Survive and Thrive for Novice Counselors

We educators have a variety of titles: Novice Teacher; Novice Library Media

Specialist; Novice School Counselor and the list will continue to grow. To simplify, we will call all novices, "novice teachers". No matter what title we carry, our goal is the same: to make a positive difference in children's lives.

Congratulations! You have your very first teaching job! You are eager to begin your first school year as an educator. Teaching is an exciting, fluid,

complex profession, one that impacts lives. It demands broad knowledge of subject matter, curriculum, and standards; enthusiasm, flexibility, a

caring attitude, and a love of learning; knowledge of discipline and classroom management techniques; and a desire to make a difference in

the lives of young people.

One of the most common questions asked during an interview for a

teaching job, one perhaps you were asked in your interview: “What has drawn you to be a teacher?” Certainly, you have thought about this

question. It may be that your love for children draws you to teaching, or that your own love of learning makes you passionate about teaching. It

may be that you have been inspired by a teacher, and you wish to have that kind of impact on others. The reasons why someone teaches are as

varied and individual as are the people answering the question. Below are

some of the responses from Arkansas teachers:

I teach because... I knew I could make a difference in a child's life. I wanted to be a positive influence in their life not only in the classroom but

also in the real world.

I teach because... I believe that every child can succeed when matched

with a caring, skilled teacher. I believe that the circumstances [one] is born into should not dictate [one’s] chances for success. I believe that a

strong education system is necessary for success, and I believe that

Welcome to

SURVIVE AND THRIVE FOR NOVICE

COUNSELORS

there is nothing more personally or professionally fulfilling than when the

product [of your own work] is a child's academic or social growth.

I teach because…I cannot think of any profession more important and more satisfying on a daily basis. At the time I entered the profession, I

could not imagine doing anything else. When I chose teaching as my profession, what I yearned for was a profession that allowed me to be a

change­maker in the world, one who could help sculpt the future

generations into intellectually, socially, and environmentally engaged citizens. I also wanted a profession in which I also could continue to grow

professionally and meet new challenges.

As educational practices continue to change, best teaching practices also change as we learn more about how a student learns. At the heart of it all

is the essential question: “What is best for the student?” To answer this

question for each student in your charge is the drive of a teacher’s work.

An effective teacher understands that planning is key to a teacher’s success in reaching each student, yet in any profession when one is new,

there is a learning curve. Put quite simply, when we first begin, often we do not know what we do not know. The first few months are the most

challenging for any teacher, and even more so for someone just beginning

their teaching career.

To support, guide, and encourage you in this complex and exciting new world will be your mentor, an experienced teacher who is trained and

certified in the Arkansas Novice Teacher Mentoring Program. Assigned to you by the School District Project Director, your mentor will be your "go­to"

person to answer the many questions that will arise as you learn the

culture of the school and the skill of teaching. Your mentor will support your progress during your teacher induction and will be your thinking

partner in navigating the challenges and celebrating the successes of your teaching experience. And, as with any true partnership, each person

learns from the other.

In addition to the mentor’s ongoing support is the support of the Survive and

Thrive Resource Module, below. This module is a practical month­by­month

Teach

list to help you in planning as you begin your new profession. Developed by

Arkansas educators ­ teachers, mentors, administrators, School District Project Directors, and/or instructors in educator preparation programs in

universities across the state, the module has been designed with a novice teacher in mind, and lists what experienced teachers think about and plan for

each month.

The Survive and Thrive module will help guide purposeful conversations

between you and your mentor. The module will assist you in preparing for those first few months in your new career and can continue to be a guide

to help you in planning throughout the school year.

Teach

INSTRUCTIONS

Regarding First meetings with your Mentor The areas listed below are crucial to preparing for your success as a teacher. During these initial meetings with your mentor, you and your mentor may use this list to springboard your

discussion in how you will plan for your first weeks of teaching. This list is not all-inclusive

and may be modified to the needs of each novice teacher. While you and your mentor will

meet at least once a month, it is expected that your mentor will also be available to you on

an as-needed basis, to provide the on-going support that you need.

