The most challenging situations unfortunately probably outweigh the rewarding ones but that is just because you are dealing with young students that have many "problems" in their daily life. I know of one challenging situation in particular that one of our guidance counselors had to deal with at our school and I am sure that it is more common than I think. There was a young man that did not know his mother and was being raised by his father until his father went to jail. He had no place to stay, no job, little food, etc. The guidance counselor was able to assist the student with getting his basic needs met to hopefully keep those worries from interfering with his studies. It is challenging because you can only do so much as a counselor and unfortunately, that student still dropped out of school. I know that it must also be challenging to see a student with a wonderful future throw it away over a senseless decision. I could never do this job because even though I am very close with my students, I do not know all of their heartaches and troubles, and do not think that I could emotionally deal with them.
The rewards may be few but they must also be great. I was speaking to a counselor the other day about one of my students. I was just making certain that she was on track to graduate this year. The counselor shared with me that this student was a behavioral problem in the past and has now blossomed to be a wonderful young lady. It must be exciting to see your work make a difference. It is also rewarding in the sense that the students that you assisted with college and career decisions go on to be GREAT people in society. As a guidance counselor, you can make the difference between if a student goes down the wrong path or down a highly successful path. It is the difference that teachers need to succeed also. We could not teach the students if the guidance counselors were not pushing them in the right direction.
This site is a class blog space for new Career and Technical Specializations and Heathcare Science teachers enrolled in the New Teacher Institute (NTI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Rules For Posting To This Blog and Weekly Blog Question
1. Only use your first name (no last names, addresses, IM screen names, etc.)
2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.
2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.
FINAL BLOG POST - OUR "DAILY TRIPLE" (DUE 12/1).
This week I would like you to use your imagination. You have just won the lottery and will leave your teaching post immediately to travel around the world. As you leave your keys you meet your replacement. You are asked to give this new teacher just ONE piece of advice. What would that be, and why? Enjoy your world expedition!
Blog Post - Week 7
This past week in my own teaching I felt a little disconnected which prompts my question to you, "What was the moment (or moments) when I felt most disconnected or disengaged as a teacher - the moment(s) I said to myself, I'm just going through the motions here?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 6
For the past couple of weeks you have experienced asynchronous online learning (doing modules by yourself). Previously this semester you have experienced synchronous online learning (all together in the Collaborate room). Which do you think is more effective and why do you think that? Which do you like better, and why?
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 5
This week we have what we call "open mic." You can write a post about anything related to your teaching that you would like responses from your classmates.
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 4
Here is this week's question: "What was the event that most took me surprise this week - and event that shook me up, caught me off guard, gave me a jolt, or made me unexpectedly happy?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 3
Please write a post about the following question, "In thinking about my past week teaching what is one thing I would do differently, and why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 2
Please write a post about the following question, " In thinking about my teaching activities this past week, of what do I feel most proud? Why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 1
Describe something you used in your program in the first weeks of school that you learned in the summer NTI program. How did it work? Did it get you off to a stronger start than last year?
1 comment:
Ginger,
Hearing your story about the student that didn't know his mother and his dad was put in jail brought memories to me of a student last year. Within exactly one year, he lost both of his parents. His dad died in a car accident and his mother died of cancer. He was a senior. I know the guidance counselors along with all of his teachers tried everything we could to keep him in school. Some teachers called him every day to make sure he was awake for school and they would check my class to see how he was doing. It was a proud day for all of us to see him walk across stage and get his diploma. It would have to be days like that that are truly rewarding experiences for guidance counselors.
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