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.

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?

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Perceived Roles

I perceive that guidance counselor is very important in student success. Being in career tech allows me insight into the world of our school counselors. I know that they are heavily involved in scheduling. At the beginning of every school term, they spend countless grueling hours arranging student schedules and making sure students are on the right track for graduation. Many students look to their guidance counselor for personal guidance with friends, family and their teachers. Guidance counselors are responsible for testing in our building, students and teachers alike. Guidance counselors have many duties but are acknowledged the least in the school system. I look forward to interviewing my guidance counselor because counseling was once an interest and somewhat still is.

Rewards and Challenges

After researching the roles of school counselors, I have found many different rewards and challenges they face in their jobs. The rewards can be huge for some counselors, and seem to be very satisfying. But, the challenges of this job can seem to out way some of the rewards.

Some of the main rewards that counselors see in their job are students making something of themselves. It seems it would be a huge reward to a counselor to watch a poverty stricken students become valedictorian and go to a wonderful college. Or, see a teen mom graduate with honors, and much more. Also, a large reward in this job could be having their school make AYP after losing its accreditation. This is a huge feat in which many schools face.

But, the challenges of this job are of many. Some of the main challenges faced by counselors are having their students pass standardized test, keeping AYP, handling scheduling issues, interpreting racial discrepancies, etc. The one thing that seems to be a huge challenge for them thought, is time management. Having a job with so many aspects can really take up a huge amount of time and really make time management a problem. Their job is by far one of the most rewarding and challenging in the educational field.

Changed Impressions

What a whirlwind of difference a little research makes. Based on my first post, I already thought I knew a lot about what a counselors job entailed. I am personal friends with a school counselor, and believed I knew the end and out of their job. However, I was very mistaken. Not only do they handle matters of students issues in school, and educational placement, but they also have a great deal of time with teachers, parents, and other public and community officials.

Another large aspect of their job is handling standardized testing and other aspects of academic achievement and school leadership achievement. I didn't quite realize how much data collection and analysis went on in this job title. This is in part a benefit of the HB1187 act. Which, seems to be a huge help in community involvement as well as teaching issues about children with disabilities. This is a large benefit to teachers, as we are not the determining factors of educational placement, but simply facilitate it.

Also, my impression changed in how I expected that school counselors come about. I didn't realize that forms of counseling were here before the Great Depression. Also, I would not have imagined the job derived from a vocational guidance movement that helped to guide adults in the workforce. Many different thoughts about counselors jobs have changed for me. I plan to show them a little more respect and help to facilitate their roles more than I have in the past.

''Rewards and Challenges''

‘’Rewards and Challenges’’
I think what would be most rewarding for guidance counselors are seeing students succeed in life. Students graduate from high school, attend college or technical schools, get employed or seek employment and/or get married are all positive outcomes for success.  Guidance counselors are accountable for all students; therefore, all levels of success (small or large, high school or college) by students should be recognized, applauded and encouraged. Guidance counselors should feel a sense of euphoria and proud that their program promoted and enhanced students success.  Nevertheless, success is initially set by goals of students and enhanced by counselors, teachers, administrators, parents and other family members.  However, success did not occur without challenges. I think the most challenging responsibility for guidance counselors would be finding time to assign/reassign classes or advise students when program meetings are scheduled. Counselors have numerous roles and responsibilities and meeting the need of a student is a number one priority.  Guidance counselors must be flexible and accessible to students at all times preferred.
Jan/Jannie

Saturday, January 28, 2012

‘’Changed Impressions’’

‘’Changed Impressions’’
My impressions of the role and responsibilities of guidance counselors have improved.  After reading the websites, my allegiance and respect for guidance counselor’s role and responsibilities have increased by two hundred percent. Counselors have enormous role and responsibilities. Not only are counselors focusing on academics, personal/ social development, confidentiality and collaboration with parents, teachers, administrators, to name a few, but are accountable for student’s success.  School/guidance counselors develop and implement data and participate in continuous program evaluation activities. Checks and balances are necessary to assess the outcome of student’s success which I failed to mention in Blog 1. As stated in the article, ‘’school counselors analyze outcome data to guide future action and improve future results of all students’’. Guidance counselors must adhere to and/or enhance comprehensive school counseling programs that promote students’ success.  Guidance counselors are vital to the success of students, all students and the collaboration of those involved.  I have always tried to assist counselors when needed, but after reading the websites, I will now volunteer my assistance to counselors.
Jan/Jannie

