290. Behavior Management in Class Lessons with Caitlin Wagner

Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Today I am interviewing Caitlin, a school counselor and IMPACT member, who brings incredible energy and creativity to her work. In this episode, she shares how she structures her classroom lessons, approaches classroom management, and implements unique strategies that help her build strong connections with students.

Caitlin Wagner, is currently an elementary school counselor working in a low income, culturally diverse, title 1 school in Harrisburg, PA. She has been in school counseling for about 5 years. Prior to becoming a school counselor she worked in the clinical counseling setting as a case counselor and milieu manager at a partial hospitalization program for children and adolescents. Besides being a school counselor, she is also a mother of two young children, enjoys sports, and is as creative as possible. 

When asked what she loves most about school counseling, Caitlin shares that building connections with students and their families is the most meaningful part of her role. Whether in a school or clinical setting, she finds it incredibly rewarding to create a space where students feel safe, protected, and supported by a positive adult outside of their immediate family. She values being a consistent and encouraging presence in their lives.

One practical strategy Caitlin uses to strengthen relationships is a get to know you form that she first implemented during a long term substitute position. She now uses this form with every student she works with, beginning in kindergarten. The form follows students as they move through the school, allowing her to remember important details and deepen connections over time.

Caitlin also shares how she structures her classroom lessons. She has the flexibility to create her own schedule, which allows her to design a flow that best supports her student population. She is in each classroom every other week, and each class has a consistent day and time so students can rely on a predictable routine. For classroom management, she uses a simple behavior tracking system where she tallies specific behaviors and categorizes them as unexpected, expected, or super expected. She often frames expectations by asking students, how can we be our best effort givers, which encourages reflection and personal responsibility in a positive way. She emphasizes that she loves finding creative ways to connect her lessons to her students’ real lives and interests.

In describing a typical day, Caitlin shares that her mornings often begin by greeting students as they arrive for breakfast. From there, she may move into a parent, student, or team meeting. Depending on the day and the week, she teaches several classroom lessons and integrates small groups into her schedule as needed. She often ends her day with check ins and check outs for students who need additional support, ensuring they leave school feeling seen, encouraged, and supported.

Resources Mentioned:

• Join IMPACT

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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!