When is gaming too much? How can we support students in understanding that moderation in gaming is great but overdoing it can have negative influences. One of my friends, Ian Wenstrand, has recently published a book titled "Plugged In" about a boy who is obsessed with video games and accidentally blurs the line between gaming and reality. Ian is a talented artist and I could stare at the illustrations in the book even without the text. Here's an interview about his work:

• What inspired you to write this book? Are you a gamer?

I wanted to write the book my younger self would want to read. The books I was attracted to as a kid had intricate artwork paired with fantastical stories. In Jumanji, by Chris Van Allsburg, the children get to go on an adventure that takes place in their normally calm neighborhood. That was a huge inspiration for Plugged In. Taking something normal and transforming it into something surreal was always very interesting to me. The idea that a character's neighborhood could be the setting for an adventure was something I wanted to incorporate into my own book.

I have been a gamer since as long as I can remember. As a kid, I spent most of my time on the weekends riding my bike to the arcade to play 4-player Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with my friends. After that, Super Nintendo and PlayStation were the console systems I played the most. I still play video games to this day, although less than I used to. Today, I mostly play games that my kids want to play and try to introduce them to the classics as well.

• What are the benefits and downfalls of video games for kids?

Games can help kids learn valuable problem-solving skills. When a child plays a video game they are basically interacting with a computer and learning how to work through an obstacle or defeat an enemy. I feel like more and more games are getting incorporated into the learning process. Minecraft (which is arguably the most popular game among kids right now), in particular, has recently been used as a tool to introduce kids to coding - another skill in high demand.

I believe the downfalls of video games for kids result from heavy usage. If a child refuses to do anything else and is becoming further and further removed from friends or family, that's when problems can start to arise.

• How do you think that kids can tell when they are gaming too much?

 Unfortunately, I think most children don't yet have the self-discipline to tear themselves away when they've been playing too much. I was certainly that way as a kid. I think it's the parent's job to help their kids understand that games are okay, just in moderation.

• Any tips for parents that are worried their child is playing too many video games?

I think that setting limits on how much time they can be in front of a screen, in general, is important. Phones, tablets, and TVs dominate so much of our attention that it's hard for kids to understand that there should be limits on how long they are in front of a screen. I think that children should have varied life experiences and sitting in front of a screen is not going to show them all the world has to offer. I think that helping your child develop diverse interests helps with this. Explore what else they really have a passion for and help them to pursue that. Are they creative? Do they like music? Is there a sport they are interested in? The games will still be there when they get back.

• What do you like to do when you are not plugged in?

I like to go running, hiking, create artwork and illustrations, take my kids to the park, and go swimming.

• What advice do you have for kids who think their friends might need to unplug?

Get them to go explore your neighborhood or town, join a sports team, do something that requires you to be out of the house and with people. There are plenty of games that expand beyond a solitary experience and encourage social and multiplayer experiences. Pokemon Go! is one game that I've seen have great success in getting people outside and socializing with each other. I've seen a large group of parents and kids meet together in a park to play the game with one other. These types of games give people the opportunity to get out and explore and to be part of a larger community.

I highly recommend the book - I think it would make a great few session lunch bunch book club for boys. They will love the illustrations - aren't they amazing?! Ian is offering a giveaway through Amazon this week. Make sure to check it out!

Get ready to market your school counseling program! Recently, I was amazed at the marketing efforts of my local library. They have snazzy graphics, videos, and professional quality marketing tools. I realized that libraries are fighting to stay open and the more people they get through their doors, the more likely they are to continue to receive funding. This is not unlike school counseling programs. If our stakeholders – administration, teachers, parents, and students don’t see the value in what we do, our positions will be cut or our time will be filled with non-counseling duties.

​ One fun and easy way to share your data is through a “counseling by the numbers” page. You can share this on your website, in your PTA newsletter, or through a video. Don’t think you can make a video? Sure you can! I am going to show you how I made this video and, trust me, it’s easy:

I used the Legend App on my iPhone (available on android). It also works on iPad as well. In the Legend App, you will add your text and choose a photo if you’d like. Click next and choose the little video of your text that you like best. Seriously, it’s that easy. To save the video, click the three dots in the bottom right hand corner and select “save video.” You can add colors to the text as well. Pro tip: if you add colors, choose the same colors for all the text videos you create.
​
​Create as many or as few text videos as you’d like. In my example, I have the following:

• Name of school
• “by the numbers”
• Achievement Group data
• Attendance data
• Number of individual counseling students and sessions
• Number of counseling groups and topic-based lunch bunches
• ​“One Amazing Year”

You can see my entire “counseling by the numbers” page on my old school website. Once you have created all of your videos, open iMovie. Click the giant + sign to start a new movie. Choose movie (not trailer) from the pop up menu. Choose all of the videos that you made in the Legend app (see my list above) and iMovie will automatically put all of them together in a movie. Drag and drop the snippets to put them in the order you want. If you want music, click the gear icon and select “theme music.” The theme photos above change the music. Once you have the movie you want, select “done” in the upper left hand corner. To download, click on the square with the arrow to choose “save video.”

