Google Drive & Seniors



The Spring semester of school always brings on a crazy, sprint to the finish, hectic and busy time.  For those of you that have Senior students, it is time to begin some very important documents.  One way I keep track of my Seniors, is through Senior Meetings.  We have a break period, that I can sit in the cafeteria and quickly write down (type on iPad) all that they have completed.  I then, go back and set up times to meet with them individually in my office to help them finish up all necessary paperwork.  

I have found that a key aspect to getting Seniors successfully graduated and on route to their next endeavor is through active and open communication with parents.  I use a Senior questionnaire that contains specific items.  I then, print it and mail it home to their parents.  

You can use google docs to create a form.  I then walk around with my iPad and complete...

Make sure your Senior questionnaire has at least these items:

1. Where have you applied?
2. Where are you going to apply?
3. Checklist of items to be completed: (Housing, FASFA, Scholarships)

Utilize Google Drive.  If you do not use Google Drive to create forms, then start!  They save me so much time and all of my documentation is in one place.

Here is a screen shot of part of my Senior Questionnaire:




Student Name
What are you doing after you graduate?
 Have you applied to college?  If so, where?
What applications can I help you complete?
Have you completed your housing application?
Have you completed your FASFA?
Addition Notes

Once I hit submit, the form will keep track of all responses in a spreadsheet.






Our school has a FASFA officer that comes to our school to meet with Seniors.  He helps them gather necessary paperwork, obtain a pin number, and complete their application.

Happy New Year!

Santa Letters


The truth about Santa Letters...what they really say!

Ho!  HO! hO!

Santa Letters being published in the local newspaper might be a small town "thing" that occurs.  Even if those cute little Santa letters no longer get published in your local newspaper, your teachers may partake in this Christmas tradition.  Are your students still writing them?  Are they hanging on their lockers or on a teacher's bulletin board?

Well, our small town still publishes those cute little letters and I always hurry to get multiple copies for my children's scrapbook and all the grandparents.  However, this year as I was reading those Santa letters I was really shocked!  Yes SHOCKED!  I am not sure how I missed this, but Santa letters reveal so much about our students.  

My children attend the school that I am also a counselor for.  So, as I read through the Santa letters I noticed things about my students that I miss in the hallways.  I read about a little boy that wished for his mom to come home because he didn't know where she was.  I read about another student that was hoping his parents would make up for Christmas.  I read about a little girl that wanted money to give her parents because they didn't have any.  

Santa letters show so much that we often miss.  They really say, I need someone to talk to!  I am struggling at home.  

Take time to read those cute little letters, where ever they may be posted.  I certainly learned a lot that I didn't know before about the students in my hallways.

Enjoy

I hope you are enjoying your Christmas break and catching up on some much needed rest and family time.  Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram at KayelaHarrell or twitter Counseling Hearts @KayelaHarrell


Trevor Romain


Trevor Romain has wonderful videos for school counselors.  
This week, I used his video: " Trevor Romain: Cliques, Phonies, & Other Baloney" to 
discuss how to be a true friend and how to be yourself.  We also discussed how you do not have to change yourself in order to have friends.  Real friends accept you for who you are.


You can also rent his videos from Netflix, if you do not have the money to buy his videos.


Merry Christmas

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, from our family to yours.

A little Disney World Holiday fun...

Grinch Bullying

I am currently teaching a Bullying lesson over
You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch!

I start off by showing students a video clip of the Grinch at school from the movie.  Here is the Youtube Link:

The Grinch at School

I ask students how was the Grinch different from the other Whoville characters?
-He looked different.
-He was green.
-He was hairy.

The students made fun of the way he looked and the gift he wanted to give Martha.

We then read the story and I show them my little Grinch.  He comes out of a green bag...

I put together a packet for the students to work through.

(Mean, ugly, rude, stinky)


This page says:
If you are being bullied.
1. Tell them to stop.
2. Report it to your teacher.
3. Ignore, walk away, and think of your JOY.

When you are feeling sad or mad, if someone is upsetting you, don't let it bring you down.
Think of the JOY in your life.

Draw a picture of yourself in the O.
Write things that bring you joy in the letters J and Y.





I also created a page similar to the one above that asks
"Write adjectives to describe the Grinch's Heart at the beginning of the story."
(small, cold, mean)

I also included some coloring pages from free sites.  I just googled Grinch coloring pages.


Books to Share

I always have a book with me wherever I go.  I am currently reading:

Jesus > Religion (love this book)
By Jefferson Bethke

Start Something That Matters
By Blake Mycoskie (TOMS founder)

ASCA Journal

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover."  -Mark Twain