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Top 60 Blogs for Counselors

Feedspot has just updated its list of the top blogs available for Counselors. We are happy to say that LINK for Counselors was ranked as the #4 blog for Counselors(we are #1 specifically for High School Counselors). There are some other great blogs out there so we wanted to spotlight a few from their list and provide a link to the entire list:

1. The Corner On Character

The Corner On Character Friendswood, Texas, US

I’m a school counselor, character coach, and author in Friendswood, Texas who hopes that you’ll find something that will positively inspire, intrigue or influence you while you’re here.

Frequency 1 post / week Since Jun 2011 corneroncharacter.blogspot.com+ Follow

2. FHS Counseling Information Blog

FHS Counseling Information Blog Dearborn, Michigan, US The goal of the counseling department at Dearborn Public Schools is to help students develop to their fullest potential intellectually, emotionally, and socially. Counselors help students gain the self-knowledge necessary to become independent & responsible decision-makers by assisting them in the areas like personal & crisis issues, career planning, college & financial aid guidance, academic planning & course selection, and much more.

Frequency 1 post / quarter iblog.dearbornschools.org/fh..+ Follow

3. For High School Counselors

For High School Counselors Atlanta, Georgia, US I am a licensed professional counselor, mediator, conflict coach, Youth Mental Health lst Aid trainer, & peer educator who has a passion for educating others!

Frequency 1 post / week forhighschoolcounselors.blog.

4. Counselor Up!

Counselor Up! North Carolina, US Hi, I’m Rebecca Atkins! I’m a school counselor & central office administrator. On my blog, Counselor Up, I share tips on organizing your comprehensive school counseling program, lesson plans, group ideas, and individual counseling tips. Counselor Up! is a place to share some of the ideas, organizing tools, and planning for a comprehensive school counselor program!

Frequency 1 post / month Since Jun 2014 counselorup.com

5. The School Counselor Life

The School Counselor Life As a school counselor, I understand how difficult it can be to find new, innovative, and fun ideas to implement with your students, so I’ve decided to compile my favorite classroom lessons, session ideas, and organization tips for all of you to use with the children at your schools, as well as style ideas and self care practices to encompass every aspect of The School Counselor Life.

Frequency 2 posts / quarter Since Oct 2015 theschoolcounselorlife.com

6. Confident Counselors

Confident CounselorsNew York, US We are a group of school counselors, psychologists, and social workers working together to bring resources to our colleagues. This was made for you. Confident Counselors is a monthly round up of resources, products, best practices, articles, comic relief, blog posts, give aways and ideas in action. Frequency 10 posts / year Since May 2016 confidentcounselors.com

7. Counselors’ Corner

Counselors' Corner A Blog of views and opinions from school counselors about the counseling profession. Frequency 1 post / quarter Since Jan 2011 hscw-counselorscorner.blogsp..

8. School Counselor Stephanie

School Counselor StephanieTexas, US With over 20 years of teaching and counseling experience, I am currently a bilingual school counselor in a Central Texas public school system. This website addresses current issues in the school counseling world! In my monthly posts, I will provide helpful tips and links to enhance your counseling. Frequency 1 post / year Since May 2015 schoolcounselorstephanie.com..

9. Exploring School Counseling

Exploring School Counseling I love to learn and I love to share! Much of what I know about school counseling has been learned through trial and error in the everyday experiences of working with students, teachers, and families. I am forever grateful to my mentors and colleagues who have shared advice and their best practices with me. It is my desire to ‘pay it forward’ to offer ideas, resources, and encouragement to others Frequency 8 posts / year Since Jun 2014 exploringschoolcounseling.bl..

10. College Counselor Traci | Counselor Resources for College & Career

STEM Scholarships Available for Minorities

Pursuing a STEM career can be very expensive for students. Scholarships can really help close the gap on paying for that education. Here is a list of scholarships available specifically for minorities planning to pursue a STEM education:

STEM Scholarships for All Minorities

STEM Scholarships for Asian American & Pacific Islander Students

STEM Scholarships for Black Students

  • The NAACP offers several different, including a $12,500 award for STEM students.
  • Microsoft will award 27 scholarships for the upcoming academic year to students studying technology, ranging from $1,000 to $20,000.
  • The Financial Aid & Scholarship Guide for Black Students can provide you even more information on scholarships and financial aid that is available to you.

STEM Scholarships for Hispanic and Latino Students

STEM Scholarships for Alaskan Natives and Native Americans

  • The American Indian Education Fund has over 200 scholarships that are awarded each year to Native American and Alaskan Native students.
  • Ford Motors hosts STEAM programs and offers $50,000 in scholarships to some participants who have tribal affiliations.
  • AISES Oracle Academy has scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 are available to students pursuing computer science degrees.

