The Creative Counselor: Editable Power Point Template

What a wonderful year it has been with our amazing students! They have learned so much and grown in so many ways. To celebrate their achievements and reflect on their progress, I decided to do a special activity with them in the last week of school. Despite the busy season, the teachers graciously accommodated an extra 45 minutes for me to engage with the students and recap our lessons from the year.

I prepared a slideshow with one key slide from each lesson we did this year. I reminded the students of the main concepts and skills they learned and asked them to share their own examples and experiences. We had great discussions. It was great to hear how they applied what they learned in different situations and contexts.

Then, it was time for some friendly competition and excitement. I divided the students into small teams and gave each team a number and a superhero symbol to be represented on the game board.

I rolled a dice and the team with that number had to work together to answer a question from one of the 25 questions I prepared based on the lessons. If they got it right, I clicked on their superhero and it zoomed toward a superhero shield. The students were thrilled to see their superheroes move closer to the goal and cheered for each other. They also showed impressive knowledge and understanding of the topics we had worked on throughout the school year, which made me proud!

Top 5 Benefits of Providing an End-of-Year Review:

Reinforcement of Learning: Helps reinforce knowledge and skills.

Enhanced Retention: Improves long-term memory of concepts.

Identification of Knowledge Gaps: Identifies areas that need further attention.

Application of Learning: Reflects on real-life application of lessons.

Recognition of Progress: Acknowledges personal growth and accomplishments.

It turned out to be time well spent, and I plan to make it a regular practice!

Ready to Use Resource:

Looking for an interactive PowerPoint Review? Add any lesson from any subject, personalize it, and make practicing review questions fun! Shop here for this resource:

Looking for other interactive PowerPoint Reviews to personalize? Check this one out:

Heroic Introduction: Unveiling the Annual School Counseling Program Overview for Faculty and Staff

Every year we provide an overview of our School Counseling Program for the Faculty and Staff. This year, for our Back to School School Counseling Program overview with the teachers, I devised an exciting and engaging Virtual Escape Room experience. Who doesn’t love a puzzling Escape Room? Behind this fun activity, I had three key goals:

Reviewing our program with the teachers to ensure their familiarity and understanding,
Equipping them with knowledge on where they can ALWAYS find answers to their burning questions about our school-wide programs, and
Making it an enjoyable experience that would stand out amidst their preparations for the new students, rather than just another task to complete.

Epic Escape Quest: Infusing Superhero Excitement into the Back to School Program Overview

The teachers embarked on a Virtual Escape Room quest to find answers within the Google School Counseling Team Drive. We carefully curated 10 questions specifically tailored to our school counseling program. These questions covered various aspects of our comprehensive services, ensuring a comprehensive review. Some inquiries delved into our Direct Services, encompassing essential components like classroom guidance, small groups, and special programs such as Red Ribbon Week, Career Week, and monthly student recognition. Responsive Services were also incorporated, with questions exploring areas like individual counseling, teacher consultations, and referrals to outside agencies. Additionally, we shed light on our crucial System Support, providing insights into the extensive staff and school support we offer. As the teachers diligently searched for answers, they not only progressed through the Escape Room but also grew more acquainted with the multitude of valuable initiatives we undertake to support our students and school community. Upon completion, they checked their score, with each correct answer unveiling a letter that would eventually form the key to escape!

To accomplish this, I designed a Google form containing 10 questions related to our program. To set the stage, I crafted an intriguing backstory: "Evil villains have infiltrated your school, exiling all the superheroes to the Principal's office. As a superhero, you possess super speed and super strength, but overcoming the challenging puzzles in the villains' plot will require more. You have 15 minutes to free yourselves by solving 10 riddles and save the day. Can you escape before the tardy bell tolls? After submitting your answers, select 'view your score.' Each correct answer will reveal a letter, contributing to the final secret code needed for your escape. If your answers are not all correct, exit the score report, select 'edit your response,' and resubmit with the correct answers to unlock the remaining letters."

The teachers embraced the challenge enthusiastically, fueling a competitive atmosphere. The first team to successfully complete the Escape Room was rewarded with a bucket full of valuable school supplies. Not only did they enjoy the experience, but they also gained substantial knowledge about our program.

Unleashing the Power of Presenting the School Counseling Program at the Beginning of the Year

Presenting your School Counseling Program at the beginning of the year establishes a foundation of awareness and understanding that lasts throughout the school year. Here is what you have to look forward to:

Collaboration: Presenting your program fosters collaboration between the counseling department and faculty/staff, laying the groundwork for teamwork in supporting students.

Awareness: Sharing your program raises awareness among faculty/staff about the available resources and services, ensuring everyone is informed.

Communication: Presenting your program establishes clear communication channels, facilitating easy guidance, support, and referrals.

Referral Process: Explaining your referral process simplifies student referrals, ensuring timely and appropriate interventions.

Targeted Interventions: Familiarity with your program enables collaboration to identify and address specific student needs effectively.

Holistic Support: Educating faculty/staff about your program encourages integration of counseling principles into student interactions, fostering a supportive environment.

Improved Outcomes: Awareness of your program aligns efforts toward promoting student success and contributes to improved academic, social, and emotional outcomes.

Proactive Prevention: Emphasizing preventive measures and proactive strategies reduces crises, creating a positive school climate.

Professional Development: Presenting your program may lead to future professional development opportunities based on faculty/staff interest.

Supportive Culture: Sharing your program promotes a supportive school culture, emphasizing collective responsibility for student well-being and success.

Given the resounding success of this presentation, I have decided to continue being creative in the way I present my School counseling Program each year!