Guidance Resource Web Page

(Click on Mrs. Walsh's picture to learn about her.)

To access any information interesting to you below, please click on the words.

Home work Hassles	School Adjustment	Internet safety
Bullying	Calming Tools and techniques for children	Kid's Health
Tips for Bullied Kids	Dealing with Loss	Kidspsyche.com (games)
Building Self -Esteem	Teaching your child to organize	Using Internet for Homework help
More on helping your child's self esteem	Children coping with divorce	Raising respectful kids
Helping your child's academic success	Dealing with Tantrums	Raising Happy Children
The strong willed child	Easing the transition- becoming a new brother or sister.	How to help a child who is grieving over the loss of a loved one
New baby sibling	Parent's wisdom	Solving problems between siblings 1
Solving problems between siblings 2	Solving problems between siblings 3	Ten ways to help your child learn
ADD/ADHD	National Institute of Mental Health	Test Anxiety
Help for Grandparents

When is it necessary to notify the school or guidance counselor?
Information about what a guidance counselor does is delineated below.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Guidance Counselor

Individual Counseling

Parents and teachers may refer a child for individual counseling. Some students are seen on a regular basis, others only once or twice depending on student need and availability of counselor time. Permission slips are required for all counseling services and can be obtained in the front office or the guidance office.

Group Counseling

Small groups are initiated to help children feel supported and to develop specific skills. They usually meet in groups of four to eight students, weekly for a half hour and may last from 5 weeks to 10 weeks. Examples include friendship groups to help children build social skills; anger management groups to help students learn how to deal with anger; self-esteem groups to help children feel positive about themselves; and loss groups to help children cope with the death of a loved one. Groups offered this year will appear in this section.

CLICK ON THE GROUPS BELOW TO FIND OUT MORE.

LUNCH BUNCHES

Counselor's Club

Classroom Guidance

The counselor visits every classroom at least once during the school year to facilitate a lesson on an appropriate topic. Topics include feelings, friendships, and decision making. Teachers may request additional lessons as needed.

Typically in October, the counselor visits all third grade classes to present Safety with McGruff – interactive lessons addressing stranger safety, child abuse, and child molestation. Permission slips are required.

Parent Contact

The counselor collaborates with parents to address the needs of students. A parent may contact the counselor by email to schedule a time to discuss his or her child or to inquire about counseling services. Please feel free to contact me and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. I will be at North Dover every Tuesday.

HOOPER AVENUE PHONE NUMBER IS (732) 505-5856.

I will be at North Dover every Tuesday.

NORTH DOVER PHONE NUMBER IS (732) 505-5860

Character Education

Your child is involved in character education here at "THE HOOP." Each month the school focuses on a different character trait. They are listed below.

One of the most important jobs a parent has is to foster good character and to model good character.

Special Agent Coordinator

Special agents are fifth grade students, nominated by their teachers. To qualify for this special honor the child must be an exemplary student. The names are sent to a committee consisting of Mr. Schelmay, Mrs. McCarthy, and myself were the selection occurs. The group is trained in social skills and helps out in school events throughout the year such as: Back to School Night, conference days, and fund raisers.

Health Teacher

The counselor teaches health to first grade classes throughout the year. Topics include safety, nutrition, dental health and manners and cooperation.

I & RS Committee Coordinator

The counselor coordinates meetings for the Intervention and Referral Services Committee.

Resources Available in the Guidance Office

Books and educational CD-roms are available to be checked out from the guidance office. If you would like to "borrow" a book or CD-rom, contact the guidance counselor via email. (See actual titles below)

BOOKS

(If any of these books appeal to you and you would like to own them check out Barnes and Noble.com or Amazon.com.)

1. How to Handle a Hard to Handle Kid: A parent's guide to understanding and changing problem behaviors
(Clinical psychologist and parent, C. Drew Edwards gives you tips, skills and information you need to identify, address and correct problem behaviors. You'll learn specific strategies for handling every day problems - from morning madness to meal time struggles, public outbursts, homework wars and more.)

2. How to Help Your Child Overcome Your Divorce by Elissa P. Benedek, M.D. and Katherine F. Brown, M.Ed. (This invaluable manual gives answers to the most common questions on which divorced parents seek guidance.)

3. Dealing with Disappointment: Helping Kids Cope When Things Don't Go Their Way by Elizabeth Crary (This book offers tools and techniques to help children cope from toddlers through adolescence.)

4. SOS Help For Parents: A Practical Guide for Handling Common Everyday Behavioral Problems by Lynn Clark PhD. ( SOS teaches you easy to learn methods for helping your children to improve their behavior and adjustment.)

5. How to Help Your Child With Homework: Every Caring Parent's Guide to Encouraging Good Study Habits and Ending the Homework Wars by M.C.Radencich PhD. and J.S. Schumm PhD.

6. Eating, Sleeping and Getting Up: How to Stop the Daily Battles With Your Child by Carolyn Crowder PhD.

7. Our Dad Died: The True Story of Three Kids Whose Lives Changed by Amy, Allie, and David Dennison ( This is journal about what happened to the three children as told by them.)

8.Get Organized Without Losing It by Janet S. Fox You'll learn the secret to getting ready for school each day. This book includes useful tips to help put your stuff in order, manage your time, deal with distractions and more.

9.When Dinosaurs Die (a picture book that helps kids understand death)

10.What on Earth Do You Do When Someone Dies? (question and answer book, especially good for those with specific questions)

Pamphlets Videos (see me)

· At Home Activities to Help Children Learn * I have a variety of videos on bullying and tolerance issues.

· At Home Activities to Help Children Read (K-3) (They may take 2 weeks to obtain, so plan accordingly)

· How To Help Your Child with Homework *I have a variety of videos on character education too.

· How to Help Your Child with Writing

CD-ROMS

The following items are available to be checked out and returned in a timely manner:

On CD-ROM (all include games and activities for kids):

Sticks and Stones: an interactive CD-ROM on teasing
Push and Shove: Bully/Victim (grades 3 and 4)
From Mad to Worse: Anger Management (grades 3 and 4)
Two Ears and One Mouth: an interactive CD-ROM on listening (grades K-2)
Let’s Talk Divorce (grades 1-5)
Saying Goodbye: Issues of Loss
Conflict Resolution: Fun to Share

Lesson Plans for teachers

Many of these lessons can be adapted for different grade levels. They all have very easy lesson plans to follow. Keep in mind that they are all great for health lessons!

Try Kindness (Lessons designed to help students learn and practice kind actions; grades 3-5)
I’m Telling On You (Lessons for students dealing with tattling; grades 2-5)
Facts About Friends (Lessons to help students understand the kinds of behaviors that promote friendships and the kinds of behaviors that discourage friendships; grades 1-4)
Character Fun (Lessons for character building games and activities; grades 2-7)
Nah! Nah! Nah! (Lessons to help students deal with teasing; grades 3-5)
Stop, Relax & Think (Lessons to help in 8 areas: Organizing, Staying focused, Listening, Remaining Calm, Remembering to do what is expected of you, Engaging in quiet activities without disturbing others, Thinking about consequences before acting, Behaving appropriately; (grades 1-3)
Jellybean Jamboree (Lifeskill lessons for young children including friendship, behavior, self concept, decision making, and emotional awareness; grades K-2)