National Center for Fair and Open Testing

http://www.fairtest.org/

Here you can find news on K-12 testing.  This site address concerns about accountability, standardized tests, high-stakes decisions based on testing, and authentic assessment.  There is also information about a project called the Assessment Reform Network, which is designed to open doors for disadvantaged students and improve the quality of education for everyone.

Practical Assessment, Research, & Evaluation

http://ericae.net/pare/genpare.asp

This site houses a peer-reviewed online journal.  You can search by article topic or view the chronological listing of articles.  This is a good source for finding information on assessment and research. 

You Can Handle Them All

http://www.disciplinehelp.com/

This website lists 117 different behaviors children exhibit in school, and outlines an action plan to identify these behaviors, the effects of these behaviors, action, and mistakes.  In the action section, primary causes of misbehavior, primary needs being revealed, secondary needs being revealed, and methods, procedures, and techniques are all described. 

Classroom Management: discipline & organization

http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/classman.html

This site has a few lists of elementary school tips on classroom management.  It includes ways to encourage good behavior, ideas for class rewards, and bulletin board ideas.  It is aimed at teachers, but is also useful for counselors when considering classroom guidance or reward ideas for good behavior. 

Restitution

http://www.realrestitution.com/

This website talks about using restitution in schools, teaching students to use self-discipline.  It mostly provides information on how to order books, videos, and attend workshops teaching this method.

Discipline by Design – The Honor Level System

http://www.honorlevel.com/

Designed for middle school, this site describes 11 discipline techniques for in the classroom.  A review of these steps may help counselors in gaining and maintaining the attention and focus of students in the classroom. 

WebQuest

http://webquest.org/index.php

This is a site devoted to work that is mostly done online by the students.  If you go into Find WebQuests, you can enter a word or phrase and search for these web-based lessons.  Consider access to a computer lab before planning one of these lessons in your school.

WebRing

http://q.webring.com/hub?ring=webquest

Here you will find a list and forum for webquests for grades K-12.

Story People E-Greetings

http://www.storypeople.com/storypeople/WebStory.do?action=sendEgreeting

This site contains e-greetings you could possibly send to students you’ve been working with, and the greetings come with short stories.  You can browse or type in a subject or theme that you are looking for in the card, and send along a personal message, as well. 

New York Times Learning Network

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/guide.html

Students, teachers, and parents can all find resources on this page.  There are activities for students, including reading the top news stories.  Lesson plans and news snapshots are available for teachers.  There are current event conversation starters and family movie guides. 

National Education Association: School Safety

http://www.nea.org/schoolsafety/index.html

This particular page of the NEA deals with school safety issues.  Provides research, web resources and activities. 

Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network

http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/home/index.html

Has a section for educators and provides resources such as lesson plans and curriculum tools.  There is an educator library page that you can browse for resources.

Beacon Learning Center

http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/

Provides teacher resources for lesson plans, unit plans, articles, documents, and National Standards.  Based out of Florida, but includes resources that could be used by anyone.

Suicide and the School

http://www.baltimorepsych.com/suicide.htm

This is a resource for recognizing and intervening for suicidal students in the school setting.  It includes warning signs, checklists, and intervention strategies. 

National Center for Education Statistics

http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/

This is a digest of education statistics, and it also provides a variety of surveys/assessments and data tools.

Careers MCHS

http://www.careersmchs.com/

This is a career and activity website for students at Marlboro County High School, and it provides several career planning sites and resources. 

Learning to Give

http://www.learningtogive.com/

Teacher-created standards-based lessons and resources with connections to character education and service learning.  Includes lessons on philanthropy.

Mar*co Products – Educational Programs and Games

http://www.marcoproducts.com/ind.html

Long list of products available to purchase, includes puppets, books, videos, games.

Community Programs to Promote Youth Development

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10022

This page provides information on purchasing a book, Community Programs to Promote Youth Development.  You can preview the chapters and read online.

Operation Respect: Don’t Laugh at Me

http://www.dontlaugh.org/

This website provides information on a program called “Don’t Laugh at Me” dedicated to creating compassionate, safe, respectful environments for students to learn in, free from bullying and violence. 

School Counselor Resources

http://www.counselorresources.com/

Browse by subject on this website to view and purchase school counseling resources.  The homepage lists new and notable resources available.

SchoolCounselor.com – Advancing Technological Literacy Among Counselors and Administrators

http://www.schoolcounselor.com/

This site contains resource links, lesson plans, downloadable training, and a newsletter for school counselors.  There is also a page of possible questions a school counselor may be asked on a job interview. 

Safe Schools and Youth Services

http://ed.sc.gov/agency/offices/ssys/

Here you will find links related to the topic, contact information for the director of the service, fact sheets about school violence, and training.

Educator Certification

http://www.scteachers.org/Cert/index.cfm

This site provides information on being a certified educator.  Certification forms can be found on this page in a PDF format. 

