9. School Counseling Core Curriculum: Results Report Narrative
The School Counseling Core Curriculum Results report summarizes what lessons were focused on for my program goals, along with the mindsets and behaviors those lesson addressed. It also shows the data collected from the lessons and implications within those lessons. The lessons include Making Good Choices, DeBugging, and Growth Mindset.
Making Good Choices was chosen based on a strong need to guide children to make better choices and identify right from wrong. I wanted the students to feel more empowered and understand that every choice has a consequence. The lesson was strongly accepted by the students. When I addressed Making Good Choices with the students, they were very eager to give good examples of both good and bad choices. The students played a game where they needed to demonstrate their knowledge of good and bad choices and differentiate between the two. The delivery of the lesson can be more effective with support of the school community. For example, they would enthusiastically tell me that running in the halls is a bad choice and many ran in the halls later in the day. I attempted to remediate this problem by giving out "Making Good Choice" cards to students who were "caught" making those good choices. This was a positive way to continue this lesson into their daily lives. This Making Good Choices program carried through to the end of the year with positive results.
The students actively participated in the lesson of growth mindset. They began to understand that changing your mindset can help change the outcome of your daily experiences. Students were told to rephrase statements such as "l can't" or "l am not good at." to positive phrases in a written assignment. Some of the implications of this lesson were apparent after the lesson was over. Some students often fell back into a fixed mindset when faced with a problem in the classroom. To more effectively deliver the lesson, I will invite classroom teachers to be part of the lesson so that they can help solidify the lesson into the students' daily lives.
The concept of DeBugging works as long as it is encouraged and guided with the younger students. It helps them become more independent and see how they can be problem solvers on their own. It also shows them when they truly need an adult's help. In order for DeBugging to work to its fullest, the students need to be constantly reminded of the steps and praised when they complete the steps. If the lesson is dropped after I teach them, it serves very little purpose. For a more effective delivery, I plan on inviting teachers and staff into my lesson on this concept. This would be helpful for them when they are with the students in areas such as recess and lunch or other times with more freedom.
The mindsets and behaviors for these lessons delve into the areas of learning strategies, self-management skills, and social skills. Exposing the students to this broad area of strategies and skills helps foster and build a more balanced student. They are able to see greater school success and achievement, and future success.
Next year I plan to continue with all three lessons as I found them to be both resourceful and beneficial to students and staff alike.