Next year has to be better right? Right? I'm ready to get started in planning so I can focus on the positive. I need all the help I can get right now. Picture me doing the happy dance over here. I am so excited to share my Counselor Planner with you! Make sure to read to the end of the post for a free download!

What's Included:

• This Planner belongs to... page
• Color coded calendar at a glance
• Program Goals Page
• 6 curriculum pages
• 2 Group Plan pages 
• Weekly Schedule and To Do list Pages July 2021-June 2022
• 6 Individual Counseling Log pages
• Lined Notes Pages
• Unlined Notes Pages
• Quote Pages for Coloring
• Printing Instructions 

Note: This product (and post) have been updated for the 2020-21 school year. This year, I've hole punched in a note book, I've also printed printed in a spiral notebook before as well. It's super easy to upload on a website like Staples or Office Depot and have it printed. It usually costs my about $15 depending on what options I use and coupons I find. I've included printing instructions in the materials as well. Best of all, you upload one document and it does it all for you!

Plan out your year long program goals on one page at the front of your planner to keep you accountable all year long! 

Include your curriculum plan in your planner so that you know which lessons are coming next. There are 6 pages for a total of 66 lessons. There is plenty of room to write notes if you write on the small side. I included a few reminders in my plan. Interested in any of these lessons? Check out my K-2 Curriculum Plan and 3-5 Curriculum Plan. 

I like to run a lot of groups. That's great but sometimes I get confused on who meets when and what class the kids are in. I used to make boxes like these using markers on white paper. For the planner, I've classed it up a bit and given you a spot to write who, what, where, when for all your groups!

Here comes the calendar! Each week includes a two page spread. The appointment page is on the left and the to-do list page on the right. All pages are dated by week and include a weekend box at the bottom. 

Depending on the meeting, I like notes pages with lines or blank so I can sketch it out. I've included both types of pages! 

The individual counseling log is super easy to keep up with. Just write the student's name, their teacher and grade, and the initial time you saw them. After that, simply place a tally next to their name so that you can track your total sessions. Saves paper and the time consuming counting. 

The entire planner has lots of doodling and art areas including mandala coloring pages with quotes. Helps when you're sitting in those super long staff meetings!

I've also included the color "codable" year at a glance calendar. Color the circles to correspond to workdays, vacations, early releases, etc. Click on the photo below to download the freebie!

Go ahead and purchase the planner today so that you can start off the year organized! If you'd like, I've also created monthly pages (free) and daily pages ($2). 

Hey, remember me? I have been feeling a little MIA from my very favorite people - school counselors! You might have heard, I am writing a book! I have an amazing co-author and am thrilled to be sharing our thoughts on equity in school counseling with the world. I am not going to lie though, it's challenging stuff. I've been devoting all the free time I can to book writing and haven't been here with y'all as much as I would like. Our book is due to the publisher at the end of June so never fear, this too shall pass. 

In the meantime, I want to share with you some of the social justice children's books that I have sitting in my Amazon cart. They look wonderful and I can't wait to get my hands on them. I'll do some Instagram Stories with walkthroughs so you can see the illustrations and hear my opinions about the books. 

I Am Enough by Grace Byers
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What It's About: As a mother, educator, and counselor, I want to whisper these words into every girls' ear. We are all enough. Amazon describes it as "a gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, a being kind to one another." Need I say more.
Why I'm Excited: As a white woman, and mother to a white girl, I love that this book brings the positive message of loving who you are with a black girl at the center. I want my child to see positive messages about children of different races to balance out the white-centered world we live in. As an educator, I love that this book features a black girl because I want my students to see themselves represented in the books that we read and the stories we tell. Also, Grace Byers of Empire fame!

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

What It's About: Unhei moves to the United States from Korea and is worried that no one will be able to pronounce her name. She tells her classmates that she will choose a name and they all put ideas in a jar to help her choose. One child from her class comes to her house and learns her real name and it's special meaning. The class encourages Unhei to go by her own name. 
Why I'm Excited: Stand up on the soap box with me y'all. Names are important! Pronouncing names are important! It's not ok for us to ask kids and families to change their names to make it easier on us. 

