Gr. 6-8 Counseling

Gr. 6-8 Counseling

Middle school counselors are educators uniquely trained in child and adolescent development, learning strategies, self-management and social skills.. They implement a comprehensive school counseling program to support students through this important developmental period. The school counseling program provides education, prevention and intervention activities, which are integrated into all aspects of students’ lives. The program teaches students the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for academic, career and social/emotional development.

Middle school counselors define and focus the comprehensive school counseling program based on the school’s academic, attendance and behavioral data. Identifying student needs through this data and consulting with administrators guides program development. Middle school counselors balance their program by addressing students’ academic, career and social/emotional development in addition to balancing delivery methods, recognizing that students learn in multiple ways. The end result of this work is reflected in improvement in academic, attendance and behavioral outcomes related to academic development, college and career readiness and social/emotional development.

Middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic, career and social/emotional development. School counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set informed career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community. 

In order to support and build a strong relationship with students, counselors meet individually with students, work in groups with students and conduct structured lessons in classrooms.  To enhance this over-all process Shenendehowa's Middle School Counselors provide:

Academic support:

• Help improve the academic success of all students by monitoring academic progress and working with the teacher, student, child study teams and families to identify strategies to improve performance for struggling students.

• Help each student build a schedule and select courses that challenge them academically and meet their post-secondary goals.

• Work with students individually or in groups to develop study, organizational and test-taking skills.

Social/emotional support

• Teach decision-making abilities and help develop self-confidence to help students make positive decisions.

• Provide coping strategies for students who have undergone some element of stress or tragedy. 

• Work with students to resolve conflict and create positive peer relationships.

• Help students with behavioral issues find success in the classroom.

• Assist students with interpersonal struggles such as anxiety

• Help students to manage their emotions through mindfulness techniques

Career development support

• Work with students on career exploration and post-secondary plans through the use of Naviance and classroom presentations

Family support

• Communicate with parents and provide strategies to use at home to help students find academic success in school.

• Serve as a liaison between the school and community agencies to assist parents in obtaining needed services.

Transition support

• Work with elementary school counselors to help students have a successful transition to 6th grade. 

• Work with high school counselors to help students have a successful transition to 9th grade.  

Middle 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.