Module 7:
Counseling and Social Skills Development

Sondra Smith, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Counselor Education
University of Florida

Module Overview

| Understanding | Essential Questions | Knowledge and Skills |

Introduction

When you ask students to describe their favorite teacher, you most often hear statements like he/she "cares for me, wants to help me, and tries to understand me." Students want teachers who create caring interpersonal relationships with them, listen to them, and help them with their problems. Nowhere are these types of teachers needed more than in alternative education settings where students often need a teacher who is genuinely caring of students and believes in their ability to succeed.

The following sessions intentionally instruct teachers-in-training in the knowledge and practice of counseling skills and interventions appropriate to help students achieve in the alternative education classroom and society.

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Understanding

Teachers in alternative education settings are called upon to be helpers to their students in many ways. Students' personal needs interact with their academic and vocational needs and impact their success in school. Preparing teachers in counseling skills and interventions equips them with the interpersonal relationship and communication skills needed to affect personal, academic, and vocational change for their students. Skills in counseling, relationship building, effective interpersonal communication, and intervention, prepare teachers to be concerned helpers to their students.

Interpersonal communication skills afford the teacher-in-training with tools to build effective relationships with their students. Counseling interventions help to empower students to grow and change problematic behaviors. In this training module, teachers-in-training are instructed in using counseling skills and interventions in the classroom. Student will review and practice interpersonal communication skills such as active listening and empathic responding. Counseling interventions that have been shown to be effective helping strategies for students who are at-risk also will be reviewed with an emphasis on application to the alternative education setting. Respect for the diversity of students when using basic counseling skills and interventions in the classroom will be addressed throughout the training module.

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Essential Questions

What are basic counseling skills and counseling interventions that assist teachers in effectively helping alternative education settings with academic, personal, and vocational needs?

How do teachers in alternative education settings effectively use counseling skills and interventions to foster a productive classroom climate and individual successes for students?

How do teachers in alternative education settings use counseling skills and interventions with respect for their students' cultural diversity?

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Knowledge and Skills

• Students will discuss characteristics of an effective teacher/counselor.
  
• Students will review concepts and practice attending, or actively listening.
  
• Students will review and practice counseling responses and apply their skills in practice exercises related to the alternative education classroom.
  
• Students will review concepts of and apply effective counseling interventions, such as problem-solving models, to the alternative education classroom.
  
• Students will review concepts and apply effective counseling interventions, such as social skills training, to the alternative education classroom.
  
• Students will review and apply counseling skills and interventions with respect for cultural diversity of students.
  

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