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Masters' Strike of 1909

What It's About: Clara, an Ukranian Immigrant, moves to the United States and begins working in a garment factory. Frustrated by the terrible working conditions, Clara never gives up. She learns English and leads the largest walkout of women workers. 
Why I'm Excited: Girl Power! I cannot wait to share this story with some strong girls in my life. So much to admire about this true story. Clara is an English Language Learner who overcomes obstacles to be a strong leader for change. I'm also excited about opening up discussions about child labor and poor working conditions that still go on today. I think that bringing up difficult topics alongside positive stories of historical relevance can make big problems seem less overwhelming or scary to younger children.

The Youngest Marcher

What It's About: Get ready to be a rebel for change. Audrey Faye Hendricks was the youngest child ever to be arrested in the civil rights protests of Birmingham Alabama in 1963. 
Why I'm Excited: My child has been to 3 marches in her young life and we will be going to her fourth in just a few weeks in DC. I want her to be active and strong. To take on the causes of our society with passion and that's just what Audrey Faye Hendricks models. For school, I think it would be an amazing discussion in an upper grade around doing what's right when it's hard. Visually, the book looks beautiful with an unusual layout and gorgeous illustrations. 

Born a Crime

What It's About: Comedian Trevor Noah, The Daily Show, was born in apartheid South African to a white father and black mother. By law, this union was illegal and punishable by 5 years in prison. Noah's mother had to keep him hidden for many years so that she would not be arrested and he would not be taken away. After apartheid lifted, the mother and son were able to live openly for the first time..
Why I'm Excited: Trevor Noah is funny, I enjoy hearing him on the Daily Show and like his wit and charm. I knew that he was from South Africa but had no idea of the true story behind his childhood. I anticipate learning a lot about how races interact, changing systemic racism, and what it means to set apart from society around you.

For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood

What It's About: Dr. Emdin is a former classroom teacher turned professor whose experience has led to his theory of reality pedagogy. This book aims to share Emdin's experiences and wisdom from his time as a student and teacher in urban schools. 
Why I'm Excited: This one is cheating a bit because I've already read this book. It's a dense read but worth the effort. I found it best to read a bit and take a break to reflect and practice concepts before returning. My sister is a 5th grade teacher and she and I read the book at the same time. She has implemented some of Emdin's ideas in her classroom. We both found his book to walk the line of the theoretical and the practical in a great way.

Going to School in Black and White

What It's About: Two students in Durham, North Carolina learn that they will need to change schools due to desegregation in their community. One student is black. One student is white. They later become friends as adults and share their stories in this memoir.
Why I'm Excited: I am participating in a book study with my daughter's school district for this book. I am interested to hear the stories of these two women. I think that the narrative of the students who experienced desegregation is under-represented in our stories of history. This was also apparent when I watched the powerful documentary Teach Us All and I want to continue my learning in this area.

So what's on your book list? I am an avid reader (read 125 books last year!) and am always looking to add books to my ever-growing "to read" list. I would love for you to share your favorites with me.

Recently, I've been exploring the concepts of trauma-informed schools and social emotional learning (linked to great articles on both). The deeper I dig, the more I come back to the concept that our little kiddos at school are real people. It might seem simple, but it is so profound. They are not tiny-adults, they are not antecedents and reinforcers. They are complex with feelings and ideas and hopes and dreams. So what can we do to honor where they are? 

It can start as simple as asking them. I used to work with a teacher who kept a stack of blue and yellow cards next to the homework basket. As students turned in their homework, they would select a blue card if they were feeling down and a yellow card if they were feeling positive. They would place their cards on their desk as they did morning work. Throughout the day, the teacher would make sure that she was able to check in with all of the blue cards to see what was going on with them. She even made time to celebrate with her yellow cards. It was simple and easy to maintain but it sent a strong message to your students that she cared about what was going on with them.

This idea inspired me to create a mood clip chart. This clip chart could be used in both the counselor's office and a classroom. In the counselor's office, the counselor could use number clips to maintain confidentiality. I envision using the chart at the beginning of each group session by student's clipping their mood. In individual counseling sessions, you could assign a student a certain number so that they can move their clip each time they enter your office. In the classroom, a teacher could have students clip their number, name or picture on the chart as they walk in. The clip chart could also be used during morning meetings. 