School Counselor Resources

ADE Guidance and Counseling

This webpage includes links to:

Public School Student Services Act

Rules Governing Public School Student Services

American School Counseling Association

Arkansas School Counseling Association

Arkansas Counseling Association

FAFSA

First Semester

Arkansas Works

ACT

Collegeboard

ArkACRAO

Interstate Compact for Military Children

TESS Materials o Danielson Framework o Smart Card o Artifacts and Evidence o TESS for specialty areas

Classroom Guidance possible topics

Academic support, including organizational, study and test­taking skills o I’m Failing, No Matter What: Teaching Students How to Overcome Test Anxiety

Goal setting and decision­making

o Setting Goals

Career awareness, exploration and planning

Education on understanding self and others

Peer relationships, coping strategies and effective social skills

Communication, problem­solving and conflict resolution o Creative Problem Solving o Design Thinking & Empathy-Fueled Problem Solving

Substance abuse education o Legal Drugs – Alcohol, Tobacco, and Marijuana

Multicultural/diversity awareness o Diversity/Cultural Competency Student Education o Where I Came From: Embracing Cultural Diversity in Secondary Classrooms

Individual student planning

Bullying Prevention o Stop Bullying in Schools: What You Can Do o An Invisible Epidemic in Our Schools: How Cyberbullying is Taking Young Lives o LGBTQ Bullying: Issues, Current Policies, and How Teachers can Support

Suicide Awareness

Academic planning

Career Action Planning

School Counselor Resources

The National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator

The Federal Student Aid Information Center

Mapping Your Future

KnowHow2Go

Procedures

Classroom management plan

Classroom Management for CHAMPS

Improve Classroom Management by Building Relationships

Plan for physical classroom environment

Classroom Environment: More than Just Desks and Chairs

Welcome letters to parents or guardians

Communication with Parents? Check!

Set up technology accounts as directed by school district

Review school district policies and school culture expectations (regarding use of social media, use of cell phones, professional dress)

Teacher Fashion: Cool, Comfortable, and Professional

Professionalism

Discuss interpersonal relationships with school community members (administrative assistant, nurse, custodian, resource officers, parents, colleagues, etc.)

What if Teachers Do Not See Eye to Eye? Conflict Resolution among Children Role Models

Prepare substitute notebook

S.O.S.: Sub Plans Wanted!

Discuss confidentiality expectations including district procedures for counselor referrals

Instructional Planning

Information (School district; Parent contact; Medical)

Review school district safety procedures (Fire Drill, Tornado, Active shooter)

Schedules (Classroom, Special Classes, Pull­outs, Duty)

Prepare checklist for required school forms

Review district homework/grading policy

Plan first day activities (interest inventories, Get­to­know­you activities, Syllabus/course overview, school handbook, dress code, discipline policy, required forms)

Back to School Tools

Reviewing student data (504, SPED, AIPs, G/T, ALE, ESL (cultural diversity and sensitivity), etc.)

Diversity/Cultural Competency Staff Education

Developing Cultural Competence in the Classroom through Culturally Relevant Teaching

INSTRUCTIONS

After the initial meetings with your mentor in preparing for your first few weeks of teaching, you are now ready to plan for your continued success for first semester. You and your mentor may use this list to guide your conversations to plan for September – December. The list below is not all-inclusive and may be modified to the needs of each novice teacher. While you and your mentor will meet at least once a month, it is expected that your mentor will also be available to you on an as-needed basis, to provide the on-going support that you need. Each and every school is different as are the duties assigned to school counselors. The items listed here may or may not be responsibilities at your school. Elementary/Middle Level

Consider dividing your year when developing Classroom Guidance Lessons: Example: Personal/Social ­ August ­ December, Academic ­ January ­ March, Careers ­ April ­ May. In

Personal/Social, cover things like friendships, getting acquainted, peer pressure, bullying, suicide awareness etc. (Stop Bullying in Schools: What You Can Do, An Invisible Epidemic in

Our Schools: How Cyberbullying is Taking Young Lives, and LGBTQ Bullying: Issues, Current

Policies, and How Teachers can Support) Academic ­ this could be things like preparing for testing, study skills, etc. Careers ­ could be interest inventories, using time effectively, overview of career information, community helpers, etc. Classroom Guidance Lessons continue throughout the year on a schedule developed typically between the Counselor, the Administration, and the Classroom teacher. Individual Sessions occur as needed with students throughout the year.

Small Groups occur throughout the year as needed with students. These could include groups for students with divorced parents, study skills, bully prevention or other topics as needed identified on surveys.

Clubs: School counselors might be the sponsors for of a club or organization. Some of these are; Student Council, Safety Patrol, Teachers of Tomorrow, Peer Mentoring, Fire Marshals,

Ambassadors, Flag Monitors and Morning Announcements. If so, meetings with these groups should incorporate personal/social, career and academic mindsets and behaviors.

Referral Agencies: Work with mental health, school and community agencies to provide services for students (usually targeted via administrator/teacher/parent referral).

