For Parents
Why Secondary School Counselors? Today’s young people are living in an exciting time, with an increasingly diverse and mobile society, new technologies, and expanding opportunities. To help ensure that they are prepared to become the next generation of parents, workers, leaders, and citizen”, every student needs support, guidance, and opportunities during adolescence, a time of rapid growth and change. Adolescents face unique and diverse challenges, both personally and developmentally, that impact academic achievement.
Prevent and Address Cyberbullying Behaviors Bullying behavior among kids from elementary, middle and high school has expanded beyond what parents and teachers may have experienced in their youth. Teasing and name calling have grown into full-fledged attacks spread wide by the use of the Internet, a form of abuse commonly known as cyberbullying. by: ASCA
5/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Careers: Building Your Child's Future Together When planning a career with your child, consider the following:
Work situations and skills needed for employment are constantly changing.
Almost half of the working population expects to change jobs in the next three years.
Retraining and upgrading skills will be a requirement for maintaining employment.
Two-thirds of the jobs created today will require education beyond high school.
The worker of tomorrow must be able to work as a team member, communicate, solve problems, use technologies, adapt to change and be drug-free.
Career development is a lifelong process.
by: ASCA 7/13/2011 12:00:00 AM
Social Networking: Blessing or Curse? I cannot begin to imagine where technology will be in the next five or 10 years. To say that technology has changed our culture and way of life is probably the understatement of the century. Some of the communication devises we watched on “Star Trek” in the ’60s are part of our everyday life today. Our world has become even smaller because of the Internet. Family photos and videos are sent through thin air from all over world in a matter of seconds. So what is next? Where will we be? How will we live? And, most importantly, how can we make sure our children are benefiting from technology rather than suffering because of technology. by: Steve Williams 3/15/2011 12:00:00 AM
Understanding the School Counselor/Parent Connection All students can learn. A student who is troubled, however, cannot learn as easily. School counselors can help. Divorce, substance abuse, child abuse, poverty, violence and suicidal thoughts are among the social stressors placing numerous students at-risk of educational failure and dropping out of school. Early intervention is essential, and parents and guardians play a vital role. A guidance program that provides direct services and is directed by a professionally trained school counselor is a critical component of a school’s prevention efforts in the 21st century. by: Brenda Melton, M.Ed., LPC 1/1/2007 12:00:00 AM
Building Tomorrow's Leaders When we think of leaders, people such as Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, Colin Powell and Abraham Lincoln often come to mind. These leaders, while all vastly different people, shared qualities such as empathy, trustworthiness, fairness, cooperation, a sense of responsibility, citizenship and valuing the significant contributions of each person. Obviously not everyone is cut out to be a leader, but if you teach your children to lead and give them opportunities to lead others, the results can be amazing. by: Brenda Melton, M.Ed., LPC
11/1/2006 12:00:00 AM
Turning College and Career Planning into Family Communication Once upon a time we knew a boy who wanted to become a part-time professional baseball player, part-time professional football player, part-time private businessman and part-time Captain America. We also knew a girl who wanted, despite artistic and literary talents, to become the governor of Montana. We knew these children well because they were us. by: Rita Somers-Flanagan, Ph.D., and John Somers-Flana 3/1/2006 12:00:00 AM
Building Your Child's Character: Challenges and Solutions We live in a time when teaching our children to be virtuous is especially challenging. Youngsters are surrounded by political sound-bites; outlandish promises from advertisers; and television programming and films filled with lying, gratuitous violence and sex as entertainment. As a parent, you might feel weary and overwhelmed as you try to help your children develop virtues such as honesty, respect for themselves and others, humility, courage and a generous rather than greedy heart. You're not alone. The challenge of helping humans develop high moral character has perplexed philosophers, psychologists and theologians for centuries. by: Rita Somers-Flanagan, Ph.D., and John Somers-Flana 1/1/2005 12:00:00 AM
The Buzz on Bullying If you grew up and are functioning in American society, you can probably provide your own definition of bullying and have had some level of personal experience with it. Bullying is an all-too-common human activity that has existed since the beginning of recorded history and is present in most cultures. It is enacted by both boys and girls, as well as women and men. Research suggests that somewhere between 30 percent and 60 percent of American schoolchildren report being bullied. by: Rita Somers-Flanagan, Ph.D., and John Somers-Flana
11/1/2004 12:00:00 AM
Recipes and Equations for Career Satisfaction Sometimes parents start worrying about their children’s career options before their children’s birth. After they’ve arrived, and as they grow, the drumbeat of concern may intensify, “My daughter is so bossy and argumentative, how will she ever survive in the real world where she actually has to work peacefully with other humans?” or “My son isn’t very good at school. I’m afraid he’ll end up stuck in a low-paying job, never earning a decent income.” To deal with these worries, it helps to understand what leads to career satisfaction and how to help your children with career planning. by: Rita Somers-Flanagan, Ph.D., and John Somers-Flana 9/1/2004 12:00:00 AM
Helpful Websites
National PTA
National Parent Teacher Association provides parents and families with a powerful voice to speak on behalf of every child and the best tools to help their children be safe, healthy and successful in school and in life.
Fathers.com
Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) is the father involvement initiative of the National Center for Fathering that organizes fathers and father figures to provide positive male role models for the students and to enhance school security.
Mothers in Charge
The mission of Mothers in Charge is violence prevention, education and intervention for youth, young adults, families and community organizations.
Parents Helping Parents
This nonprofit, community-based, parent-directed family resource center provides lifetime guidance, supports and services to children with any special need, their families and the professionals who serve them.