Putting Passion Into Practice

This week I am presenting to the Alberta Guidance Council. Their closing keynote was unable to come so I get a chance to share with other Alberta School Counsellors what I am most passionate about School Counselling and technology. I get to put my passion into practice. One of the things that matters to me most after I have heard a presenter is if I am able to put into practice what I have heard by using something I learned or receiving a resource that I can use later. So I really hope this blog post provides you with several resources you are able to use long after my talk.

Here are some resources from my presentation:

Technology doesn’t always work the way you want it to as was evident today, so here is the start of my presentation Putting Passion Into Practice a Powtoon presentation.

We need to understand the students we work with. They are an Instagram generation and we can help them most by understanding their world and learning to use technology in a positive way to assist them.

Here is the Haiku Deck Putting Passion Into Practice that I shared.

The Putting Passion Into Practice  smore has resources that I discussed.

I know how important it is to have a back up plan and luckily I did, but such a great lesson today to remind us when presenting to download your presentation directly onto your computer /and or blog. Hopefully this blog will give you what you missed during my presentation.

I want you to know as a School Counsellor you are extremely vital to the well-being of students in your schools and play an important part in helping students #reachhigher. You are a leader and can demonstrate that daily in your schools.

I was extremely fortunate to attend this years American School Counselling Association conference where I met and collaborated with lots of amazing school counsellors who are connected and want to make a difference for the future of school counselling. I especially love that I got to surprise my twitter and now F2F friend Erin Mason ( she did not think I was coming to the conference ). Meeting F2F was fabulous and has made our connection even closer.  I had so much fun throughout the whole conference and the fact that we first met on twitter made the conference even more special. I felt like I was at home when I arrived. Another of my favourite parts of the conference was being present for Michelle Obama’s speech. I felt so happy to be present at such a historic moment for School Counsellors and the profession. I really wish we had someone as special speaking and advocating on behalf of School Counsellors in Canada.

Here is a clip from Michelle Obama’s Speech recognizing the importance of School Counsellors at this years American School Counselling Conference ( if you look very, very close you’ll see @sspellmancann at 1 min 22 sec. with @tmscounsellor I am the excited one with the Canadian iPhone camera taking a pic.) The whole speech can be found on YouTube, but below you can see a transcript of her talk.

“Your work lives on in their hearts and minds, and in the hearts and minds of everyone they touch.” Michelle Obama

For a transcript of the First Lady’s remarks, click here. You might get the inspiration you need to reach higher to make a difference in your school.

I love how Michelle Obama ended her speech. In the words of Michelle Obama here is what School Counsellors need to know:

” So here’s the thing, ASCA members ( SCHOOL COUNSELLORS my insert) — whenever you get tired — and I know that you do — whenever you get frustrated or overwhelmed — and I know that you do — I want you to think about the extraordinary ripple effect of your work, because it’s real. I want you to think about the impact you have not just on every child whose life you transform, but on the family that child will raise, on the business where that child will work, on the community that child will one day serve. I want you to think about how long after those kids graduate your work lives on in their hearts and minds, and in the hearts and minds of everyone they touch.

So today, I want to end as I started –- by once again saying thank you. Really, thank you. Thank you for your compassion and determination. Thank you for the boundless love you show our children.

And I for one, as your First Lady, I am grateful for all that you do. And I look forward to working closely with you in the years ahead to give all our young people the bright futures they so richly deserve.

Thank you all. God bless.”

I believe through technology you too can make a difference.

TOP REASONS FOR SCHOOL COUNSELLORS TO USE TECHNOLOGY:

1. To Connect by

• Using Apps

Thanks to Suzanne Tiemstra for sharing some favorite apps she uses : Kids Help Phone App,  Heart Math App, Reach Out Apps,  and  Panic Attack talk down App . You can see some of my recommendations in the smore and my livebinders.

• Blogging  … Make your learning visible

School Counselling blog roll. So many great resources here you’ll be like a kid in a candy shop.

