What Do Elementary School Counselors Do?

Elementary school counselors support students’ academic success, social skills, emotional well-being, and personal growth. Here are some of the ways they help students, parents, and staff.

🧒 Supporting Students

1. Teach students how to identify and manage their emotions.

2. Help students develop positive friendships and relationships.

3. Provide individual counseling and small-group counseling.

4. Help students resolve conflicts and solve problems peacefully.

5. Teach kindness, respect, empathy, and responsibility.

6. Help students cope with stress, anxiety, grief, and family changes.

7. Encourage positive behavior and responsible decision-making.

8. Support students experiencing bullying or peer conflicts.

9. Help students develop confidence, self-esteem, and resilience.

10. Teach study skills, organization, and goal-setting.

11. Help students adjust to new schools, grade levels, and transitions.

12. Introduce students to careers and future educational opportunities.

👨‍👩‍👧 Supporting Parents and Families

13. Provide parents with resources to support their children's needs.

14. Help families address academic, behavioral, and social-emotional concerns.

15. Connect families with community resources and support services.

16. Communicate with parents about strategies to help children succeed.

17. Collaborate with families to develop plans for student success.

🏫 Supporting Teachers and School Staff

18. Collaborate with teachers to address student concerns.

19. Help identify barriers that affect student learning and behavior.

20. Provide strategies for classroom management and student support.

21. Participate in student support and intervention meetings.

22. Promote a positive, safe, and inclusive school environment.

23. Assist with bullying prevention and conflict resolution programs.

🌟 Developing a Comprehensive School Counseling Program

24. Provide classroom guidance lessons on academic, social, and emotional skills.

25. Conduct needs assessments to identify student and family needs.

26. Coordinate schoolwide activities that promote kindness, respect, and inclusion.

27. Support attendance initiatives and student engagement.

28. Monitor program effectiveness and student progress.

29. Collaborate with administrators and community partners.

30. Respond to student crises and connect students with appropriate support.

The goal of an elementary school counselor is to help every student succeed academically, develop healthy relationships, build emotional skills, and feel safe, supported, and valued at school.