Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Throughout September, we’re diving deep into classroom lessons, one of my favorite Tier 1 interventions. Sometimes we’re given lesson plans, but other times we’re left to create everything from scratch. That’s why this month I’m sharing practical strategies for scheduling, planning, and teaching lessons with confidence. These tips are pulled directly from my Stress-Free Classroom Lessons course, a five-module training designed to help you feel prepared and supported when delivering class lessons.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through three game-changing scheduling tools that make the process seamless and manageable:

1. Google Sheets

• Create a simple form that lists your available times.
  
  

• Share it with teachers so they can sign up directly, avoiding endless back-and-forth emails.
  
  

• Teachers take ownership of choosing times, while you stay in control of your availability.
  
  

• Set it up at the beginning of the year so teachers can reserve their slots for months ahead.
  
  

2. Calendly

• Use this free, user-friendly website for scheduling.
  
  

• Teachers can easily reserve lesson times for the entire school year.
  
  

• Add important details like location, duration, and virtual links.
  
  

• Customize hours, set time limits, and color-code events to keep everything organized.
  
  

3. Google Calendar

• Pair with Google Sheets or Calendly for maximum efficiency.
  
  

• Create recurring calendar invites that include lesson details, virtual links, and reminders.
  
  

• Invite teachers directly so lessons appear on their calendars.
  
  

• Color-code lessons, groups, and individual sessions for quick organization at a glance.
  
  

• While it takes time to set up initially, the payoff is a smooth, structured year.
  
  

Pro Scheduling Tip: Be practical and remember that you’re in control. For instance, if Mondays are difficult due to travel or frequent holidays, avoid scheduling lessons on that day.

I personally recommend having teachers sign up for the entire year in advance. This approach allows you to balance your time across class lessons, small groups, and individual sessions. At the same time, remain flexible, because your schedule will naturally shift to accommodate your needs and the evolving needs of teachers throughout the school year.

Resources Mentioned:

• Join IMPACT

• stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/classlessons

• TpT Store
  
  

• Blog
  
  

• Instagram
  
  

• Facebook Page
  
  

• Facebook Group
  
  

• Pinterest
  
  

• Youtube

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!

Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! I hope your school year is off to a fantastic start. In this episode, I’m sharing four creative, hands-on ways to freshen up your Meet the Counselor lesson.

I truly believe that every counselor should include a Meet the Counselor lesson at the beginning of the year. My personal favorite is a Meet the Counselor Game Show. It’s competitive, fun, and requires very little prep. Most importantly, it’s an excellent advocacy tool. It gives students clarity on who you are, what you do, and how they can access your services.

But if you’re looking to add something new this year, I’ve got four simple ideas you can incorporate:

1. Emotions Charades
   Turn learning into a game by having students act out emotions from a card while their classmates guess. This helps students practice reading facial expressions and body language, while also developing empathy and emotional recognition.
   
   

2. Counseling Treasure Hunt
   Set up a scavenger hunt in your space with counseling-related items like a mandala coloring sheet, fidgets, or SEL books. As students find each object, engage them in discussion about how these items are used in counseling.
   
   

3. Mindfulness Moments
   Introduce mindfulness by leading a guided meditation or creating a mindfulness jar. Both activities provide practical examples of self-regulation strategies that students can use throughout the year.
   
   

4. Vision Collages
   Encourage self-expression by having students create collages that represent their goals, likes, dreams, and hopes. They can cut out images from magazines or design a digital version online. This is a creative way for students to reflect on their identities while you get to know them better.
   
   

These activities are easy, engaging, and perfect for adding variety to your traditional Meet the Counselor lesson. Not only do they make your role more accessible to students, but they also set the tone for a supportive and engaging school year.

Resources Mentioned:

• Join IMPACT

• Meet The Counselor Game Show

• 4 Ways to Spruce Up Your Meet The Counselor Lesson - Blog

• TpT Store
  
  

• Blog
  
  

• Instagram
  
  

• Facebook Page
  
  

• Facebook Group
  
  

• Pinterest
  
  

• Youtube
  
  

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!