This list of Scholarships was compiled by Study.com. Check out their complete Guide to College and Careers for Minorities in STEM.

Key URL Links for the SAT, PSAT, and ACT

Here are some quick links if you are looking for information on the SAT, PSAT or ACT:

PSAT and Scholarship Information

This site gives extensive information on the PSAT and the National Merit Scholarship.

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html

SAT Prep.

This site is helpful in preparing and registering for the S.A.T. exam.

http://www.collegeboard.com/

SAT Link – Services for Students with Disabilities

Helpful S.A.T. and college information on services for students with disabilities.

http://www.collegeboard.com/ssd/student/

ACT Prep.

This site is full of information on preparing and registering for the A.C.T. exam.

http://www.act.org/aap/disab/index.html

ACT Link – Services for Students with Disabilities

Helpful A.C.T. information on services for students with disabilities.

http://www.act.org/aap/disab/index.html

Using PowerSchool? Here are some useful search shortcuts!

Tiffany T. Grimes a Counselor at Alamgordo Public Schools recently shared a document on FB in the HS Counselors Group that has some great shortcuts for those using PowerSchool. They include trying to find:

  • Students with no schedule
  • Students with only a Homeroom Assignment
  • Birthdays in a specific month
  • All students in a specific grade
  • Last names with a Jr
  • All students who entered school in a specific month
  • Active students in a specific month
  • Students who left in a specific month
  • All students who live on a specific street
  • All students whose Mothers name of Fathers name is……
  • All students whose Emergency Contact contains….
  • All Pre-Registered students

These are some great shortcuts. Here is a link to the PDF – https://www.linkforcounselors.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Useful-Searches-in-PowerSchool-1.pdf

Senior Plan for College and Career Readiness (PCCR)

The Counseling team at Stansbury High School in Utah has put together a nice 1 page form that you can adapt for your students to help them start thinking about College and their future plans.

It should take them a maximum time of 10 minutes to complete and includes places for them to think about Career Options, College Options, Goal Setting, Brain Health & Academic Evaluation. After they fill out this form you can discuss it with them and possibly lead them to thinking about specific Colleges and programs that would be a good fit for them.

Here is a link to the document available to download as a PDF: 2020-2021 Senior Plan for College and Career Readiness (PCCR)

  • Note the Colleges listed on the form are from their specific area so you may want to revise and adapt to the predominant schools in your region.

College Planning Timeline – Freshman – Senior Year

Here is a nice timeline put together for students by the Counseling team at Broadalbin-Perth School District in New York that might be of interest to share with your students:

Freshman Year

August

  • Attend ninth grade orientation for students and their parents.
  • Check schedule to be sure that you have a math, history, English, science and PE class.

September

  • Attend the club fair and sign up for at least one club.
  • Stay for ninth period for classes that you could use extra help with; this will establish good habits.
  • Use your agenda to develop good organizational skills.

October

  • See your school counselor to develop a four-year high school plan.

March

  • Meet with your school counselor to select courses for 10th grade. Parents are invited to attend this conference.

Sophomore Year

September

  • Check your schedule for accuracy.
  • Sign up and get involved in clubs; try a leadership role this year!

October

  • Sign up and take the PLAN test. This test is a preliminary ACT test and includes an interest inventory.

December

  • Attend PLAN results night for students and their parents.

January

  • Attend Sophomore Parent Night for students and their parents to learn about course offerings and options at the Career and Technical Center.
  • Career and Technical Center representatives visit to discuss options available to students.

February

  • Students may visit the Career and Technical Center to explore options.

March

  • Meet with your school counselor to select courses for 11th grade, review academic standing, and discuss career and college exploration.
  • Research summer programs to find one that may be appropriate for you.

May

  • Finalize summer plans that include employment, a summer program and/or volunteer work. This helps build a resume.

June

  • Review final report card. Attend summer school if necessary.

Junior Year

September

  • Check your schedule. Make sure that you have all the courses that you want and need.
  • Sign up for the Preliminary SAT (PSAT), a pretest for the SAT. This test is also known as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT).
  • Consider taking a College Admissions Prep course.
  • Get involved in clubs or activities.

October

  • Attend a College Fair to get information on Colleges.
  • Take the PSAT/NMSQT.

December

  • Attend Financial Aid Night.
  • Attend PSAT results night for students and parents.

January

  • Sign up for the SAT and ACT college admissions tests.

February

  • Attend Junior Parent Night for students and parents.
  • Meet with your school counselor to schedule courses for 12th grade and ensure that you will have all the credits needed for graduation.

March

  • Begin discussing college choices with your parents and school counselor.
  • Sign up to take the SAT and ACT exams.
  • Review college catalog materials.
  • Compare and contrast your findings about different colleges.
  • Visit college campuses.
  • Attend college fairs.
  • Review pros and cons of early admission options.