Want to teach – Nationwide teaching positions

http://www.wanttoteach.com/newsite/StateDepartments.html

A listing of state education department links listed in alphabetical order. 

Survey Monkey

http://www.surveymonkey.com/Default.aspx

This website allows you to design and create your own online surveys.  The basic membership is free, but you can also add survey upgrades at a cost. 

Stop Bullying Now

http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/index.asp?area=main

Website for kids and adults that gives information on bullying.  It also provides 12 2-minute cartoon videos to show students and has discussion questions to ask students at the end of each video.

Kids Skills

http://www.kidsskills.org/english/index.htm

Kids' Skills is a solution-focused method with which you can help children solve their own problems by learning skills.

YouthLight, Inc.

http://www.youthlight.com/main.html

This company provides educational resources for counselors in the form of books available for purchase online.  Resources can be browsed by category, grade level, author, or clearance and slightly used books. 

Self Esteem Shop

http://www.selfesteemshop.com/

This site has a large database of products/resources available to purchase online.  You can browse by category or look at their recommended resources based on the most commonly sought-after topics.  Just to name a few topic examples, the site has resources on sexual abuse, autism, divorce, games, play therapy, parenting, and much more.

Career and Technology Education

http://ed.sc.gov/agency/offices/cate/

Here you will find programs and highlights under the topic of career and technology education. 

Guidance Resources Homepage

http://www.wisemantech.com/guidance/

This site is directed toward high school counselors.  It was set-up by a retired school counselor to help other counselors find resources on common issues such as college application information, test preparation, information for athletes, information on specific careers, scholarship information, and more. 

Character Education Partnership

http://www.knowitall.org/sites/educatorplus/content/video.cfm?ProgramIDpassed=478&SeriesIDpassed=19&offset=0

This organization is dedicated to helping build good character in young people.  Here you can find example lesson plans that demonstrate certain principles of effective character education.  It also provides research tools for character education.

Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Educators

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/edspec.html

There are links provided to other websites for school counselors and school psychologists.  Includes a psychology encyclopedia, articles on adolescents, children’s health, and more.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

http://www.pbis.org/main.htm

This site address behavioral systems needed in schools for the successful learning and social development of students.  The site provides information on the approach they use and provides research, brochures, and other resources on implementing their program.

Intervention Central

http://www.interventioncentral.org/

This organization provides free tools to promote positive classroom behavior and foster effective learning.  Includes a list of intervention strategies and ideas that may be useful for counselors.  It also provides resources available to download for school-based interventions and assessments.

Kid’s Health

http://www.kidshealth.org/

This site is divided into sections, one for parents, one for kids, and one for teens.  Here you will find info on children’s health, from general medical problems kids encounter, to emotions and behavior, nutrition and fitness, and growth and development.  The kid’s version of the site is written on their level and gives information on health topics that is developmentally appropriate. 

Kids.gov

http://www.kids.gov/

This is the official portal for links to kid’s sites provided by the government.  You can search by grade level and then by topic.  Topics cover all school subjects, and include info on arts, health, computers, careers, and games.

School Counselor Reference – Classroom lessons/units and articles

https://mis.spps.org/counselors/

This site provides links to units and lessons for elementary and middle school guidance lessons.  Provides links to a successful school-wide program implemented at a middle school, information on school crisis teams, interventions for common problems, and more.

Index to Group Activities, Games, Exercises and Initiatives

http://www.wilderdom.com/games/

Lists all sorts of games you can utilize as a school counselor.  It includes team-building exercises, ice-breakers, trust-building, multicultural games, and tons more.

Exploring the Nature and Prevention of Bullying

http://www.ed.gov/print/admins/lead/safety/training/bullying/bullying.html#mediation

This site provides information on preventing bullying.  It discusses strategies and the need for a comprehensive approach. 

Resources and Tools for School Counselors

http://www.spu.edu/orgs/schoolcounseling/resources.htm

This site provides resources and tools for school counselors and students in school counseling.  Student tools include information on counseling theories and case study scenarios.  Counselor tools include many downloads, such as a school counselor job description and ways to combat prejudice.  There is also information available regarding comprehensive guidance programs.

Bibliotherapy Education Project

http://bibliotherapy.library.oregonstate.edu/

This site provides tools for evaluating materials for bibliotherapeutic work with children and adolescents, finding evaluated books for certain age groups and issues, learning more about the use of books in therapy.

Center for the Study of School Climate

http://www.schoolclimatesurvey.com/draft.htm

This center’s research is working to identify and develop effective educational leadership practices that improve climates in which student's learn.  You can find information on the different units of this center and surveys on school climate for students grades 4-12, teachers, and administrators.

Parent Leader

http://www.parentleaders.blogspot.com/

This site provides news and resources on parent leaders acting as advocates for better schools.

Cyberbullying Video and Resources

http://www.adinasdeck.com/

A 30-minute film, designed like a Disney show, with a teacher's guide on cyberbullying. Trailers from the film and testimonials are available on the website. The website creators also travel nationally to schools for assemblies, teacher training and more.