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McKinley School Counseling Program
Welcome to our counseling page! I am so glad you are here. My name is Launa Julander, the school counselor here at McKinley Elementary. School counselors focus on supporting the academic, social/emotional, and career development of all students. Elementary school counselors work with students to ensure they have the necessary skills to succeed at school. As a licensed school counselor, I follow the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model to design and deliver a developmentally appropriate curriculum for classroom lessons and small groups to improve student learning outcomes.
WHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELORS?
The elementary school years set the foundation for developing the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for children to become healthy, competent and confident learners. Elementary school counselors have an impact on these years by implementing a school counseling program and collaborating with school staff, parents and the community to create a safe and respectful learning environment. By providing education, prevention, early identification and intervention, elementary school counselors help their students achieve academic success, develop an understanding of career opportunities and develop social/ emotional skills in response to issues they face.
Elementary school counselors hold a master’s degree and required state certification in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes ongoing professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today’s students. Professional association membership enhances the school counselor’s knowledge and effectiveness.
CLASSROOM GUIDANCE LESSONS
The main role of the elementary school counselor is to implement a program that focuses on prevention. This means I spend a majority of the time teaching classroom lessons. These lessons are focused on the individual needs of the grade and class. Common lesson topics are conflict resolution, managing strong feelings, making good choices, teamwork, setting goals and making friends.
SMALL GROUP SKILLS-BASED COUNSELING
A variety of small groups are offered to students (according to need) who may benefit from spending extra time developing academic, social, or emotional skills. Groups can have anywhere from 3-6 members and usually meet once a week during prep time (this ensures they never miss core instruction time in class) for several weeks.
INDIVIDUAL SKILLS-BASED COUNSELING
Some students can benefit from one-on-one counseling regarding academic, social, or emotional challenges. One on one counseling is short-term (2 weeks or less). If a student requires additional support or therapy, they may benefit from outside professional services.
