Blog 4: National Model

Blog 4: National Model

      Reading an entire chapter about the ASCA National Model gives a much better picture of the counselor’s role in the school. The organization and rationale for the model is clear cut yet general enough that it can be adapted to any type of school. As I was reading I was thinking how our group project could prove to be challenging if members views and beliefs are different. This in turn makes me see even more how differing views of administration, other counselors and teachers would make creating a comprehensive program a challenge. I really like that they included systemic change as a theme, it seems more like an overlying theme of all the others. It seems if there is something not working within the other areas systemic change cannot fully happen. As I read I tried to identify evidence of the themes and elements in the counseling program in the elementary school I teach in.

The article on strength based counseling was very informative as well; however I had to read it several times to grasp what it adds to the model. As I read and reread the part that really stuck with me was having promotion-oriented delivery. The example of forming a love of reading can help reduce illiteracy is a very clear example of this. I often think of this when I am in support process meetings and we are all talking about a student’s weaknesses. No one wants to talk about the strengths because they want to get them an IEP or a behavior plan, but I often feel that it is quite backwards. It seems we should be focusing and reinforcing the strengths to see if we can help the child progress without needing more supports. We are supposed to be shooting for the least restrictive environment right?

Finally I wanted to touch on the work we did on our wiki last week when class was cancelled. I really thought that was time well spent and I would love to have some more time like that during class at least once or twice. I do realize that we will need to meet outside of class but I think meeting like that again when Dr. Baker is around could be very beneficial as we get things off the ground here in the beginning stages. Any thoughts? As I have been researching mission statements and process goals of other CSCP I am finding the likenesses and differences very interesting.