It's a simple idea, and sometimes those are best. If you're interested, I've created the clip chart for you in my TPT store. It includes 3 different color schemes, number tags, and editable name tags for clips. Just in case you've already posted your amazing MAP It Out wall, I made sure to use a complimentary color scheme. 
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What creative ways do you check in with your students? I'd love to hear your ideas! Comment below or give me a shout out on instagram, facebook, or twitter. I'd love to hear from you :)

It's that time of year again- back to school. This is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love it! So much excitement in the air, planning for the year, setting up your room, and brand new school supplies. Don't mind me, I'll be over in the school supply section of Target drooling over the latest.

I'll start with a round up of my back to school products over on TPT. Here I have a needs assessment (free!), two intro lessons that incorporate calm down skills, a super awesome counselor planner, individual counseling bulletin board, and my initial interview packet. I have bundled this all together for you in my Back to School Counseling Bundle or you can check them out individually by clicking on the pics below.

If I had $100, this is what I would spend it on. Well, other than clothes. Keepin' it real. That said, most of these are one time purchases. I recently asked on my facebook page what people had on their supply list and got some awesome ideas!​

A fun clipboard. This one is from target, here is a similar one. I also like this, this, and this.

 Pens (for you) and mechanical pencils (for the kids). I always loved having mechanical pencils. Many teachers don't allow them so it was exciting for the kiddos. It also made it easier to tell which were mine! As for pens, I am a self-diagnosed pen snob. Recently, flair pens have been all the rage, and I'm thinking about treating myself to these.  Laura from Social Emotional Workshop also tipped me off to this awesome lanyard pen.

Can't forget the post-its and bright colored paper. Pro tip - copy your parent letters and permission slips on bright color paper and tell kids to put them in their pockets. When laundry day comes, your permission slip will come right back!

File this one under 'how did I not think of that?' Jodi, from The School Counselor is In, suggested mini-erasers for bingo markers! 

An organizing system you'll actually use. I've had these in the past to stay organized. Eventually, I upgraded to a nicer set of wooden drawers. Each drawer was a group or class and I could store everything needed in that one drawer (now it's in my daughters playroom). It's a great system for someone who is a piler but wants to be organized and tidy about their piling! Gretchen, from Speckled Moose Counseling, has her eye on this fancy cart.

So what's on your list? How do you get geared up (either literally or figuratively) for a new year? It's going to be a great one!

How do you keep track of your calendar? Do you feel like you're running around all day and by the time you make it to the finish line (or the couch), you don't even know what all you did that day? I can't stand that feeling! To help keep me on my toes, and super productive, I write down absolutely everything I do in a day. Sound overwhelming? It doesn't have to be!

I use google calendars to keep myself in order but for the purposes of sharing with you I have used a schedule page from my Office Bundle and have written out my calendar. This is a real schedule that I transcribed from my google calendar. Names have been changed to protect confidentiality. 

In this photo, you can see what I have planned for the week. This is everything I have on my calendar starting on Monday. You can see 7 classes, 7 groups, a few Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings, and regular old staff meetings. It's a pretty busy week but there are a lot of blank spaces for those responsive services, individual planning sessions, and impromptu consultations with staff or parents. 

As the week goes on, I start filling in with what I'm doing. I even include things like checking email or planning for a group. I highlighted the beginning and end of the school day so that you can see it. My week quickly fills up! See that blank spot on Wednesday morning? Here's where I would check myself and wonder what I was doing. When I start to see too many of those, I know I need to tighten up my schedule. I want to make each and every moment of my day purposeful.

It really is a simple thing writing down your daily activities - remember doing the same when you were documenting your internship hours in Grad School? I promise you it will make a huge difference in your productivity immediately.  If you want to see my schedule in more detail, the PDF is below (may not be visible on mobile). How do you keep up with your schedule and daily to-do lists? I'll have to share my to-do list notebook sometime soon!