Taylorville Primary School Counseling

Taylorville Primary School Counselor Sharon Bowen

For updates and announcements, check out the blog for the school counseling program at http://tpscounselor.blogspot.com! 

The school counseling office is around the corner from the library on the way to the square and circle hallways. If I can assist your child or your family in any way, please don't hesitate to call or email me!

What do elementary school counselors do?

School counselors serve all the students at a school and help them be their best. My office is a place where any student can feel comfortable when he or she would like a listening ear or a helping hand. Some of the roles I play at TPS are:

• Facilitating classroom "Life Skills" lessons aligned with state standards in each classroom every 6 weeks
• Coordinating the character words of the month and distributing character education materials to teachers
• Organizing school-wide service projects and special events (like Bucket-Filling Week) as applications of our character education program
• Consulting with parents, teachers, administrators, and staff
• Providing materials to teachers and parents on topics related to the guidance and counseling standards when needed
• Connecting families with school and community resources
• Talking with students who have a problem they'd like help solving or have something on their mind they'd like to chat about
• Visiting with students who could use care and support from an extra adult here at school
• Counseling students in small groups built around shared needs like divorce/changing families, grief, anger management, etc.
• Counseling students individually
• Teaching social skill and coping skills

What topics are part of the elementary school guidance and counseling standards?

• Emotional awareness and coping skills
• Conflict resolution
• Friendship/social skills
• Self-esteem
• Goal-setting
• Decision-making
• Character education (respect, responsibility, kindness, trustworthiness, etc.)
• Personal safety
• Behavior choices and consequences, responsibility 
• Career awareness and preparedness
• Academic skills and achievement
• Appreciating individual differences

What do we do in group and individual counseling?

• Draw pictures, play games, play with puppets or toys, work on projects
• Talk about little things, big things, or anything in between
• Build a positive relationship and connection at school
• Develop problem-solving abilities
• Teach coping strategies, social skills, study skills, etc.
• Build self-esteem and confidence
• Help children cope with difficult and/or unchangeable life events
• Help children recognize and make use of their potential
• Give children a neutral, open place to share their concerns and feelings
• Give children the opportunity to connect with other students having similar experiences