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Case Study

“When I first started as a school counselor after completing courses for child counselling, I was with an institution where I was the only counselor. I went straight from undergraduate to graduate school and had not actually spent any time in an elementary school outside of my school counseling internship. Therefore, I understood that I had a lot to learn! However, luckily, I found myself surrounded by amazing teachers who did not hesitate to become my mentors. While it is true that they couldn't support me in school counseling, yet I was able to learn from them how to effectively connect with colleagues, push my students for more, and appreciate fun in learning.”

Things I Learned

1. What I learned: Connect with your colleagues and know them as a whole person.

I found one of my teacher mentors to be was someone who was naturally caring and had a motherly personality. She made sure that she always checked on everyone, helped us and gave advice when we needed, asked about the well-being of our family, and was always aware what was happening with each person. She taught me to care for my colleagues as people and to show that care in an active way.

2. What I learned: Believe in your students so much that you help them reach higher but also be ready to support them to get there.

Another teacher I met there was someone who loved her students severely. She always had high expectations for them and managed to constantly keep them on the edge. True, she held a high standard but when it came to supporting them, she was always by their side to help them meet her expectations. She was dead serious about her students’ success and they knew that about her. Hence, her students too worked hard and never wanted to let her down. The growth that her students had was always phenomenal.

3. What I learned: Productivity and purpose don't have to come at the expense of enjoyment.

Everyone appreciates a good laugh. Another teacher I worked with in the school was fun-loving and ready to always enjoy with her students. She encouraged a fun way of learning and hence, her students were definitely learning and at the same time also having fun. Since my sitting areas (office) shared a wall with her classroom, I could always hear the students as if they were having the best time over there. She managed to do all of these together by having set directions and routines. I was stumped by her ability to have all her students having fun in the classroom while also learning.

4. I also learnt that parental involvement in their children’s daily school activities was as much important so that both the teacher and the students can develop their connection with the parents easily.

Few ways that helped me with parental involvement include:

• Create an awareness program that encourages parents to report concerns their child may be experiencing at school which could prevent any future conflicts and issues
   
• Schedule parent meetings at regular intervals, apart from PTO/PTA meetings, with specific issues that are helpful for parents (effective behavioural strategies for the home, conflict management strategies for home, etc.)
   
• Facilitate scheduled opportunities for parents a few times a week to meet with teachers for help and questions regarding homework assistance in various subjects
   
• Always try and make yourselves and the administrative team visible and available to parents for help and support

Pursuing accredited school counseling programs will help teachers to enhance their knowledge in this field and contribute to the overall well-being of the students.