234. How to Source Lesson Topics and Choose Engaging and Effective Activities
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Welcome back to School Counseling Simplified! Today, I’m sharing another training clip from my IMPACT membership PD—a monthly professional development training I offer exclusively to our community of nearly 1,000 school counselors. As an IMPACT member, you get unlimited access to my TPT resources, engaging PD, and a supportive network of counselors just like you!
In this episode, we’re diving into how to source lesson topics for your tiered instruction—whether it’s class lessons, small groups, or individual sessions. You don’t have to start from scratch! By using data, needs assessments, and creative themes, you can make your lessons both impactful and engaging.
Ways to Source Lesson Topics for Each Tier
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Use Needs Assessments & Data
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Look at referral data to identify common struggles.
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Conduct an informal teacher survey throughout the year.
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Gather feedback from your principal on key student challenges (behavior, academics, attendance).
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Utilize pre- and post-assessments to measure student growth and share progress with admin.
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Use the Calendar for Inspiration
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Holidays & Seasons: Incorporate themes like gratitude in November or kindness in February.
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Awareness Months: October (Bullying Prevention), May (Mental Health Awareness), etc.
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Review Existing Curriculum
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Modify school-provided curriculum to fit student needs.
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Supplement with engaging activities, games, and interactive lessons.
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Use Books to Anchor Lessons
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Anchoring lessons to books is a great way to introduce counseling themes!
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Laura from Pawsitive School Counselor is a fantastic resource for book recommendations.
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More About School Counseling Simplified:
School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.
You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
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