Friday, January 27, 2012

Perceived Roles

‘’Perceived Roles’’
My personal impressions of what the roles and responsibilities of guidance counselors include a strong commitment to student’s academic and social needs. Guidance counselors are professionals who provide assistance to elementary, middle, high school and college student’s curriculum.  Guidance counselors review or assess each student’s school record to determine what classes are required to advance to the next grade or graduate. Test scores and health records are assessed to determine what limitations a child may or may not have.  Guidance counselors refer students to the school psychologist, if applicable, as well as confer with their teachers and parents. Guidance counselors administer tests to determine a student’s interest and/or educational goals.  A guidance counselor’s responsibility is to make sure each child is happy and successful in graduating from high school by developing a plan- IEP. Guidance counselors are responsible for helping students get into colleges by developing an academic plan during high school. Guidance counselors assist with SAT preps and other tests as well as gather material for colleges.  Guidance counselors are approachable, compassionate, empathetic, non- judgmental, good listeners, patient and have the abilities to build a positive trusting professional relationship.
Jan

Perceived Roles

‘’Perceived Roles’’
My personal impressions of what the roles and responsibilities of guidance counselors include a strong commitment to student’s academic and social needs. Guidance counselors are professionals who provide assistance to elementary, middle, high school and college student’s curriculum.  Guidance counselors review or assess each student’s school record to determine what classes are required to advance to the next grade or graduate. Test scores and health records are assessed to determine what limitations a child may or may not have.  Guidance counselors refer students to the school psychologist, if applicable, as well as confer with their teachers and parents. Guidance counselors administer tests to determine a student’s interest and/or educational goals.  A guidance counselor’s responsibility is to make sure each child is happy and successful in graduating from high school by developing a plan- IEP. Guidance counselors are responsible for helping students get into colleges by developing an academic plan during high school. Guidance counselors assist with SAT preps and other tests as well as gather material for colleges.  Guidance counselors are approachable, compassionate, empathetic, non- judgmental, good listeners, patient and have the abilities to build a positive trusting professional relationship.
Jan

Rewards and Challenges

I honestly think one of the most rewarding times for a guidance counselor is graduation day! It's got to be a great feeling to see this student whom you've worked with for 4years meet their goal of graduating on time, passing all of those test, and most importantly not giving up. I've seen even at my own school how some of them get real emotional that day.
I also think that their reward is also the challenge! The challenge is making sure the students are on the right path, they pass their graduation test, they graduate on time, and to keep the students encouraged not to give up especially in hard times. The rewards and challenges of a guidance counselor to me are about the same.

"Changed Impressions"

My impressions really have not changed about what I thought about the role of guidance counselors. I did find that they really have to know how to deal with the parents of the children and that can sometimes be difficult. I also learned that most guidance counselors really do care for the children and want the best for them. I have also found that they sometimes seek help from the teachers in the school to further help them with the students and their pathways. I love the way they can have that one on one time with the students.

Perceived Roles

I perceive the roles of a school counselor are mainly to advise students academically. In the small school setting it is necessary that CTE teachers work with the counselor to ensure successful pathway completion and career advisement. However, in addition to student scheduling and assisting seniors with college applications, counselors are skillful at personal and social development of all students.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Perceived Roles - Angela

I perceive the roles and responsibilities of the guidance counselor as those similar to a liaison officer. Guidance counselors are the link between students, parents, faculty and the community. Additionally, I feel the counselor’s role is multi-faceted and varies according to each student’s needs. Over the years, I am certain that their responsibilities have changed. Once upon a time, the counselor was someone that assisted students with their academic needs. However, with the rapid social changes of today, the role of counselor has changed to someone that can help students with everything from class schedules to connecting them to community resources to acquire a bed for their young child. In closing, counselors’ connected to academics, but equally they do link students to resources that assist with staying in school. For instance, the assistance could be online financial aid applications or online part time employment applications. Either way counselors are a critical part of the educational process.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

“Perceived Roles.”

These are my perceived roles:

1. Help students decide on a pathway
2. Help students with schedules
3.Work with parents to ensure the child is on the right path
4. Encourage the students to do well in all classes.
5. Provide college information
6.Help teachers with schedules

Rewards and Challenges

Rewards and Challenges
I think the most rewarding thing for guidance counselors would be the satisfaction of knowing they helped a student reach their goals. Whether the goal was purely academic or if it was more of a life goal it would be rewarding to the counselor if they were able to contribute to the accomplishment of that goal. The most challenging for guidance counselors would be to deal with a student that was having major problems at home. So many of our kids are in bad situations at home and look to the counselors and teachers to help them solve those problems. Drugs, alcohol, gangs, physical abuse and much more plague some of our students. The counselor is often the first line of help in the school for these kids. This can be both rewarding and challenging for the counselor.

Percieved Roles

The guidance counselor is a very important of our team at the school. They have to start a few days earlier in the school year than the teachers, so that they can start getting student schedules started and getting our classes filled. They are responsible for talking to students to find out what kind of career that they are interested in pursuing, and helping them to find the best path to that career. They are deeply involved in testing for end of pathways, SAT, ACT and other college entry tests.They help students with the college application process, and they arrange tours. They sometimes also work with us to move students out of our class if it turns out not to be the correct fit for them. Occasionally they will assist us with discipline issues. I am sure there are more things that I have not thought about, but that's all I have.

