If your child is like most students, he or she has not had much dealing with your school’s guidance counselor. For the most part, students only deal with a guidance counselor if they are having a problem with a class or when they are applying to colleges. Sure, a guidance counselor can help you handle a situation with a teacher or give you some ideas about colleges worth applying to, but they also can do so much more. They are an amazing resource for students, who can play a key role in your child’s scholastic experience. This is why it pays to get to know your child’s guidance counselor, and to introduce your child to this important person at their school. 

At Dade Prep Academy, our guidance counselors play a critical role in your child’s experience here. They can also act as a resource as they approach graduation, and even assist with mentoring after you child has moved onto college or their first job. Here are some things you didn’t know that you can go to for assistance from the guidance counselor at your school.

Act as an advocate for your child

Sometimes, your child may have an issue with a class. This could be academic in nature, such as the coursework may be a little too challenging for your child. This can happen when your child is in an advanced class, and the topic is being taught fairly quickly. Other times, it could be that your child just doesn’t get along with the teacher. Unfortunately, sometimes people’s personalities don’t mesh. This can even happen in an academic setting. 

If this is the situation with your child, he or she can go to the guidance counselor to discuss the matter. This is done without any fear of being judged harshly or of retaliation. The discussion with the guidance counselor is purely confidential, so the student can talk freely. The guidance counselor can then assess the situation and reach out to the teacher involved. Sometimes, a discussion between the guidance counselor, the teacher, the student, and his or her parent can resolve the matter. Other times, the guidance counselor can help decide if the material is too advanced for the student, or if the student is too far ahead of the class. This can lead to the student being moved from or to an advanced class, so that his or her performance will be maximized.

Help with planning an academic program

As your student matures, he or she will have the opportunity to take more elective classes in high school. These are ones that are outside of the strict curriculum and give the student the ability to get more in depth about a particular topic. For example, some schools offer elective classes in economics, languages, political science, art and music, and sciences. It can be a challenge for a young student to decide on which classes to take. Many students have never been able to set their own schedule before. A visit with your school’s guidance counselor can help your child figure out an academic program that best serves his or her needs, skills and interests.

Hosting crisis intervention and prevention programs

A number of students at your school may be in at risk groups or requiring special needs. Your child might be one of these students. If you contact your school’s guidance counselor, you can work with him or her to develop special intervention and prevention programs to address these issues at your school. 

When your child arrives at a new school, he or she may need extra time and help to acclimate to the environment. It is never easy being in a new place. Your school’s guidance counselor can help your child by developing programs to assist in this regard. For example, if you have a child of special needs, the guidance counselor can work with the teacher to create a welcoming environment for your child. This may involve a program where your child is introduced to the class, helping him or her make new friends among the other students.

Helping address truancy and other disciplinary issues

Truancy can be a big problem for many young students. They may feel alienated and try to ditch school. Other children may act out in class or get into fights with other students. These disciplinary issues may be indicative of a problem at home or behavioral matters innate to your child. In many schools, the guidance counselor will reach out to the parents when these problems arise. However, in a number of larger public schools, the guidance counselors are too overworked to get involved unless the parents reach out to them. If you find your child is having problems in school with other students, you can contact the guidance counselor and work with him or her to help address the issue. The contact is confidential in nature, and guidance counselors are trained to help deal with emotional issues that arise with their students.

Choosing a college or career

One of the most well known jobs of a guidance counselor is helping guide the future paths of their students. We all probably remember the days when we were little kids and dreamed of becoming a movie star or a professional athlete. As we got older, we came to realize that for most of us, these career choices were very unrealistic. Your school’s guidance counselor understands this as well. Sure, there may be a few kids who are musically, athletically, or theatrically gifted. But, the reality is that a vast majority of children don’t fall into these categories.  

If your child is like most, he or she will go onto college or a job upon graduating from high school. The hard part is deciding the career path that makes the most sense for your child. The guidance counselor can help you and your child assess their strengths and weaknesses, figure out the skill sets needed for each career, and determine which ones make the most sense for his or her future.

Similarly, if  your child is considering college after graduation, your school’s guidance counselor can help you figure out which colleges or universities best fit your child’s needs. This can include things like academic programs, admissions standards, and costs. Finding the right college for your student often comes down to each of these factors. Your guidance counselor will work with you and your child so you can choose the right one together.

The guidance counselor is a valuable resource for you

As you can see, the guidance counselor at your school is a valuable resource for your student. He or she can have an advocate in the guidance counselor who will help them chart a course to success in high school and beyond. The guidance counselor can also help with any issues that may arise inside or outside of the class room. With a resource like this, your child should be able to help find success in an academic setting like the one we provide here at Dade Prep Academy.

Sources:

https://www.fla-schoolcounselor.org/counselors/certified-school-counselor-job-description/

https://www.indeed.com/hire/job-description/guidance-counselor

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