Libsyn Directory

280. Best of SCS: How to Design Small Group Curriculum That Works

Release Date: 12/23/2025

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

More Episodes

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 have already purchased, such as hard copy books provided by your school or resources from Teachers Pay Teachers. Or you may be creating your own curriculum from scratch because one has not been provided for you.

No matter which route you choose, there are six steps you can follow to design a small group curriculum that works.

Identify your topic
Start by identifying your small group topic using referral data or student needs. For example, you may notice a need for a self control group.
Outline your weeks with ASCA aligned objectives
Determine the length of your group, typically six to eight weeks. Choose one clear objective for each week. Align each objective with an ASCA mindset and behavior that matches your goal. Once this is complete, type out your weekly outline so you have a clear plan to follow.
Select your icebreakers
Icebreakers are especially important during the first session to help students feel comfortable and connected. Choose simple activities that build rapport and introduce the group structure.
Select your activities
Activities are the core of each session. Look closely at your weekly objective and choose an activity that directly supports that skill or concept. This ensures your sessions stay focused and intentional.
Select a reflection piece
Reflection is a powerful part of student learning. Journals work especially well for small groups. Even five minutes of reflection can help students process what they learned and apply it outside of the session.
Create your self assessment
Data collection is essential for tailoring your sessions and tracking student progress. Create a self assessment that is based on your weekly objectives so you can measure growth throughout the group.

This framework helps you stay organized, intentional, and data driven while creating small groups that truly support your students.

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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!

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