High School

Junior athletes will need to be registered for the NCAA Clearinghouse. Meet with parents and students throughout the year. Possible topics might be; teen pregnancy, relationship issues, bullying, suicide prevention, schedules and schedule changes, credits/graduation, career selections and future plans. Classroom visits to work with students on academics, class selection, scholarships, and Career Action Planning.

Testing

Testing duties may be assigned to you. Things to consider related to testing: what groups students will test in, teachers who will be administering testing, accommodated students, special accommodations that may need to be administered, scheduling, etc. Each year, the testing schedule is posted by Commissioner’s Memo on the ADE website at http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/default.aspx.

Month Elementary (K-4) Upper Elementary/Middle

School (5-8)

Secondary

July

Not on contract

Middle school counselors

may report in July and begin secondary counselor duties (see

secondary box on chart)

Programming and

scheduling for the year

Student schedules

finalized

Set schedule for College

Representative Visiting

Dates

Create a counselor

introduction letter to mail

to students or to include

in the grade level student

information packets.

Develop ACT and SAT

calendar.

August

Open House

Review student records &

case load

Surveys with teachers,

parents, and students for planning

Tentative lesson plans

based on data from surveys & school profile

Programming and

scheduling for the year

Student schedules

finalized.

Open House

Review student records & case load

Surveys with teachers, parents, and students for planning

Parent/teacher

conferences

Tentative lesson plans

based on data from surveys & school profile

Develop plans for

Career Action Plans

Programming and

scheduling for the year

Student schedules

finalized.

Open House

Review student records & case load

Surveys with teachers, parents, and students for planning

Develop plans for Career Action Plans (this includes

the college/career portfolio for juniors/seniors and also

information about job experience, extracurricular activities,

community service, etc.)

Double check senior

transcripts and make sure students are in the classes they need to

graduate

September

Classroom Orientation

Classroom Guidance

Lessons – no more than 10

per week or 3 per day

(Topics determined by

surveys and needs

assessment)

Begin formulating small

groups

RTI Conferences

Coordinate and identify

students for support

resources (i.e. Backpack

program with food for

students, www.ricedopt.org/

(local church programs,

agency programs)

Classroom Orientation

Classroom Guidance

Lessons – no more than

10 per week or 3 per day

(Topics determined by

surveys and needs

assessment)

Begin formulating small

groups

RTI Conferences

Coordinate and identify

students for support

resources (i.e. Backpack

program with food for

students,

www.ricedopt.org/ (local

church programs, agency

programs)

Articulation Workshop

Military and college

representative visits

Parent nights

Senior Meetings – review

transcript and deficiencies,

senior packets and

recommendation forms

TRIO programs recruiting

students

Common Application – for

students who choose to

apply to a college that uses

it

ACT Test

Coordinate and identify

students for support

resources (i.e. Backpack

program with food for

students, www.ricedopt.org/

(local church programs,

agency programs)

October

Safe & Drug Free Schools Drug Awareness Theme – Red Ribbon Week

Bully Prevention Stop Bullying In Schools:

What You Can Do

Parent-Teacher

Conferences

Safe & Drug Free Schools Drug Awareness Theme – Red Ribbon Week

Bully Prevention Stop Bullying In Schools:

What You Can Do

Parent-Teacher

Conferences

Red Ribbon Week

College representatives visits

Parent Teacher Conferences Make the Best of Parent

Teacher Conferences

ACT Opportunity

Senior Grade checks

Transcript reviews 9-11

Teach

INSTRUCTIONS Your primary emphasis for second semester will be working with your mentor in deepening your teaching skills by working through a micro-credential and applying those newly learned strategies into your teaching. You will want to select a micro-credential that aligns with your Professional Growth Plan. The micro-credential is to be done with your mentor, who is present with you either physically or via interactive technology (ZOOM, SKYPE, Google Hangout, etc.) The micro-credential can be done in segments, and it may be completed in multiple settings.