Need some photos?

So, give it a try! Share your video with the world and make sure to tag me so that I can see them :)

How do you keep all your amazing comprehensive counseling plans together. I've always used the ASCA national model  because that's what my district uses and it is a requirement for our counselors. However, some people aren't there yet with the national model but still want to stay organized and share with their stake holders a plan for the year. If this is you - I've got a solution. I've created a set of digital organizers that will allow you to plan for and share your year with your administration, teachers, and parents. 

We've talked about program goals before and your school probably has some type of school improvement plan with goals. If you're not ready to create SMART goals based on school wide data, you can create a goal around data that you choose. For instance, your SMART goal could measure reduced anxiety for students around end of grade testing. Think about what your big ideas are for the year, and make a plan to get there. In my state, we have to write a professional development plan yearly for ourselves which include SMART goals. In this organizer, you can share your goals for the year with your stakeholders. At the bottom of the page, you can share a short descriptor of your class schedule and topics. 

Why It Matters:

• Your stakeholders know that you work with students on purpose and not just whoever might show up in your office. 
• Your stakeholders can quickly see that your work aligns with the work of the school as a whole. You are a valuable asset to learning.
• Your stakeholders can see what types of topics you will cover in your lessons so that they can ask follow up questions if needed. 

A scope and sequence document plans what will be taught and in what sequence. Ideally, you will also outline what data you will collect to ensure that the lessons are effective. By laying our your classroom lessons and small groups before the year starts, you will know that you have a series of lessons that make sense, are effective, and serve a purpose. No more rummaging through books the night before (or morning of) a new lesson. Yes, this does take a lot of work at first but in the end, you will really and truly thank yourself later. 

Why It Matters

• Your stakeholders will know that you make a plan for what your students will learn each year.
• Parents can see the amazing proactive support the counselor provides so that time with the counselor is no longer stigmatized.
• You know what you're going to do - no more rushing around last minute. 

Does your school seem to think you have a lot of extra time in your day? Do you rush around and feel like you got nothing done. You've heard me harp on using your calendar for productivity before so if you're a regular reader, this is nothing new. In this template, you can create multiple copies of the calendar page and use to display your calendar on your door so people know where to find you. Or you can actually write in your calendar (either digitally or paper/pencil) with all the details you need to keep it together. Finally, it's OK to use the calendar as a glimpse of time when you are meeting with your principal or other stakeholders to show them a "typical" week in your counseling program. Just try not to laugh too hard when you say typical. 

Why It Matters:

• Repeat after me: You are not a pin ball to be bounced around the school at everyone's demand. You have a plan. You have a calendar. You will achieve what you set out to do this year. 

Now that you've created these gorgeous plans for your school counseling program - how will you share it? 

• Post as a PDF on your counseling website
• Print and place in a portfolio in your front office
• Share with your principal and staff
• Post on a bulletin board
• Include a link in the PTA newsletter

You can download a copy  of my example document. This has every single page so if you want to recreate the tables and pages, please do! To get your very own editable plan, head over to Teachers Pay Teachers. 

How do you stay organized for the year? I would *love* to hear your tips. Please comment or send me an email. 

I am excited to welcome Thomas Broderick, a Northern Californian freelance writer and consultant in the education field who occasionally blogs for Teach.com to talk about creating a professional learning network using twitter. This is even more meaningful to me as I have been blowing up my twitter account with the amazing things I have learned at #ASCA17. 

There are many ways to become an amazing school counselor. Some people spend a few years in the classroom before making the transition, while others jump right in after college or grad school. No matter how you arrive in the field, you should follow the sage advice of the nation’s best school counselors. But how do you find them?

At first glance, the social network Twitter may seem a world away from counseling. In fact, the opposite is the case. America’s best counselors regularly use Twitter to reach out to others in their profession. For aspiring school counselors, there is no better way to get insider information about counseling best practices than straight from the horse’s mouth.  
 
In this article we’ll explore some of Twitter’s most influential counselors, and how you can use Twitter to expand your personal learning network (PLN). That said, let’s get started!

If you’ve never used Twitter, set up a professional profile that includes where you work and a link to your school’s website. If you already have a personal Twitter account, go ahead and set up a second professional account. It’s free!

When setting up a professional account, go ahead and follow every teacher/administrator at your school who uses Twitter. If they follow you back (and they should), they will be able to see the counseling best practices you retweet from the nation’s best school counselors. You can also use your professional account to share the amazing work you do in your building. 
 
It’s now time to FOLLOW INFLUENCIAL COUNSELORS!

​Terri Tchorzynski
Twitter Handle: @ttchorzynski
 
In January 2017, First Lady Michelle Obama awarded Terri the school counselor of the year award. Her Twitter feed is full of solid advice for counselors both new and seasoned. Her retweets come from a variety of professional counseling organizations you may want to follow, as well.
 
Chris Belser
Twitter Handle: @CBelser_PSC
 
A nationally board-certified school counselor, Chris has spent the last six years researching counseling best practices. His Twitter feed is full of links to research studies and articles that can help counselors connect to students of all ages.
 
