I was back to cycling class after an absence and looking forward to a great class. Yes I know the teacher, know what I have to do, can follow instructions, modify but…… this time it was different. I love the instructor, she is clear, keeps a good pace of information etc, but today for some unknown reason I JUST COULD NOT FOLLOW HER. Somehow my brain was hearing only half of the instructions and I found myself getting frustrated. Funny thing though, when I noted this internal struggle (half way through the class) it was a bit like getting a shock, and then the internal monologue began - you kno ..read more

OK, like many of you I am sure, I had the crud this last month. No voice, lack of energy and a malais that sort of took hold for two weeks. I hope it does not return. I am slowly getting back into the swing of things - but there just is no “slow” in a busy school, so the slow has been in my personal life. I gave up lots of things for a bit including my “beloved” spin classes. I have returned and I hate it more than ever. I am constantly having to make concessions when directions are given. I must adjust, go with plan B,C,D and E. Sometimes the instructor gives other options to choose from, but ..read more

I am not sure why…. But this year I am constantly making comparisons to my workout and my students in my mind. Maybe because the workouts are hard for me and so many of my students express how hard school is for them… Or maybe I am diverting during my workout and not being mindful of my own process (sounds like the kids too), or maybe it is just my time to really sink into what I am experiencing and having those “wow” moments. In any case this is where I am.A couple of weeks ago I was once again arguing with my cycling bike trying to work up a sweat, provide myself with a bit of stress relief ..read more

For many of us school counselors holiday break is a ladder being handed down to us from the bottom of a cavernous hole we were unaware had an opening, beckoning us to come out and reintegrate with society. I have already discovered as a new counselor how crucial it is to use these holiday breaks as a chance to recharge and gain a new perspective on life and be ready to go full throttle when we return in January. However, maybe it is in our personalities, but if you are anything like me or other school counselors I know, you see this as a chance to catch up and bring work home. I would be a hyp ..read more

Ok, I am still thinking about how my spin classes relate to how kids learn (darn and adults), I just can’t seem to shake it. So I will apologize in advance, but I will come back to this thought in a moment.This last round of pondering comes as I am attempting to improve my own skills in the classroom. My school has purchased the gift of using an online platform for curriculum this year for counselors The lessons are short and sweet, but man there are 26 of them - so wondering how am I ever going to get them done, along with the other required push ins that I do as a middle school counselor? Ne ..read more

2016 ASCA Ethical Standards for School CounselorsThe ASCA Ethical Standards have changed drastically, but they most definitely are a better guide for our ethical practice as school counselors. School counselors from across the country have contributed to the changes based on our practice and experience in working with students in the schools. NMSCA had an Ethics Committee and that Committee contributed to the changes that took place in the Standards.I know that it is so hard to get to our e-mails on a daily basis because our student’s needs are so great, and it only seems to be getting worse a ..read more

When thinking about Middle School I think about hormones, relationships, changing classes, and thinking about the “who am I” question. Having been a middle school counselor for a few years now, I believe it is much more in depth than it used to be. Since we as adults are not growing up now like our middle schoolers, how do we truly understand? Over the past few years I find myself thinking I could not be in middle school in this time period. Why? The ever famous smart phone. While it provides our students with an opportunity to learn anything within a few seconds, it can also hurt others with ..read more

Like many things growing focus and concentration is a challenge. Sometimes we may even think that we have this as a skill or not, we are born with an abundance or we were not. This as you know is a trap of thinking and it is one that many of our students fall into on a regular basis, heck it is a trap that I myself as an adult must be ever on the lookout for in all areas of life. It is that trap that begins with the sneaking feeling, the whispers of “I can’t” that creep into one’s mind when presented with a challenge. It is that whisper that stops forward momentum in it’s tracks and asks the m ..read more

As elementary school counselors, we are often the only counselor in the building. It can be isolating and lonely at times. That is why joining professional organizations such as NMSCA and ASCA are so important for elementary school counselors. We need time to learn something new, regroup and be with other counselors who are also passionate about their profession! Look for upcoming professional development opportunities so you can connect with others. If you are in a small district, please reach out to neighboring schools and districts to get together and collaborate with one another.I want to ..read more

Re-Cap for Wednesday Bills HB 340: Education Strategic Planning Task Force – Reps. Small & Garcia Richard This bill would create a education strategic planning task force which would be responsible for creating a 20-year visionary plan for education in New Mexico, from early education through higher education. AFT NM supports this legislation, as it requires the task force to be comprised of stakeholders and practitioners in public education. This bill passed in House Education Committee this morning. HB 108/a: Transfer of College Credits – Rep. Garcia Richard This bill directs the Higher ..read more