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