The present study was an investigation of the potential moderating effect of social support on academic performance for students living in poverty. Data were collected in one urban middle school from 164 primarily Hispanic students using the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale (CASSS; Malecki, Demaray, & Elliott, 2000) and students' course…

This document is a practical self-evaluation guide for middle/junior high school counselors. It is based on the assumption that there are broad professional principles of good practice, management, and conduct. The document can be used to indicate strengths and weaknesses in counseling programs and in individuals. These topics are covered: (1) the…

This book assists school counselors, career development professionals, and counselor educators in the measurement of a student's interests and provides reproducible activities for immediate use. Short checklists and hands-on practical activities help students understand themselves, and begin to plan for the achievement of educational and career…

This study stems from and builds upon an earlier project that involved aspiring school counselors and school leaders in a cross-discipline project to learn about the differing roles, legal, philosophical and ethical expectations for each group, and approaches to collaboration. During this earlier project, a series of seminars was held to engage…

Asserts that elementary and middle school counselors are concerned about how to prevent substance abuse among students and how to identify substance abuse when it occurs. Discusses facts about various drugs, their effects, and evidence of abuse. Includes discussions of alcohol, stimulants, inhalants, cocaine, psychedelics, depressants, narcotics,…

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a 9-week career intervention program on at-risk middle school students' career maturity levels, self-esteem, and academic achievement. This study was based on a pretest and posttest design using a control group. Data were collected from 27 at-risk middle school students representing the…

Although there is a growing body of literature on students' transition from middle school to high school, much of the literature fails to take into consideration the distinctive racial and environmental circumstances of African American students. This article reviews literature related to the transitioning of African American students and…

A risk assessment instrument for identifying potential dropouts at the middle and high school levels and an accompanying explanation of the instrument are provided in this document. The instrument provides a checklist of 21 criteria; the more criteria the student meets, the greater his risk of dropping out. Criteria include age in comparison to…

This article examines the process of identity development in gifted adolescents and provides a theoretical and research-based explanation of its importance for influencing achievement and quality of life in adulthood. Teachers, counselors, and parents can use "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (Rowling, 1997) as a springboard into discussion…

This guide to improving middle school guidance programs is based on two premises: (1) that the primary goal of the guidance program is to help students find meaning in their lives, and by this means, find relevancy in what schools have to offer them; and (2) that this sense of relevancy is accompanied by higher motivation to learn, and as a…

While many youngsters today are successfully mastering the life and career planning process, too many others are not. One faulty coping mechanism is premature closure, the untimely and ill-considered self-narrowing of alternatives. The goal of this project was to help counselors, teachers, and principals develop the insights and skills necessary…

The American School Counseling Association (ASCA) identifies scheduling students for classes as a non-counseling activity. Ideally, school counselors should limit non-counseling activities, but the reality is that counselors do in fact spend much time and energy scheduling classes, according to a recent survey of secondary counselors. We introduce…

This document is the second of three volumes in the kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) Developmental Guidance & Counseling Program. Volume II focuses on middle school and junior high school education, grades six through eight. The introduction defines the four major components of a comprehensive developmental guidance model: the guidance…

This practicum developed a program to expand school psychology services for regular education students at the elementary and middle school levels in an urban public school district. The main goals were to broaden school psychology services and increase awareness of the consultant role which may be provided by the school psychologist. Specific…

This handbook was designed as a resource for middle school personnel to use in meeting Oregon's required one-half credit in career development. It provides information for school personnel concerned with developing a set of educational, career, and vocational guidance responsibilities and with clarifying the duties of middle school counselors and…