284. 5 Small Groups to Start in January
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Happy January. Today I am sharing five small groups to start in January. While I always use referrals and data to form small groups by identifying areas of need, I also like to plan groups around intentional seasonal themes. For example, January is the perfect time to offer a goal setting group as students transition into the new year. Small groups are one of my favorite ways to support students. They allow me to serve more students at once, and students often feel more comfortable opening up in a group setting than in one-on-one...
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283. Do you know these counseling secrets?
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Happy January. Today I am sharing one of my favorite trainings that I regularly present called 3 Secrets to Transform Your Counseling Program. This training is full of practical strategies that can help you increase your impact and gain the recognition your counseling program deserves. 3 Secrets to Transform Your Counseling Program Quick Organization Tip Assign colors to different categories on your calendar Color code recurring events such as lunch or recess duty and weekly meetings Use one color for individual student...
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282. School Counseling Systems for Success
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified! Happy January! Today I am sharing some of my favorite school counseling systems for success and how setting up simple systems can save you time, reduce stress, and help you better serve your students. In this episode, I am taking you inside one of my most used systems, what I call the counseling hub. This system keeps everything organized in one place and helps ensure no student falls through the cracks. What is the counseling hub The counseling hub is made up of two core systems that work together: a counseling caseload and a...
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281. Best of SCS: 3 Must-Have Data Tools for Individual Counseling
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Happy December. Today we are doing a throwback to one of my favorite episodes, all about three must-have data tools for individual counseling. Data collection does not have to be complicated or time consuming. Having simple systems in place allows you to track student progress, guide your sessions, and advocate for your role with confidence. In this episode, I am sharing my three go-to data collection tools for individual counseling and how to use them effectively. Self Assessments Self assessments are pre and post surveys that...
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280. Best of SCS: How to Design Small Group Curriculum That Works
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Happy December. Today we are doing a throwback to one of my favorite episodes, all about how to design a small group curriculum that actually works. In this episode, we are getting into the meat and potatoes of small group curriculum. My goal is to make the process simple, realistic, and easy to implement so you can confidently design groups that support your students and meet your counseling goals. When it comes to small group curriculum, you are likely doing one of two things. You may be using activities or curriculum that you...
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279. Best of SCS: 5 things I wish I knew when I first started counseling
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Happy December. Today we are revisiting one of my favorite episodes as part of a best of School Counseling Simplified throwback series. This episode focuses on five things I wish I had known when I first started counseling. In this episode, I get personal and share stories from my early days as a school counselor. As counselors, we are lifelong learners who are constantly refining our skills and practices. However, there were several pain points early in my career that I wish I had been prepared for. Knowing these lessons sooner...
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278. How to Conduct a Mid Year Check In using a Data Wall
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Happy December. This time of year is fast paced as the semester wraps up and the holidays approach. In the last episode I briefly mentioned data walls, and today I am taking a deeper look at how to conduct a mid-year check-in using a data wall. While end-of-year reports are valuable, data tracking should not be reserved only for the end of the school year. Ongoing data review is essential because it helps ensure that the support you provide continues to meet the changing needs of your students. A data wall is a bulletin board...
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277. My Favorite December School Counseling Activities
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Happy December. This is a fun but busy time of year as the semester wraps up and the holidays approach. Even if you are not teaching full lessons or running small groups this month, you will likely still have drop-in students who need support. December is a great time to add a seasonal twist to your counseling activities, and today I am sharing my favorite ideas to help you stay engaged, organized, and prepared. Countdown to Winter Break One of my favorite activities this month is a Countdown to Winter Break inspired by a...
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276. Behind the Scenes of Successful Data Tracking
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today we are taking a behind-the-scenes look at effective data tracking and how it can help you better support students while advocating for the role of the school counselor. Data can feel overwhelming, but when used intentionally, it becomes one of the most powerful tools in your counseling program. This episode breaks down simple, practical strategies to help you collect, interpret, and share data with confidence. A Quick Win for Data Tracking One of the easiest ways to begin building a data-driven counseling program is through...
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275. Behind the Scenes of Successful Individual Counseling Sessions
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on what really makes individual counseling sessions effective, engaging, and purposeful. If you’ve ever felt unsure about what to do in these sessions or overwhelmed by how to track student progress, this episode is packed with practical, ready-to-use strategies. Individual counseling is an important Tier 3 support that allows you to provide targeted, personalized intervention. With the right tools and structure, these sessions can feel manageable and meaningful. Why Individual Counseling...
info_outlineWelcome 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
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Create a simple form that lists your available times.
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Share it with teachers so they can sign up directly, avoiding endless back-and-forth emails.
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Teachers take ownership of choosing times, while you stay in control of your availability.
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Set it up at the beginning of the year so teachers can reserve their slots for months ahead.
2. Calendly
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Use this free, user-friendly website for scheduling.
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Teachers can easily reserve lesson times for the entire school year.
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Add important details like location, duration, and virtual links.
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Customize hours, set time limits, and color-code events to keep everything organized.
3. Google Calendar
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Pair with Google Sheets or Calendly for maximum efficiency.
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Create recurring calendar invites that include lesson details, virtual links, and reminders.
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Invite teachers directly so lessons appear on their calendars.
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Color-code lessons, groups, and individual sessions for quick organization at a glance.
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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.
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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!