2017 Annual Conference

Nancy Pittard Jones

Elementary

Calling all BOOK-A-HOLICS-for the 20th YEAR! Come join “the book lady,” Nancy Jones, who is back to bring you dozens of children’s books to use in your counseling program. This practical, fast-paced workshop will feature books new and old, plus ideas that could go with ANY book you choose. Come get a MINDSET of great children's literature, with a complete bibliography of books arranged by subject so you can become a Book-A-Holic yourself!

I have presented this program at GSCA for nineteen amazing years, and it humbles and inspires me to see the interest that remains in this important topic!  It has been gratifying to me to travel to many other states to share my love for children’s books and tell them what Georgia counselors are doing with quality children’s literature.  I get calls from counselors in many parts of Georgia looking for a book on a particular topic, or requesting that I focus on a certain area at the upcoming conference.  This is a practical workshop for counselors, who can return to work and use this information immediately. 

GOALS OF THE SESSION:

Participants attending this session will learn:

1. A rationale for school counselors to use children’s literature on topics such as self-confidence, changing families, mindset, and other appropriate topics as a base of their programs.
2. How school counselors can plan lessons using children’s literature.
3. How props and tools can accent literature-based lessons.
4. Ways to incorporate children’s literature lessons in to every part of their counseling programs.
5. Methods for organizing and storing children’s literature and lessons so that they are easily accessible.
6. Practical lessons that are simple to implement.

STRATEGIES TO BE UTILIZED:

Strategies that will be utilized to achieve the stated goals include:

1. Exposure to resources from catalogs, bookstores, and the Internet.
2. Instruction in techniques that can be adapted to any elementary level.
3. Previewing materials provided by the presenter.
4. Participation in sample lessons.
5. Providing participants with an extensive bibliotherapy list of dozens of books to use on a variety of age-appropriate topics.
6. Overview of specific props (music, food, puppets, etc.) that turn a single book in to an entire lesson.
7. Power Point presentation of sample book covers and pages

EXPECTED SESSION OUTCOMES:

Participants attending this workshop will gain:

1. Insight in to the simplicity of the school counselor planning and implementing a bibliotherapy program.
2. Specific techniques that are grade level appropriate for kindergarten through fifth/sixth grade to utilize children’s literature.
3. Information for finding and ordering appropriate books to enhance a counseling program.
4. A list of resources available to assist them in their planning and development of a bibliotherapy program.
5. A practical tool that can be implemented immediately with the suggested books as well as books of their own choosing.