If you’re a school counselor looking to save time and reach your students when you can’t be with them, you’re probably looking for an easy SEL support tool to share.
I get it, school counselors want to be there, every day, for their students. But we know we only have so much time to be with our students, especially in today’s climate. So how-in-the-world can we offer support, especially if we can’t be with our students 1:1?
When we’re short on time, physical SEL tools are our best friends.
So which kind of tool do I swear by? Read on to learn more about my go-to SEL support tool.
The Best SEL Support Tool
To save time, school counselors find themselves employing physical tools to assist students.
And one of the best ways to implement SEL tools is to provide readily available reading materials to students.
Brochures are the perfect solution to the time-management nightmare all school counselors face. They’re easy to read, developmentally appropriate, and engaging with mindful coloring elements and activities.
Most importantly, utilizing brochures in your counseling office will pick up the slack when you’re unable to help a student (because you’re teaching in a classroom, for example).
Grab-n-go brochures are also the perfect tool for students who aren’t comfortable working directly with a counselor. And as a bonus, they may educate (and warm-up) the students who are less likely to seek out assistance in a 1:1 setting.
Pro Tip: For handmade brochures, use bright colors to attract the eye and place your brochures in a high traffic area.
How to Support Students When We’re Away
As we navigate the pandemic, we find ourselves in new territory.
Even when we do have direct access to our students, we struggle to assist each of them due to time limitations. We never imagined that we’d encounter yet another hurdle when it comes to supporting our students.
Luckily, tools like SEL brochures are just enough to get students through the unprecedented events we’re currently navigating. So even when you aren’t there, physically, a brochure packed with activities and helpful information might be just enough to keep students moving forward.
And, even when a pandemic isn’t causing social issues and preventing us from seeing our students, there are always times in which students will benefit from a little extra support (when we can’t be there). Like Christmas break, summer vacation, and even other unplanned breaks.
SEL brochures are easy for students to carry with them, refer back to, and even rely on when the professional support of a school counselor is not available.
An SEL Tool Perfect for Parents
Social-emotional learning brochures are perfect handouts for parents as well. For one, brochures will help get the word out about the importance of SEL. Plus, they provide reference material for parents when needed (think bullying and mindful moments).
Tools like brochures also help families see the value in utilizing your services as a school counselor.
Working with families isn’t always the easiest thing to do. But, once again, putting an informational packet in a parent’s hand is just one way to encourage SEL at home and school.
Get The Word Out About Your Secret SEL Tool
Since SEL tools, like brochures, are meant to meet students where they are (when you’re unavailable) they need to be easy to find.
As mentioned, it’s important to display your brochures in high traffic areas, at the entrance to your office, and even on the door of your office (for those moments you’ve stepped away).
Consider also showing them off for parent night and making packets to give to parents so they can refer back to them with their children later on.
Additionally, SEL brochures can be utilized as homework from group lessons or as a take-home for further discussion with family.
When it comes down to it, brochures are an extension of our counseling services. And while we want to be available to help each and every student that comes to our door, we can’t be everywhere at once.
But one thing we can do is provide helpful SEL tools to our students and families to help them get through the tough times when we can’t be there for them…and until we can.
Rather have full workbooks? No problem, got you covered there too. Student Support Workbooks