Elementary Individual Student Planning
The foundation for individual student planning is established during the elementary school years through school counseling curriculum activities. Self-concept development, the importance of life-long learning, interpersonal relationship skill development, decision-making skill building, and awareness and beginning exploration of educational and occupational possibilities are sample subjects covered during these years. Subjects such as these continue to be covered through the activities of the comprehensive school counseling curriculum during middle school and high school, providing new information and experiences to enable students to regularly update, monitor, and manage their plans effectively. Elementary Individual Student Planning is implemented through the following strategies:
- Appraisal: The appraisal process starts in kindergarten. School counselors help families to begin gathering and discussing materials that represent the whole child over time. This archive will be helpful to the student and family when making important decisions regarding the student’s Individual Student Planning Resource File begun in middle school, as well as the Personal Plan of Study begun no later than the end of the eighth grade year. Reflecting on these collected materials will assist parents/guardians in choosing opportunities outside of school that will enhance student career awareness.
- Education/Career Planning: At the elementary school level, students develop career awareness through classroom lessons and group activities and become aware of career paths. The Elementary Career Development Lessons address the Grade Level Expectations of the Comprehensive School Counseling Curriculum. The emphases in elementary school help students learn more about themselves, their interests, abilities and aptitudes along with academic knowledge and skills, and also help students understand the value of all work and what people do when they go to work.
- Transitions: Having a transition plan at the elementary level is also necessary for students and parents to feel at ease as they progress through school. Students at the elementary level experience a variety of transitions including kindergarten, grade to grade, middle school. School counselors work collaboratively with other building personnel or committees to develop appropriate transition activities to help support this process.