241. One Data Tool You Should Use in March

Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! I love following themes on the podcast, and for the month of March, I’m taking you through my lesson plans step by step! Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about how to use a curriculum map to organize what you’re teaching across each tier. I love using a curriculum map because it keeps everything structured and helps ensure you’re covering essential topics. My IMPACT members receive these maps so they know exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to implement each lesson—complete with all the resources included! If you’re a podcast listener and want to try out a curriculum map for yourself, head to the resources section to grab your full-year lesson plans.

If you haven’t already, make sure to go back and listen to this month’s episodes on Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 resources. Today, we’re shifting our focus to data tools—specifically, self-assessments!

What Are Self-Assessments?

Self-assessments are short quizzes that students complete before and after counseling sessions. These tools help measure student growth by tracking their understanding of key skills. Here’s how they work:

• Students complete a pre-assessment before the first counseling session.

• They complete a post-assessment after the final session.

• The assessments include statements with response options (Yes, Maybe, or No).

For example, if you’re running a small group on academic skills, your self-assessment might include statements like:

• I can identify several test-taking strategies.

• I am prepared for class.

• I know what it means to procrastinate.

I recommend using 7 to 10 statements and ensuring that you are actively teaching these concepts during your sessions. The goal is that students demonstrate improvement in their post-assessment, showing they’ve gained a stronger understanding of the skills you taught.

Why Use Self-Assessments?

Self-assessments provide measurable data that can be shared with administrators, parents, and other stakeholders. They help determine:

• If a student is ready to graduate from counseling.

• If a group needs re-teaching as a whole.

• If individual students need additional support in specific areas.

Every decision we make as school counselors should be data-driven. Using self-assessments helps you build confidence in your role and demonstrate the impact of your counseling program.

Organizing Your Self-Assessment Data

You can use paper-based self-assessments or create digital versions for easier data management. A great option is to use QR codes and Google Forms, which allow responses to autopopulate into pie charts for a clear visual representation of student progress. This makes it easy to track growth and share results with stakeholders.

Access More Resources

All the strategies I’ve covered this month, including self-assessment templates, are available to IMPACT members. If you’re an IMPACT member, make sure you’re taking advantage of these resources!

If you’re not yet a member, IMPACT is my monthly membership for school counselors—designed to make your life easier by providing free access to all my TPT resources, professional development, support, and more! Learn more by checking out the links below.

And before you go, today is the LAST day to sign up for my free training! Ever wondered, “Why are my students so anxious, and how can I help them beyond just deep breathing exercises?” You’re not alone! I wanted to go beyond the basics and dive into the psychological cycles of stress—and now I have a FREE training for you! Many counselors ask me how they can better support students with test anxiety beyond simple deep breathing exercises. I wanted to go beyond the basics and dive into the psychological cycles of stress, which led me to create a free live training called Help Students Break the Stress Cycle: The Anxiety Management Tool You Didn't Learn in Grad School!

This training will empower you with new strategies to help students manage stress effectively. You can save your seat at stressfreeschoolcounseling.com/stresscycle.

Thank you for tuning in, and I’ll see you next week for another episode of School Counseling Simplified!

Resources mentioned:

• Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!

• Join my FREE Live Training here!

• Check out my FREE lesson plans!

• Take a look at these Self-Assessments!

• If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

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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!