Changed Impressions

Changed Impressions:
My impressions of the roles and responsibilities of guidance counselors has not changed dramatically but has expanded. The amount of responsibility that the counselor’s burden has expanded to include the parents of the students. It’s almost as if they are family counselors. I didn’t realize that guidance counselors were members of the national professional organization. I was unaware of the extensive education that they must complete. The following was taken from the GSU web site…. Students wishing to pursue the initial certification/non-degree program in school counseling must hold a master's degree in counseling from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. I also didn’t realize the amount of professional development was required. I have had great experience with my guidance counselors and realize what a valuable and important part they play in the education of a child. They have always been helpful to me whenever there was a need.

" Rewards and challenges"

First I will start with the rewards of being a guidance counselor. I would think that one reward of being a counselor would be just knowing that they are a service to people that helps! Nothing negative usually comes out of guidance. Students are helped acedemically through them and emotionally. Having someone trust you with private issues and problems good or bad is admirable. The self gratification of the job reminds me of construction. In construction when you help someone achieve a product to their liking it feels great. This is much like a counselor. They help students get what they need whether it be classes or emotional help. One challenge though that would seem to be held over a counselors head would be that they must always keep in mind what exactly to say or how to word a conversation with parents and students. Some parents are easily ignited when talked to. It would be tough to know that personal information is legally confidential. One other challenge would be that they are mostly responsible for making sure students have all their credits to graduate and are ready for college. I know that guidance helps my program alot because they see when students are doing poorly in some areas which sometimes brings them to the CTAE department. They feel that some students after being evaluated best belong in career tech areas. Some students may not be " college material". Carer tech offers real job training that you can't get in acedemic classes.

" Changed impressions"

My impression of a guidance counselor hasn't changed much. I knew that they had a huge responsibilty to fullfill. I do know that I didn't realize how much training and schooling that they have to complete just to be a counselor. I guess that it makes sense to have that much training because there is alot of different responsibilities that they carry. Sometimes it seems that they "have it made" but really do more behind the scenes. Having to obtain a master's degree just to get the career says alot. I know that if they didn't receive extensive training there could be legal liabilities to the school system. Guidance deals with crisis, students, parents, colleges, teachers, etc.... I guess what I am trying to say is that guidance counselors probably have more education than most teachers and alot of duties. Guidance should " be your friends"!

Perceived Roles

Guidance Counselors are the building blocks of our education. They truly carry a large responsibility of making sure our school system is ran correctly, as well as ensuring our education is on track to be a good learning experience for our students, as well as meeting state requirements.

The Guidance Counselors in my school system are by far a backbone for our outstanding academic achievement and scholars. They make sure all students are on the right educational track with their classes and which classes they should be planning to take in the future. They also help students achieve their desired grades on standardized test and such, by planning extra classes after school, as well as giving up their one on one time to work with these students as need be.

They help aid in disciplinary actions and help to stop some of the negativity that causes discipline to be implemented before it even starts. Our counselors offer many courses for parents, student and teachers to teach about bullying, teen relationship issues, etc. They truly have their plates full. Amidst all of this, it is in their job to seek out the teens pregnant in a school system to help get them the help they need as well. We actually offer a class for these moms to help them stay in school and see that they can still make something of themselves.

On top of all of this. Our counselors also attend to the attendance policies and make it their priority to see students at school. In fact, I accredit them with being a big part of why we have made AYP since our school opened in 2009. I truly don't think schools can run properly without this job being done properly. Counselors are wonderful.

Perceived Roles

Perceived Roles- Paul
My perceived Roles and responsibilities of the guidance counselors are as listed:
1. Work with the students on scheduling courses and pathways.
2. Keep up with student transcripts.
3. Counsel students in different areas i.e. personal, educational and future goals.
4. They keep up with student placement testing.
5. Health and shot records.
6. Work in recruitment of new students.
7. Work as the students liaison between teachers, parents, students, colleges, universities militaries, and administration. They represent the student in all types of different situations.
8. They are problem solvers and investigators.
9. Record keepers for student information.

"Perceived roles"

From my experiences with guidance I see that they are a crucial part of our school. The guidance department at our school have many duties. One job of theirs is to "guide" the students in the right direction to graduate. This takes alot of coordination between the teachers, admin., and the counselors. They make sure that the students are in the right courses they need and in the proper order to keep them on the right path that the student chooses to take for graduation. The guidance department also deals with personal issues with students and familes. If a student is struggling emotionally about something or their grades are slipping or even having family problems they are there to help. The guidance department deals with issues that may have legalities tied to them also. Testing such as ASVAB and others are orchestrated through guidance also. College preparations are handled and assisted through guidance to students. Guidance can assist students in applying for scholarships, military entrance, and college placements. Schedules are run through guidance prior to students receiving them. The guidance office prepares them and makes sure class numbers are correct and that the students are in classes that they are supposed to have. Guidance is like the human resource department at your schools. My guidance department at my school has helped me tremendously over the last two years.