Elementary school counselors guide students in groups or individually, provide advice to teachers and parents, and assess student behavior. They also participate in curriculum planning and may recommend external counseling services. A bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, or liberal arts is required, along with counseling or teaching experience. Middle school counselors focus on communication and coping skills, and may seek outside assistance for issues outside their expertise.
An elementary school counselor guides children in large or small groups, as well as individually. Your services may be sought after by an interested teacher or parent. He can also independently determine the need for guidance by observing children in their daily learning and recreational activities. Common issues presented to an elementary school counselor include intervention involving disruptive students or counseling students with physical disabilities who are experiencing assimilation issues.
The counselor’s work typically includes participation in curriculum and activity planning. He regularly advises administrators and teachers on which programs are best suited for specific age groups. Their advice often includes suggestions on how to make activities and curricula better meet the sociological, educational, and developmental needs of the student body as a whole.
If the counselor observes student behavior that he considers atypical, antisocial, or aggressive, he can talk to teachers and parents about the issue. The more personal information he can gather about a student, the better equipped he will be to determine the cause of the behavior. Their evaluation often results in recommendations for teachers and parents on how to address, change, or eliminate inappropriate behavior. If he believes that external assessment or counseling services could be useful, he can provide references to relevant professionals.
In addition to assessing individual student behavior, an elementary school counselor usually looks at the student’s body as a whole. He usually discreetly observes children on the playground, in the cafeteria, or in other group situations. Based on his observations, he regularly prepares reports on how children in specific grades or with different teachers develop. His conclusions, positive or negative, are regularly used to assess the value of certain teaching methods and programs or the professional performance of teachers.
Unlike a high school counselor, the middle school counselor typically does not provide guidance about careers, job options, or substance abuse. Its focus is often on helping young people cultivate communication and coping skills that are critical for academic, social, and personal development. If he witnesses problems outside his domain of expertise, such as physical or mental abuse, he is usually ethically and legally obligated to seek assistance from outside authorities.
Typically, a bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, or the liberal arts is required to qualify for this position. Specific courses for counseling, growth and human development are desirable. Additional certifications in teaching or counseling are sometimes required and vary by region and neighborhood. Teaching or counseling experience is highly valued for candidates applying for this role.
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