Jul

30

2011-12 School Year

July 30, 2011 | | Comments Off

Dear Parent and/or Guardian,                                                 

 Welcome to a new school year at Overdale.  I am excited about your child’s learning adventure and I hope that you are, too!  I will be your child’s school counselor while attending Overdale Elementary School and I look forward to working with you and your family throughout their academic journey.  Our expectations at Overdale are to teach our student’s how to live safe, respectful and responsible lives.  I love our Overdale team and I’m sure you will find our community school and its staff unique, skilled, and helpful. 

I earned my school counseling degree at Indiana University Southeast although I give most of the credit for becoming a “counselor” to being the mother of three children and raising them through their teenage years.  But, as your child’s advocate, I will be here to assist you and them in achieving their personal best as they work to accomplish their learning goals and overcome obstacles that may interfere with their academic progress.   

Below is a sample list of tasks I will do as your child’s school counselor this school year:

  • Teach classroom guidance lessons on a variety of topics as stated in the American School Counselor’s Association (ASCA) and Kentucky Core Content 4.1.
  • Counsel individual students in confidentiality, as needed.
  • Counsel with small groups of children with similar concerns.
  • Consult with teachers and parents to assist them in meeting individual student needs.
  • Coordinate referrals to school and community agencies.
  • Coordinate and assist with state assessment.
  • Chair in IEP and 504 meetings.
  • Provide resources for parents and teachers as requested.

I love my role as your child’s school counselor because I get to be their friend and helper.  Here are some reasons why you may want to refer your child to a school counselor: loss/grief, family changes, anger, stress management, social skills, lack of self-confidence, and/or goal setting.  I am here to assist your child, you, and our teachers as we develop our next generation of parents, employers, citizens, and leaders.  Let’s work together and make it a great academic year!

For the Children,

 

Mrs. Tina
502.869.2800

Mar

16

How do I get my child to share their day?

March 16, 2011 | | Comments Off

What did you do in school today?” asked Dad. “Nothing,” states Kaitlyn in a ho-hum voice.

Does this conversation sound familiar to you? It probably happens at home on a regular basis. The next time you want to know what happened in your child’s day try asking this way: “What was your high today? “What was your low?” This may give your child the chance to quickly scan their thoughts and share the highs and lows of the day. You could start by sharing your high and your low, because we all have them, don’t we?

There are also times when we need to talk to our children about difficult topics. Try this: Talk to your child in the car. Neither of you have to look at each other and your child may feel more open in sharing concerns/issues.

Good communication is important and the best way to know what is going on in your child’s life is to ask. If they don’t answer you, ask in another way or in another place.

Remember not to criticize their comments…just listen.

Jan

30

Multiple Intelligences

January 30, 2011 | | Comments Off

In the month of January our intermediate students have been learnig about Howard Gardner and the Multiple Intelligences.  We are taking a look at our ways to be smart and using them to set goals for ourselves.  Do you know HOW you are smart?

Howard Gardner, Ph.D. is a professor at Harvard University and the author of many books and articles. His theory of multiple intelligences has challenged long-held assumptions about intelligence — especially about a single measure of intelligence. Dr. Gardner also co-directs Harvard’s Project Zero.

Howard Gardner first identified and introduced to us seven different kinds of intelligence in Frames of Mind.

  • Linguistic intelligence: a sensitivity to the meaning and order of words.
  • Logical-mathematical intelligence: ability in mathematics and other complex logical systems.
  • Musical intelligence: the ability to understand and create music. Musicians, composers and dancers show a heightened musical intelligence.
  • Spatial intelligence: the ability to “think in pictures,” to perceive the visual world accurately, and recreate (or alter) it in the mind or on paper. Spatial intelligence is highly developed in artists, architects, designers and sculptors.
  • Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence: the ability to use one’s body in a skilled way, for self-expression or toward a goal. Mimes, dancers, basketball players, and actors are among those who display bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.
  • Interpersonal intelligence: an ability to perceive and understand other individuals — their moods, desires, and motivations. Political and religious leaders, skilled parents and teachers, and therapists use this intelligence.
  • Intrapersonal intelligence: an understanding of one’s own emotions. Some novelists and or counselors use their own experience to guide others.

All of us are smart in our own way…as a school population we are learning how our brain learns and taking ownership in our learning targets!