Why I'm Using Coffee with the Counselor in Middle School (And why you could, too!)

Let’s face it. 

Parental involvement in middle school looks different from elementary school. Once students get to middle school, parents play a back and forth game of tug-a- war with what their student can handle. Parents give their student independence, but they have to pull them back in when they need help. Whether students adjust flawlessly or with a few missteps, parent involvement is still a key element to their success from 6th to 8th grade. 

So, how did Coffee with the Counselor come about?

This year I’m the Parental Involvement (PI) Coordinator as well as Counselor for my school. When I started brainstorming ideas for PI events I knew I wanted them to support the program's counseling goals. I knew these events could work in elementary, but I pondered how it would look in a middle school. Would the parents attend? Would it start conversation? I ran the idea past my administration, they gave the green light, and I got busy planning.

The first Coffee with the Counselor was August 26st. We started school here on August 17th. It was a quick turn around, but it was so worth it. Here’s why my program is using it this year, and why it could work for yours, too!

              1. CWC generates conversations about relevant topics.

           I gave out a parent survey at our Open House (more on that in a later post) to see which topics   were most needed for my school. I used that information to determine the themes of the Coffee with the Counselor. Study skills and organization was a HUGE concern across the parent, staff, and student surveys. 84% of parents and 71% of the student body thought lessons on study skills and organization were needed or highly needed. Then I planned hands on activities to generate conversation. Coffee with the Counselor is great for our program because the parents care about the subject. 

      2. CWC is getting bang for your buck! 

         Many schools have coffee in a lounge or in the cafeteria. Use that resource to save money! After that all you need is a few dozen donuts and whatever else you want to serve. I used two dozen normal glazed, one package of assorted flavors, a package of muffins, and fruit. I got some inexpensive flavored creamer for the coffee, and I arranged the food on my own pottery. Anything could work for arranging the food. Don't over think it, just keep it easy. That's all. Boom. You're done. Coffee with the Counselor worked for my program because I have to have effective events on a budget. 

    3. CWC is not a huge time commitment for parents. 

          Parents have SO MUCH they are doing for their students. Time is precious. That is why I only made Coffee with the Counselor from 8:30 to 9:30. I also gave out the dates at Open House and they are on the website. Parents have the information for the whole year so they can plan to come if they want to! This event is busy life friendly, and that's great for my parent population.   

      4. Parents are connected and heard! 

           This is last on this list, but certainly the most important. The reason we have these events in the first place is so that parents have a place to collaborate and share about middle school issues! It takes a team. I've only been a counselor for three months, but I feel like that has been the most apparent thing I've learned. Everybody is working towards student success. When parent communication is strong, we can influence more positive change and support for our students. 

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          Be on the lookout for my next CWC post soon! I will talk about the details and results of the first one! Have you used this event before? Any tips? Any anything? I'd LOVE to hear from you! Comment below! 

          I (promise to try :P) will be posting on a more regular schedule starting this week. I am blown away by the feedback and support I've heard so far about the blog. It's a dream come true. (Cheeeeeesy, right?) I have been made aware that the subscription feature is not working properly. I apologize about that! Please know I am working to fix that! Until then, I'm notifying FB, IG, SC, and Pinterest when I post. I appreciate shares more than you guys know! 

More from the middle to come soon!! 

        From the middle with love,

        Mere