School principals and school counselors have the ability to forge a unique collaborative relationship to improve student achievement. Historically, school counselors have altered the primary focus of their work as deemed by the perspective of their principals. With an emphasis on improving student success in school, this study revealed the…

This report examines the stepfamily phenomenon and how stepfamilies are treated. After the introductory first chapter the second chapter provides a clear definition of what constitutes a "stepfamily" and explores some of the demographics regarding stepfamilies. Next the report examines the major issues with which stepfamilies deal. How these…

This guide presents an advisory program for middle schools. The program is designed for groups of 10 to 15 students meeting twice a week; the advisors should be adults from within the school (teachers, guidance counselors, administrators, etc.). The program has four goals: (1) to promote students' sense of belonging within the school; (2) to…

Two strategies were tried to address the need for a multicultural education program to increase cultural awareness and reduce prejudice among a target population of 1,500 students in a middle school setting that was 84 percent white. One strategy included human relations training of 50 students, who formed a Cultural Awareness Group within the…

Asserts that children in junior high and middle school may be reluctant to participate in the process of counseling. Recommends that school counselors use therapeutic techniques that actively involve children and excite their imagination. Examines three such techniques that work with middle school students: game play, stories and metaphors, and…

Examines suicide attempts and completions among middle school students to alert middle school counselors to the reality of child suicide. Discusses common symptomatic areas under the categories of drug abuse, social influences, acting out, pubescence, depression, and nuclear threat. Offers suggestions for the prevention of child suicide and…

It is estimated that attention deficit disorder (ADD) affects from 3 to 10% of school age students. The ratio of male to female is reported as high as six to one. Children with ADD display signs of inappropriate inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity and are more likely than other children to have a variety of academic and social problems.…

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…

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,…

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…

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 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…

As part of an early awareness initiative, the United States Department of Education developed an interactive software package to provide early information to middle school and high school students about postsecondary education opportunities, costs of attendance, and availability of financial aid. This user's guide describes how to install and use…

This book contains nine lessons focusing on legal issues raised by the illegal use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs and efforts by the criminal justice system to curb that use and abuse. The lessons are interactive and sequential, although individual lessons can stand alone. The lessons are designed to be presented to middle and high school…