School counselors are at the heart of schools as the moral compass. Therefore, it’s important for counselors to be on their game, when it comes to the students. From life advice to calming fears to helping students confront other challenges (i.e., bullying, trauma, etc.), counselors are a resource that schools should never take for granted.
With that in mind, here are 5 books to help school counselors do their best at positively impacting students’ lives.
- The 7 Habits Of Happy Kids – Sean Covey
“This illustrated book is a testament of how balance can be effective in a child’s life,” says Nathan Boutin, a writer at Simplegrad and Resumention. “With fun and lovable characters, kids can learn that fun activities can bring joy and positivity in their lives. The book includes seven stories that demonstrate the seven habits that counselors should teach to students to practice balanced living.”
- The School Counselor’s Book Of Lists – Dorothy J. Blum And Tamara E. Davis
If you’re looking for a simple format in school counseling, then The School Counselor’s Book of Lists is for you!
This book serves as a definitive guide on the various topics that affect school counselors. From thorough student assessments to running meetings to handling and preventing crises, this book (with a second edition the most effective thus far) helps counselors assess and implement effective strategies to help keep students’ mental health in check.
- Lost At School: Why Our Kids With Behavioral Challenges Are Falling Through The Cracks And How We Can Help Them – Ross W. Greene
Ross W. Greene, a licensed and distinguished clinician, explores the behavioral challenges that children face, especially in school. Following up from his critically-acclaimed book The Explosive Child, Lost at School dives deeper into how schools can understand and help kids in certain situations without having to automatically resort to disciplining them. While disciplining with detentions and expulsions are one thing, those punishments can only scratch at the surface of the problem. Greene offers a modified, if not different, solution.
Greene suggests that by punishing students by taking them out of school will only disrupt their learning, rather than enhance it. In his book, he calls for an alternative that effectively disciplines students while still getting straight to the source of the problem(s) that children may be facing. With Greene’s ideas, students can learn to face obstacles, learn from their experiences and – most importantly – keep them in school.
- Schools Where Everyone Belongs – Stan Davis And Julia Davis
“Stan Davis and Julia Davis tackle the subject of bullying in school in Schools Where Everyone Belongs,” says Amber Thomas, a journalist at Studydemic and Huffpost. “While there are countless efforts to combat bullying and its tragic consequences, there’s still a need for counselors to intervene, and to get to the heart of the problem. The book explores various situations of bullying, and how counselors can spot the signs, implement the right strategies, and learn to treat the underlying causes of bullying.”
- How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, And The Hidden Power Of Character – Paul Tough
Finally, Paul Tough explores character in How Children Succeed. Here, Tough shows a different perspective – one that’s often ignored in the established norms of schools and institutions: student character. Character, Tough believes, is the pinnacle of how students perform in school.
In his book, he explores the following areas in character:
- Curiosity
- Optimism
- Perseverance, AND
- Self-control
Tough argues that these areas in character are essential in student performance, when it comes to testing, admissions, and overall learning. Plus, he peels back the layers of character, and how each of the areas are (and should be) effective in a child’s learning process. Whether or not parents are preparing their children for adulthood, or if children are learning things on their own, Tough gets to the bottom of things by looking at character.
This book is told through the eyes of a new generation of researchers and educators. It’s through their stories—and those from children that have met the challenges in school—that make this real and inspiring book.
Conclusion
As you can see, books continue to be excellent sources of guidance for school counselors no matter the student grade level. Since students are to be the future of this world, it’s important for counselors to guide them in the right ways, rather than leave anything to chance.
These 5 books are great resources for school counselors, especially when it comes to hot topics like bullying prevention, positivity, and inspiration. By giving these books a read, counselors can continue to be advisors and resources of encourage to students everywhere.
Happy reading!
Lauren Groff is a writer and editor at Assignment Service and Academized. She is also a blogger at English Literature Writing Service. As an educational writer, she specializes in counseling, testing, and library science.
