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PK-5 Counseling

Elementary school is where children develop their competence and confidence as learners as well as their attitude towards school, self and peers.

Elementary counselors play a crucial role in helping to develop the academic, social and emotional skills that serve as the foundation for career and personal success.

In order to support and build a strong relationship with students through their elementary school years, counselors:

  • Meet individually with students
  • Work in groups with students
  • Conduct structured lessons in classrooms

Academic support - elementary counselors:

  • Help improve the academic success of all students by monitoring academic progress and performance and working with the teacher, students, instructional support teams and families to identify strategies to improve performance for struggling students.
  • Present lessons in classrooms to teach students organizational and study skills.

Social/emotional support - elementary counselors:

  • Work with students who have behavioral needs as well as those experiencing crisis situations.
  • Help students to resolve conflicts and develop coping skills and strategies.
  • Build relationships with all students by presenting lessons in classrooms teaching personal/internet safety and social skills.
  • Help to promote good character traits in every student by promoting character education programs in school (i.e., bully prevention).

Career development/post secondary planning support - elementary counselors:

  • Although most career development/post-secondary planning takes place at the secondary level, elementary schools begin introducing children to various careers and post-secondary options.
  • Elementary students also begin the important work of learning about their own interests and values. This is an important first step of career exploration.

Family support - elementary counselors:

  • Work with parents, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to plan and implement strategies and programs to help students be successful in school.
  • Serve as a liaison between the school and community agencies to assist parents in obtaining needed services.

Transition support - elementary counselors:

  • Work with students in pre-k and kindergarten to help them adjust to school.
  • Invite new students to lunch.
  • Work with middle school counselors to host student and parent orientations to help students and their families have a successful transition to 6th grade. Meet with middle school counselors to make sure that they are aware of student's needs to ensure a successful transition to middle school.