Services Provided by Your School Counselor

• Counseling Sessions (Individual and Group)

  • Individual counseling is used to address individual needs, and concerns which can impede academic achievement. Students can reach out to their counselors to request a time to meet. Parents and teachers can also refer students to see the counselor at any time.

  • Group counseling is used to teach skills and provide support in specific areas of need such as improving social interactions with peers, improving classroom behavior, adjustment to school, family changes, study skills, organizational skills, self-concept and esteem, and coping skills. Groups are approx. 30 minutes in duration, meet during the lunch/recess hour for 6-8 weeks, and consist of about 4-6 students.

• Classroom Counseling Lessons (on various topics- see below) 

  • Topics for classroom guidance lessons include

    • Bullying 

    • Study skills

    • Learning styles

    • Conflict resolution (Restorative Justice)

    • Confidence building

    • Decision making

    • Goal setting

    • Effective communication

    • Mindfulness

    • Careers

    • Personal body safety

    • Career Counseling

-It is important to start the discussion of college and career readiness early on. During the month of May, counselors will be conducting Career lessons in all classrooms. 

Recommended Reading

Friendship

• How to Lose All Your Friends, by Nancy Carlson

• How to Be a Friend, by Laurie and Marc Brown

• Making Friends, by Kate Petty and Charlotte Firmin

• Friendship: From Your Old Friends to Your New Friends, by Nuria Roca and Rosa Curto

• Three Friends, by Jim and Joan Boulden

• What's the Recipe for Friends?, by Greg Williamson

• Big Al, by Andrew Clements

• Enemy Pie, by Derek Munson

Solving Problems

• Hands Are Not For Hitting, by Martine Agassi

• We Can Work It Out, by Barbara Polland

• We Can Get Along, by Lauren M. Payne

• The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight, by Stan and Jan Berenstain

• The Knight and the Dragon, by Tomie DePaola

• Six Crows, by Leo Lionni

Respect

• I Don't Care: Showing Respect, by Brian Moses

• Stellaluna, by Jannell Cannon

• Verdi, by Jannell Cannon

• The Grouchy Ladybug, by Eric Carle

• A Pig is Moving In!, by Claudia Fries

• Crysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes

• Officer Buckle and Gloria, by Peggy Rothman

• The Berenstain Bears' New Neighbors, by Stan and Jan Berenstain

• Arnie and the New Kid, by Nancy Carlson

• Molly's Pilgram, by Barbara Cohen

• The Patchwork Quilt, by Valerie Flournoy

• Teammates, by Peter Golenbock

• Treat Me Right: Kids Talk About Respect, by Nancy Loewen

Point of View

• The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, by John Scieszka

• Two Bad Ants, by Chris Van Allsburg

• The Chinese Mirror, by Mirra Ginsburg

• The Hating Book, by Charlotte Zolotow

• Hey, Little Ant, by Phillip and Hannah Hoose

Anger Management

• When I Feel Angry, by Cornelia Spelman

• When Sophie Gets Angry, by Molly Bang

• The Very Angry Day That Amy Didn't Have, by Lawrence Shapiro

• Don't Rant and Rave on Wednesdays, by Adoph Moser

• Andrew's Angry Words, by Dorothea Lachner

• Spinky Sulks, by William Steig

• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst

Teasing and Bullying

• Teasing, by Joy Berry

• The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Teasing, by Stan and Jan Berenstain

• Stop Picking On Me, by Pat Thomas

• The Hundred Dresses, by Estes/Slobodkin

• Oliver Button is a Sissy, by Tomie DePaola

• Being Bullied, by Joy Berry

• Being Bullied, by Kate Petty and Charlotte Firmin

• Loudmouth George and the Sixth Grade Bully, by Nancy Carlson

• Bullies Are a Pain in the Brain, by Trevor Romain

• Simon's Hook, by Karen G. Burnett

Appreciating and Respecting Differences

• Just A Little Different, by Mercer Mayer

• Two Eyes, A Nose, and a Mouth, by Roberta G. Intrater

• Why Am I Different?, by Norma Simon

• Families, by Meredith Tax

• This is Our House, by Michael Rosen

• A Bad Case of Stripes, by David Shannon

• People, by Peter Spier

• Freedom Summer, by Deborah Wiles

• Teammates, by Peter Golenbock

• Amazing Grace, by Mary Hoffman

• Eggbert the Slightly Cracked Egg, by Tom Ross

• Loudmouth George and the New Neighbors, by Nancy Carlson

Empathy/Caring

• Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink, by Diane DeGroat

• The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams

• A Chair for My Mother, by Vera Williams

• Mufaro's Beautiful Daughter, by John Steptoe

• Two Good Friends, by Judy Delton

• The Hurt, by Teddi Doleski

*Book list compiled by Elizabeth Duke, Counselor, Darnestown ES, 2003

Parent Resources

• What to Do When You Are Angry For use with kids

• Stop Bullying Now Bullying prevention

• Child Development Info Parenting information on a variety of topics

• CHADD Information on ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

• Children's Disability Books Information on empowering parents of children with special needs

• Love and Logic Website full of parenting resources

• American School Counselor Association: Parent articles on relevant topics

• Children and Watching TV: Information for parents on the influences of TV on children

• Common Sense Media Internet safety, plus movie & app reviews

• Programs, Workshops, and Support Groups: Jewish Social Services Agency (JSSA)

• Counseling services and support groups through the Expressive Therapy Center, LLC Therapy

• Family Services Agency Rockville, 240-773-3915

Emergency Phone Numbers

• Crisis Center Hotline: 240-777-4000/240-777-4190  

• Youth Crisis Hotline: 301-738-9697  

• Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 240-777-4417  

• Spouse Abuse/Abused Persons Crisis Line: 240-777-4673 

• Emergency Shelter: 240-777-4000