277. My Favorite December School Counseling Activities
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Release Date: 12/02/2025
300. That's a wrap, School Counseling Simplified
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Hey there, counselor friend. This is episode 300, and I truly can’t believe we’ve reached 300 episodes of this podcast. Today marks the final episode, and I’m feeling a lot of emotions—but more than anything, I feel content. This podcast has served its purpose, and there are now hours of episodes you can listen to that are designed to help you simplify your life as a school counselor, while also empowering you to feel more confident and prepared in your role. My goal has always been to share the experiences and strategies I’ve learned along the way—so you can make your day-to-day...
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299. Building Community with School Counselors
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Hey there, counselor friend. On today’s podcast episode, I want to talk with you about the importance of building community with fellow school counselors. I often hear counselors say they feel like they’re on their own island. Many times, you may be the only counselor in your building—or even across multiple buildings. I remember when I worked at an international school, I was the only counselor for the entire district. Sometimes, you just need a sounding board—someone you can go to and ask: Does anyone else feel like this? Is this a good idea? What would you do in this...
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298. Must Have Counseling Spreadsheets
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Hey there, counselor friend. Today I am sharing my must have school counseling spreadsheets to help you track the services you provide and advocate for your role with confidence. These simple systems can be used to support a data wall or an end of year report so you can clearly communicate your impact to key stakeholders. If you know me, you know I love a good spreadsheet. I use them for everything from travel planning to recipes, and they have become one of the most powerful tools in my school counseling program. In this episode, I am walking you through the core data sheets I recommend every...
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297. How to Use Data to Advocate at the End of the Year
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today I am sharing how you can use data to advocate for your role at the end of the school year. Even if you are listening to this earlier in the year, now is the perfect time to start preparing. Advocating for your role as a school counselor is something I am deeply passionate about. Data allows you to clearly communicate the impact of your work and helps others understand the value of your counseling program. Here are two powerful ways to use data to advocate for your role. Data wall A data wall is a simple but effective way to...
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296. Counseling Outside of Your Office
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today’s episode is a short but powerful reminder to take your counseling outside of your office. This was something I really struggled with during my first year. I loved my office. I had created a cozy, welcoming space with all the things that made it feel safe and calm for students. It was a place where students came for small groups and individual sessions, and it worked well for that purpose. But during my in between time, I found myself sitting at my desk handling emails, scheduling, and other tasks. As I began shadowing...
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295. 3 School Counseling Game Changers
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today I am sharing three school counseling game changers. These are practical, actionable strategies that I have seen truly transform school counseling programs. They are simple, bite sized, and easy to implement right away to make your day to day feel more manageable. My goal is to give you one game changer for each tier of your counseling program so you can start making improvements across the board. Tier 1 Class Lessons One of the biggest game changers for Tier 1 is having a streamlined scheduling system for class lessons. In...
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294. Skill-Building Strategies for Small Groups with Sonya Kaidanov
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today I am interviewing Sonya, a school counselor and IMPACT member. In this episode, she shares practical strategies for running small groups, including how to focus on short term skill building so students can successfully return to class ready to learn. Sonya is a 2nd year school counselor at a title I elementary school in Gresham, OR. She has been in Oregon for 13 years but was born and raised in Lexington, KY. Sonya believes that the most impactful part of school counseling is connecting with families and inspiring students...
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293. Fostering a Positive School Climate with Delana Carter
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today I am interviewing Delana, a school counselor and IMPACT member. I left our conversation feeling inspired and refreshed by her passion, her heart for students, and her commitment to creating a supportive and connected school climate. Delana lives with her husband Wesley and their three daughters, Salem, Caroline, and Dare, along with their two cats. She is a graduate of Calvary Christian School in King, North Carolina, where she now serves. After high school, she attended community college for two years before transferring...
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292. Class Lessons and Self Love with Barbara Gruener
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today I am interviewing Barbara, who after 40 years in the school setting now serves as a counselor mentor. With experience in both elementary and high school counseling, Barbara brings a wealth of wisdom to the conversation. In this episode, she shares her perspective on self love, meaningful connections with students, and the powerful role of classroom lessons in building relationships and preventing behavior concerns. After four decades of the gift of growing in her character building alongside learners of all ages and stages,...
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291. Engaging Students in Class Lessons with Lacey Dixon
School Counseling Simplified Podcast
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today I am interviewing Lacey, a school counselor and IMPACT member. In this episode, we are talking all about class lessons and the engaging formula she uses to keep students involved and excited about learning. Lacey Dixon is an enthusiastic educator that leads with positive intention while fostering a nurturing, growth-oriented inclusive environment for her school and community. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Innovation, a Masters in School Counseling, and a Masters in Instruction that has served her well...
info_outlineWelcome 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 childhood Advent calendar. This activity includes 20 different SEL tasks your students can complete as they count down to the holiday break. It works well for individual counseling sessions and for students who stop by unexpectedly. The variety of activities keeps students engaged and gives you structured tools to support them during an otherwise unpredictable month.
Host a Counseling Holiday Party
A Counseling Holiday Party is a fun and meaningful way to wrap up your small groups. Think of it like a celebration or graduation with a seasonal theme. You can schedule an all-day event where students who have participated in counseling throughout the semester come in for games, crafts, and connection. This creates a positive and memorable experience while highlighting the progress they have made.
Data Check-Up
December is also a helpful time to complete a mid-year data check-up. This allows you to review the students you have served, the lessons you have taught, and the progress that has been made so far. A mid-year check-up helps you advocate for your position, strengthens your end-of-year reporting, and gives you valuable insight as you plan for next semester. You can also display some of this information on a data wall so stakeholders can easily see the impact of your program.
Self-Care Tips for the New Year
As the semester winds down, it is important to reflect on your well-being. Here are a few simple strategies to help you feel more grounded and supported heading into January:
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Conduct a time audit to see how you are spending the minutes of your workday. This helps you identify where to add buffers so you feel less rushed and overwhelmed.
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Outsource tasks when possible. If you have an intern or student ambassadors, allow them to help with responsibilities and lighten your load.
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Join IMPACT, my school counseling membership program, to access resources, professional development, and ongoing support that help reduce stress and streamline your program.
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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!