The Survive and Thrive guide can continue to be a resource to you in planning for second semester. Each and every school is different as are the duties assigned to school counselors. The items listed here may or may not be responsibilities at your school

Month Elementary (K-4) Upper Elementary/Middle School (5-8)

Secondary

January Classroom Classroom Guidance Lessons – no Meetings with students who are

Make the Best of Parent Teacher Conferences

Classroom Guidance Lessons – no more than 10

per week or 3 per day

RTI Conferences

Make the Best of Parent Teacher Conferences

Making the Most of Parent Teacher Conferences in

Middle School

Classroom Guidance

Lessons – no more than 10 per week or 3 per day

RTI Conferences

(Seniors completed in Senior Meetings)

November

Food Drive & Thanksgiving Meal Baskets for families

needing assistance

Classroom Guidance Lessons – no more than 10

per week or 3 per day

Food Drive & Thanksgiving Meal

Baskets for families needing assistance

Classroom Guidance

Lessons – no more than 10 per week or 3 per day

Food Drive & Thanksgiving Meal Baskets for families

needing assistance

College and career applications begun and/or

completed Getting Online and Onboard

with the College Application Process

Work on Career Action Planner

December

Coordinate meals/gifts for

families that may need assistance with Christmas

Coordinate meals/gifts for

families that may need assistance with Christmas

Coordinate meals/gifts for

families that may need assistance with Christmas

Review transcripts and

make schedule changes as needed

ACT opportunity

Second Semester

Guidance Lessons – no more than 10

per week or 3 per day

RTI Conferences

Meeting with

students who are failing classes,

have attendance issues, etc.

more than 10 per week or 3 per day RTI Conferences Meeting with students who are

failing classes, have attendance issues, etc.

Prepare registration and course

selection information for the next school year

failing classes, have attendance issues, etc.

Prepare registration and course

selection information for the next school year

Arkansas Scholarship Lottery,

Governor’s Scholarship and Go Grant opens – Arkansas

Department of Higher Education Mid-year report for Common

Application FAFSA applications are open

Review Senior transcripts and

check for Honor Graduates and class rank

February

National School Counselor Week

Classroom Guidance Lessons – no more than 10 per week or 3 per day

RTI Conferences

National School Counselor Week

Classroom Guidance Lessons – no more than 10 per week or 3 per day

RTI Conferences

Aspire test interpretation for course selection guidance

o CollegeBoard

PSATNMSQT

o ACT Plan

Registration & course selection

for upcoming school year begins

National School Counselor Week

Job Shadowing programs

Scholarship information to seniors as it becomes available

ACT opportunity

Encourage students to visit colleges

Aspire and PSAT test interpretation for course selection guidance

o CollegeBoard

PSATNMSQT

o ACT Plan

Registration & course selection for

upcoming school year begins

March

Parent Teacher Conferences

Make the Best of Parent Teacher Conferences

Student Services

Report Classroom

Guidance Lessons – no more than 10 per week or 3 per day

RTI Conferences

Retention

Candidate Conference

Parent Teacher Conferences

Make the Best of Parent Teacher Conferences

Student Services Report Classroom Guidance Lessons –

no more than 10 per week or 3 per day

RTI Conferences

Registration & scheduling for upcoming year

Parent Teacher Conferences

Make the Best of Parent Teacher Conferences

Student Services Report

Senior grade checks

Work with seniors to finalize plans

April

Classroom

Guidance

Lessons – no

more than 10 per

week or 3 per

day

RTI Conferences

Retention

Candidate

Conference

RTI Conferences

Registration & scheduling for

upcoming year

Classroom Guidance Lessons –

no more than 10 per week or 3

per day

ACT Test

Selections for Boys and Girls

State

Meet with seniors individually to

discuss grades and status for

graduation

May

End of Year

Awards and/or Promotion

Ceremonies

Finish end of

year reports

End of Year Awards and/or

Promotion Ceremonies

End of Year Reports

Tentative schedules for upcoming

students

AP Testing

Graduation

End of Year Awards – scholarship

amounts, scholastic awards

Deadline for college acceptance

Tentative schedules for upcoming

students

Meet with juniors regarding

research for scholarship and

college information

Notify parents regarding students

who need to make up credits to

receive diploma

June

Go off contract Finish schedules and finalize end of year reports

Develop senior packets and materials for the next year

Finish schedules and end of year reports

These are additional resources which may be of value to you as you begin your new role of a teacher.

Local Cooperative websites for resource materials and Professional

Development opportunities

Local Education Cooperatives

Arkansas Department of Education

Arkansas Department of Education

ADE Teacher Induction/Mentoring

Review Rubric Use and Design

Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) English Language Arts/Literacy Practice Tests

Prose Constructed Response Rubrics

Know Your Terms: Holistic, Analytic, and Single­Point Rubrics

Review State Ethics Policies

Ethics for Arkansas Educators

Connect Further

TESS Track Guidelines

AR TESS Teacher Tracks

Check Commissioner's Memos to know current information regarding Arkansas Education

Arkansas Department of Education Commissioner's Memos