School Guidance Curriculum

Counselors often find themselves delivering curriculum in front of classrooms, groups of parents, or even full auditoriums.  School guidance curriculum doesn't happen by accident - it is planned thoroughly by taking into careful consideration things like: audience, developmental needs, and ASCA standards, competencies, and indicators.  Curriculum can take many forms:

• Classroom Guidance - the most common form involves counselors leading classes through activities to facilitate learning and addressing academic, career or personal/social needs.
• Interdisciplinary Curriculum Development - in working with interdisciplinary teams, counselors seek to incorporate guidance curriculum within subject matter curriculum.
• Group Activities - small groups are oftne effective and efficient ways to meet student needs.
• Parent Workshops & Instruction - whether presenting information on the registration process, or leading parents through the financial aid maze, counselors frequently find themselves considering the needs of adult learners.

Myriad examples of St. Paul guidance curriculum can be found on this site.

Individual Student Planning

These are systematic (planned) activities that are utilized by all students to learn about themselves, plan for the future and set goals.  They include:

• Individual or Small-Group Appraisal - this might include taking a group of juniors through their PSAT results and using them to set goals for the next year.
• Individual or Small-Group Advisement - an example of this may be a counselor advising a group of students on registering for classes in the next school year.

Examples of individual student planning can also be found throughout this site.

Responsive Services

Responsive services are those activities counselors use to meet students' immediate needs.  Though counselors may not be able to know when they will use these activities, they are still planned in advance for ease of use.  These services include: consultation, individual and small-group counseling, crisis counseling, referrals and peer facilitation.

System Support

Once a guidance department has built their program, they must commit to maintenance to ensure continued success.  This is done through professional development, consulation and collaboration, and program management.

Foundation  - Delivery System - Management System - Accountability System