The Top 5 Free Online Resources for School Counselors
| 3 Min Read
Technology has made it easier than ever for school counseling professionals to stay up-to-date on the latest industry news and share insights as well as ideas with fellow counselors. As you prepare for a career in school counseling, here are six websites, blogs and other online school counseling resources that can help keep you informed, educated and inspired.
1. American Counseling Association (ACA) Knowledge Center
Maintained by the ACA, The Knowledge Center is designed to keep ACA members and non-members informed on the latest counseling trends and news. Here, school counselors can find free articles, webinars and podcasts on topics such as ethics, licensure requirements, counseling for trauma, substance abuse, bullying and more. While you don’t have to be a member to access everything, memberships to professional associations like this one offer great resources and networking opportunities as you progress in your career.
2. School-Counselor.Org
School-counselor.org was created specifically for educators who want to learn more about becoming a school counselor. It lists certification requirements by state and shares insight on what day-to-day life as a school counselor is like. The School Counselor Toolkit links to helpful online resources assigned by categories such as anger management, career counseling and college preparation.
3. School Counselor Resources
A division of Social Studies School Service, School Counselor Resources evaluates hundreds of publications, videos, posters, games and other materials each year to help elementary, middle and high school counselors find the right tools to develop effective counseling programs. Here, you can find objective reviews and feedback on books, videos and more to help build your school counselor resource library and toolbox.
4. Elementary School Counseling.Org
Created by Marissa Rex, an elementary school counselor in Ohio, this site provides school counselors with the resources and support they need to run effective school counseling programs. School counselors will find helpful book reviews, lesson and activity ideas geared toward addressing specific issues, such as bullying. She also shares helpful templates and forms to help counselors stay organized, including weekly counseling schedule planners, individual counseling forms, informal observation forms and more. She also maintains a comprehensive list of counselor blogs, sites and resources.
5. Teachers Pay Teachers
Teachers Pay Teachers calls itself the “first and largest open marketplace where teachers share, sell and buy original educational resources.” Think of it as a combination of Etsy and Pinterest for teachers, where educators share the tools and resources that have worked for them. Members get access to hundreds, if not thousands of printable tools and ideas, many of which are free. School counselors can find behavior charts, feelings and emotion cards, as well as countless other printable kits, forms and templates. The idea behind this ingenious website is to make the knowledge and ideas of teachers around the globe immediately accessible to anyone, anywhere.
As you continue to advance your career and pursue a Master of Education in School Counseling, consider bookmarking helpful websites, blogs and school counseling resources like the ones mentioned above to help expand your knowledge base and experience fresh perspectives from industry experts. As educators, we never stop learning, and the more you absorb, the more successful you will be in your school counseling career.