• Developing and sharing ideas like Ten Reasons To Live

• Using Flipboard Click here for and example for new School Counsellors

• Utilizing Google Docs( you can collaborate below )

( you can add your name to this google doc . for School Counsellors if it is not already here )

( you can collaborate  and get many resources in this google doc . on Mental Health in High School )

• Using Google hangouts

• Posting to School Counsellor Hashtags

#SCCrowd

#cscchat Canadian School Counsellor Chat

#scchat

• Haiku Deck my favorite app

• Livebinder

• Mooc’s like the Open Connected Learning Massive Open Online Course ( great digital citizenship resources inside) that was recently done in Alberta. Massive meaning massive potential.

• Remind

• Pinterest

My Pinterest board:

Erin @ehordyskiluong’s board:

• Listening to Presentations by other School Counsellors

Carol Miller’s Tech Savvy Counselling presentation

Ross Wolfson’s presentation:

• Checking out SCOPE School Counsellor Online Professional Exchange

• Using Smores

• Connect on Twitter

Here is Alec Couros  @courosa video to get you thinking how twitter can help you.

• Use Tellagami to connect with students and families

Here is one I made on “A JOY SEARCH instead of a JOB SEARCH”

• Use Videos like Animoto to introduce yourself to students because “Video trumps text ” a quote that I like to use from Dean Shareski.

• Try Vlogging

• Connect and share on You tube

You tube videos we use to help students:

2. Collaboration

See how you can collaborate … check out the docs in Google docs

3. Collating resources 

Here is a great School Counselling Kit from the fabulous Danielle Schultz

4. Continue to professionally develop

Twitter is the best tool to do this or you can join a Google plus community

5. To Engage Students

hopefully all the resources here you can adapt to engage your students

6. To Ensure that School Counselling is Never Boring

An introduction to Ed Jacobs and Impact Therapy

ElementarySchool Counsellors : Here are some great videos you can use in your School Counselling Program.

Middle School / Junior High Counsellors:

A great Pinterest board for you to start following

High School Counsellors:

A must follow board:

School Counsellorsneed to know:

• You are capable

• You can curate

• You save lives

• You can commit to learning one new tool in the next week

• You can be on the cutting edge in a very short time

• You need to practice self-care

• You are a School Counsellor and you matter

Gratitude

I am grateful everyday that I chose this fabulous profession of School Counselling.

The Science of Happiness

Who are you grateful for? Tell them …

I am a School Counsellor

I was a School Counsellor the moment I realized students needed help and I could make a difference

Throughout the day I can be called upon to assist, encourage, intervene, give support, make serious decisions and more

I am privileged to see the potential in each and every student

Honoured that students and their families allow me to help them

Thankful that I have chosen a profession I can be proud of and one that allows me to leave a legacy

You, the parents allow me to enter your world and help the most precious gift you have been given in life your child

Students matter to me and I will counsel your children from my heart, always maintaining a professional response

I am a School Counsellor and I will never take that responsibility lightly

I will have the courage , strength and hope to do what is necessary

I will provide a place and a space where you can trust what I do

Knowing that you have allowed me to spend my precious days with the future

I am a School Counsellorand for that I am filled with gratitude each and every day

Susan Spellman Cann

End of the year thank you to students from your School Counsellor. Click on this smore . You can edit and make one of your own.

Thanks for the opportunity to present today at the Alberta Guidance Council and the wonderful introduction from my dear friend @HelenMacKinnon2 . She led us down memory lane when we used to lead conferences for the AGC. Now we get to watch such great leaders take on the very important job of connecting Alberta School Counsellors. I appreciate  the warm wishes this morning from my PLN.

I feel so grateful to have presented today and love that School Counsellors in Alberta may be willing to take the challenge to learn about one new tech tool this week.

I know that you all will continue to make a difference for our Alberta youth and use many of the resources available to you . If you ever need my help I am just a click away!

Enjoy!!!