April

  • Take the SAT and/or ACT exams.
  • Meet with your Counselor to discuss college preparation, college searching, resume writing, admissions essays and recommendation letters.

May

  • Take the SAT and/or ACT exams.

June

  • Take the SAT and/or ACT exams.

July/August

  • Visit college campuses.
  • Start to narrow down your list of colleges based on campus visits.

Senior Year

September

  • Register to take the ACT and/or SAT exams.
  • Attend the Senior Seminar for both students and parents. The college application process is discussed at this time.
  • Schedule your senior exit interview with your school counselor. Each senior meets with his or her school counselor to discuss graduation requirements and post-graduation plans.
  • Ask at least two teachers for recommendation letters. Provide each of them with a resume and write a follow-up thank-you note. See your school counselor for recommendation letter forms.
  • Meet with college representatives. Check the list and sign up ahead of time.
  • Maintain a calendar to track important dates.
  • Gather all application materials needed to apply to colleges.
  • Visit any colleges on your list if you have not already done so.

October

  • Register for the SAT if you have not already done so.
  • Write your college application essay. Even if it is optional, do it! Ask a teacher, counselor or parent to proofread it.
  • Take the ACT and/or SAT exams.
  • Attend a College Fair.
  • Check for Scholarships.
  • Continue to meet with college representatives.

November

  • College applications should be completed and handed in to your school counselor before Thanksgiving break!

December

  • Take SAT and/or ACT exam.
  • Attend Financial Aid Night.
  • Pick up a copy of the FAFSA form in the school counseling office.
  • Parents: Save your pay stubs to assist you in filing the FAFSA.

January

  • File the FAFSA.
  • Apply for scholarships. Check the scholarship board!

February

  • Check on your mid-year transcripts.
  • Review your college choices. Revisit colleges if necessary.

April

  • Watch for college acceptance letters!
  • Compare your financial aid packages.
  • Select a college by May 1!

May

  • Notify colleges of your final decision.
  • Keep track of all deadlines at the college of your choice.
  • Start preparing for College.

Senior Checklist for your Students

☐  Know your graduation status!!! Make sure you have what you need in your schedule.

☐ Be sure to get your 20 hours community service or job shadow done.

☐  Pass your senior paper in English 12A.

☐  Meet with your counselor at semester to make sure you are still on track!!!

☐  Complete your poster and speech outline by the deadlines.

☐  Practice your speech.

☐  Turn in your completed log hours.  

☐  Be on time for your presentation.

☐ Turn in a transcript for any classes taken at CSI or through another college.

☐  Finish strong and pass all your classes!

If you are College Bound

☐Build a resume for college applications, recommendation letters and jobs.

☐Retake the SAT in the fall.

☐Prepare your college essay and applications.

☐Apply for scholarships and financial aid.

☐Complete the FAFSA.

Entering the Military

☐Meet with a recruiter.

☐Make sure you have the expected graduation paperwork.

Posted by Dale Carter Conrad a Counselor in the Jerome School District in the High School Counselors FB Group

Benefits of Being a Mentor

Counselors help students not only academically but also emotionally for life after high school. Not many students will have the support a counselor can provide at home, and being part of their lives, helping them successfully navigate their life through school can be very helpful for their growth. 

School counseling is not only beneficial for the students, it is also very valuable for the counselor as well. Mentoring students is not only personally rewarding to see their professional and personal growth, but it can also teach you many valuable life lessons. 

Choosing to become a counselor can be challenging. Working through student’s problems and helping them improve can be a slow process, on top of it being stressful and taking an emotional toll in your life. But learning to become a great mentor to your students, could make these challenges easier to navigate. 

If the students can see you as a role model, and you can connect with them well, you will be able to make a great impact in their lives, and be remembered as not only their counselor and mentor, but a friend. 

Learning how to mentor your students can help you achieve the goal of being a memorable counselor in their lives. So asking about their career goals, being available to them, giving help readily as well as being empathetic and sharing your story, are only some of the things you can do to become a better counselor.  

This infographic from Mint does a great job of describing ways you can be a good mentor to your students, and achieve personal and career fulfillment:

how-to-be-career-changing-mentor

How To Get Through a Hard Day – Free Handout for Counselors

Teachers Pay Teachers has a nice free handout available for students – “How to Get Through a Hard Day”.

To get a copy a “free registration” is required. Here is a link to the page to download it: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Resiliency-FREE-handout-for-students-middle-high-school-counseling-6926624?fbclid=IwAR3UQiUywwh5Gtmea1OAtgKBxquG-fLvbLh_XuwnutVbEVkJles0tACBe8U

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