settings.  Our Student Lighthouse Team greeted volunteers as they arrived.
4. Create name tags so that volunteers can mingle without the awkwardness.
5. Have the principal, a teacher, yourself, or all 3 share a super short heartfelt thank you speech to the volunteers. 

Our Volunteer Appreciation Theme this year was, "Thank You for Helping Us Bloom!"

School-wide College Exploration for the Elementary School

In the main hallway, I created a hallway display with teacher's pictures (visual) and their name listed under where they attended college.

 

In addition to the visual display, every morning, I chose a teacher to give a one-minute overview of their college experience during the morning announcements. Some chose to talk about time management, while others talked about intermural sports. Students were excited to find out about their teachers' college experience.

 

The college exploration project was a success in introducing students to the world of college!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Work at a Low-Performing School. I Am Not a Low-Performing Teacher.

I work at an impoverished school.

I love my job, and my students.

My test scores come back.

I am an ineffective teacher.
 

One of my students is living in a motel.

They need extra food.

Six people living in one motel room.

I am an ineffective teacher.
 

One of my students is a newcomer.

They just arrived from El Salvador.

I greet them every morning with a hug.

I am an ineffective teacher.
 

One of my students stayed up late, real late.

Mom and dad were fighting again.

The police came and took dad away.

I am an ineffective teacher.
 

My students love being at school.

One student tells me they want to live with me.

When winter break arrives, some are saddened.

I am an ineffective teacher.
 

One of my students is little, but can't be little.

She helps takes care of the baby in the house.

She wakes up in the night to feed the baby.

I am an ineffective teacher.
 

 

I work at an impoverished school.

I love my job, and my students.

My test scores come back.

I am an ineffective teacher.

 

It is a new year and I move to teach at a new school.

The parents donate everything on my wish list, and more.

The students spent their summer at camps and museums.

Can I hide that I am an ineffective teacher?
 

I work at an affluent school.

I love my job, and my students.

My test scores come back.

I am an effective teacher.

Wait, I am the same teacher.

A new teacher takes my place at my old school.
The "effective" teachers don't want to work there.
The students wonder why their beloved teachers are gone.
She is a first year teacher.

She works at an impoverished school.
She loves her job, and her students.
Her test scores come back.
She is an ineffective teacher.



Alert: New Tech Tool!

Are you looking for a creative, visual way to share information with staff, parents, or students? 

 

Try Haiku Deck. 

 

1. Go to www.haikudeck.com.
2. Sign up for free.  
3. Create your own presentation in 10 minutes! 

TIP: You can search for graphics on Haiku Deck.  You don't have to upload your own.

Below is a Haiku Deck you can share with staff

at your school to kick off the year!

Back to School - Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires

Teaching Children Deep Breathing and Mindfulness

Below are 3 great videos to help your kids learn the art of deep breathing and mindfulness.

This 2-minute video explains the 3 steps to meditation, including sitting posture, feeling your breath, and dealing with distractions.  Great video for students or staff!




The video below (a little over 1 minute) explains the brain regions impacted by mindfulness/deep breathing. It introduces three words - prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. Great for elementary school-aged students!




The 3.5 minute video below helps students better understand the mind-body connection. It uses relatable students to teach the concept of deep breathing.

 

Inspirational Videos for Educators

Need a little inspiration? 

Here are some videos that may give you the momentum you need to

be an INSPIRING educator for others!

Get your groove on with this parody of "Ridin Solo".



We must continually change to reach our students.



The value of relationships in learning.

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.

 

End of Year "Send Off" Gift for Staff

Need a creative way to send teachers off for the summer? 

Or a fun reminder during the year to "pencil" in time to relax, read, and recharge?

"Happy" End of the Year Video

Our staff at school had fun making this end of the year video to the popular song "Happy"!  We changed the words to fit the end of the year theme!

Enjoy!

Two Leadership Tips

Over spring break, I have been listening to several of John Maxwell's leadership books, including "Leadership 101" and "How to Win with People."

Two quotes from the books have stuck with me.

"Do win-win, or don't do it at all." ~ John Maxwell

In my role as school counselor, I work with so many different people - teachers, administrators, students, parents, cafeteria workers, janitorial staff, and office staff.  When things get hectic, I sometimes become focused on myself and what I need.  I forget all about what the other person needs or how she feels. 

While getting what I need may seem advantageous in the moment, it can be devastating to my relationships with others.  I must remember - my relationships with others are my #1 asset.

For example, when I am doing behavioral plans for students, it is important that I give the teacher as much support as possible.  If I just do my part and then say, "Good luck," I have failed.  I am creating a win-lose situation.  In order to "do win-win," I need to create the plan with the teacher and student, provide ongoing support, and offer as much help as I can.

"Do the things that provide the greatest return." ~ John Maxwell

Almost any counselor will tell you that one of their greatest challenges is a four letter word - TIME.  Between staff meetings, guidance, crisis needs, small groups, parent requests, 504 meetings, paperwork, and student needs, I often find myself wondering where my time went. 

In order to be most EFFECTIVE, I need to ask myself, "What thing(s) do I do that have the greatest impact?  What has the greatest return?"  I need to focus my efforts on these things. 

Every school has different needs, and therefore different tasks will have a different return.  After reflecting, I decided that the following tasks have the greatest return at my school:

~ Guidance Instruction
~ Individual Counseling (teacher referred and self referred)
~ Teacher Consultation and Support

Valentine's Day Staff Appreication Gifts

Holidays are a great time to remind the school staff that you appreciate them! 

 

I was only able to do this particular gift for our administration because of the cost of the M&M's.  I used our school colors for the M&M's, and the Valentine's note read, "Do what you love, love what you do."  The M&M's came from "It's Sugar," but some local candy shops also sell colored M&M's.  I printed the tags off myself.