Matthew J. Beck
Twitter Handle: @mattjbeck
 
Matthew is an excellent resource for school counselors who work with LGBT students. His Twitter feed and website are full of personal examples from which all education professionals can gain valuable wisdom.

After you follow a few counselors, you are likely to discover a treasure trove of informational Twitter profiles to follow, as well. But your PLN is only just beginning. As you retweet only the best material, consider reaching out to the counselors you follow. Ask them questions. Bounce ideas off their heads. You’d be surprised about how many people on Twitter actually answer the questions their followers ask them.
 
Establishing these relationships can greatly benefit the work you do with students and teachers. ​Twitter is a valuable tool for school counselors. It connects the nation’s counselors together, allowing the best to teach the rest. Using Twitter in this way, passionate counselors new on the job can achieve long-term professional success.  ​

Thanks Thomas and Teach.com for sharing some great ideas about using Twitter! Make sure you use #scchat in your posts so that you can connect with other amazing school counselors. Not sure what a hashtag is? I gotcha. Here are a few of my favorite peeps that I work alongside with on Confident Counselors all in one beautiful twitter list for you. 

Ahem, also, make sure you follow me :)

How many emails do you have in your inbox? If your answer ends in "thousand," you might want to sit down because I'm going to tell you how many I have in mine: FIVE. You read that right, I have 5 emails in my inbox right now. In fact, I have a 10 emails or less rule in my inbox. So how (and WHY?!) do I do it?

Before we begin, I want to assuage your fears that I can't possibly get as many emails as you do each day. Perhaps not, but I do get over 100 emails some days and still follow this system.

The first step to email tranquility is to clear out enough that you have a manageable amount to sort. I've sat next to people in meetings and noticed that they have thousands of unread emails. How do they find anything?! If this describes you, sort your emails by date and delete anything over a year old.

​If you just can't click the trigger, your email may have an archive function, where the email is taken out of your inbox but is not deleted. If your email system does not have an archive function, you could create a folder for each school year to get those emails out of your inbox. 

You may decide that you still have too many emails to handle one by one. Do you have unread emails that are more than a week old? Delete them. Do you have spam emails from advertisers? Delete them. You can delete whole batches of emails by using the sort features within your inbox. 

Now that you've slimmed down your inbox, it's time to make some choices. I use 4 different actions for email management: 

• Delete It
• File It
• Save It
• Do It

These actions will apply to new emails when they come in, but, for now, we're trying to get your current inbox under control. Open up the oldest email in your now slimmer inbox and quickly decide on one of these four actions. Depending on the number of emails, you may need to set aside chunks of time to complete this task. I highly recommend the Pomodoro Technique for productive time management. 

Marketing, old memos, emails you were copied on for some unknown reason, notices about copiers that have long been fixed, we could go on and on with emails you don't need. Don't need it? Delete it?

But what if you might need it? File or archive it. If you use gmail or other more modern email systems, you can easily search for emails so archiving might be the best solution. In my district, we use a not-so-modern version of email where the search function is very difficult to use. I created folders for typical topics: 

• Staff Info: schedules, updates, links for PD, etc.
• Parent Communication: emails from parents or from teachers about parents 
• Intervention Team, Leadership, etc: folders for each team or committee that I am a part of
• Central Office: emails sent from central office that has information I may need again

​You create the folders that work for you!

Does the email have an attachment you will need in the future? Go ahead and save it so that you can delete the email. Hunting in your inbox is not an effective way to find documents, future you will thank you. 

If you have a not-so-modern email system (like me!), you may fill up your allotted data space. If this happens, you need to save old emails so that you can delete from your email server. My email system has a "Save as PDF" function and I will save that in my dropbox so that I can reference the information easily. Occasionally, I will save a PDF version of an email that includes information I know I will need frequently.

Many emails contain an action needed on your part. These are the only emails that stay in my inbox. In that way, my inbox is like a "to-do" list. In the 5 emails I have in my inbox right now I need to:

1. check access in a system my district uses
2. follow up with someone about scheduling PD
3. receive a reply from someone and don't want to forget about it
4. add information on a collaborative document
5. follow up about running a particular report on our information system

Five emails = 5 to do items. Once I complete the item, I either delete it, file it, or save it depending on whether I will need that information in the future. Some people use flags, stars, and other strategies to differentiate items in their inbox. This might help you as you are starting on the journey to 10 or less emails. Since I have so few emails in my inbox, I don't use this strategy often for myself.

You did it! You whittled your number of emails down to just your to-do list. Have more than 10? Get working on those to-do's! The next step is the most important, keep doing it! You must delete it, file it, save it, or do it every single day. When I have more than 10 emails in my inbox, I know I need to spend some time organizing my email so it doesn't get out of control. The best thing about this process is that it takes LESS time to manage your email and you are MORE on top of follow up, replies, and to-do list items. 

So fill us in - how many emails are in your inbox right now??? Can you get to 10 or less? I challenge you to change.