Counselor's Corner

    Newsletter

    Please take a moment to view our January newsletter.

    Contact US

    Please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments, and/or concerns.

    Mrs. Binish Shingari

    240-740-0827

    Mx. Sam Klotz

    240-740-0827

    Holiday Giving Project

    Each year, the Holiday Giving Project provides assistance to those in need. Please reach out to Mrs. Binish Shingari for interest and/or questions regarding the Holiday Giving Project. (240-740-0827)

    Services Provided by Your School Counselor

    • Counseling Sessions (Individual and Group)
      • Individual counseling is used to address individual needs, and concerns which can impede academic achievement. Students can fill out the Google Form to Mrs. Shingari's Virtual Mailbox or to Mx. Klotz's Virtual Mailbox to share their feelings, send messages, and/or to request a time to meet. Parents and teachers can also refer students to see the counselor at any time.
      • Group counseling is used to teach skills and provide support in specific areas of need such as improving social interactions with peers, improving classroom behavior, adjustment to school, family changes, study skills, organizational skills, self-concept and esteem, and coping skills. Groups are approx. 30 minutes in duration, meet during the lunch/recess hour for 6-8 weeks, and consist of about 4-6 students.
    • Classroom Counseling Lessons (on various topics- see below) 
      • Topics for classroom guidance lessons include
        • Study skills
        • Learning styles
        • Conflict resolution
        • Confidence building
        • Decision making
        • Goal setting
        • Effective communication
        • Mindfulness
        • Careers
        • Personal body safety
    • Career Counseling
      • It is important to start the discussion of college and career readiness early on. April is college and Career Readiness month! During the month of April, counselors will be conducting Career lessons in all classrooms. 

    Recommended Reading

    Friendship
    • How to Lose All Your Friends, by Nancy Carlson
    • How to Be a Friend, by Laurie and Marc Brown
    • Making Friends, by Kate Petty and Charlotte Firmin
    • Friendship: From Your Old Friends to Your New Friends, by Nuria Roca and Rosa Curto
    • Three Friends, by Jim and Joan Boulden
    • What's the Recipe for Friends?, by Greg Williamson
    • Big Al, by Andrew Clements
    • Enemy Pie, by Derek Munson
    Solving Problems
    • Hands Are Not For Hitting, by Martine Agassi
    • We Can Work It Out, by Barbara Polland
    • We Can Get Along, by Lauren M. Payne
    • The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight, by Stan and Jan Berenstain
    • The Knight and the Dragon, by Tomie DePaola
    • The Zax, by Dr. Suess
    • Six Crows, by Leo Lionni
    • The Butter Battle, by Dr. Suess
    Respect
    • I Don't Care: Showing Respect, by Brian Moses
    • Stellaluna, by Jannell Cannon
    • Verdi, by Jannell Cannon
    • The Grouchy Ladybug, by Eric Carle
    • A Pig is Moving In!, by Claudia Fries
    • Crysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes
    • Officer Buckle and Gloria, by Peggy Rothman
    • The Berenstain Bears' New Neighbors, by Stan and Jan Berenstain
    • Arnie and the New Kid, by Nancy Carlson
    • Molly's Pilgram, by Barbara Cohen
    • The Patchwork Quilt, by Valerie Flournoy
    • Teammates, by Peter Golenbock
    • Treat Me Right: Kids Talk About Respect, by Nancy Loewen
    Point of View
    • The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, by John Scieszka
    • Two Bad Ants, by Chris Van Allsburg
    • The Chinese Mirror, by Mirra Ginsburg
    • The Hating Book, by Charlotte Zolotow
    • Hey, Little Ant, by Phillip and Hannah Hoose
    Anger Management
    • When I Feel Angry, by Cornelia Spelman
    • When Sophie Gets Angry, by Molly Bang
    • The Very Angry Day That Amy Didn't Have, by Lawrence Shapiro
    • Don't Rant and Rave on Wednesdays, by Adoph Moser
    • Andrew's Angry Words, by Dorothea Lachner
    • Spinky Sulks, by William Steig
    • Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst
    Teasing and Bullying
    • Teasing, by Joy Berry
    • The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Teasing, by Stan and Jan Berenstain
    • Stop Picking On Me, by Pat Thomas
    • The Hundred Dresses, by Estes/Slobodkin
    • Oliver Button is a Sissy, by Tomie DePaola
    • Being Bullied, by Joy Berry
    • Being Bullied, by Kate Petty and Charlotte Firmin
    • Loudmouth George and the Sixth Grade Bully, by Nancy Carlson
    • Bullies Are a Pain in the Brain, by Trevor Romain
    • Simon's Hook, by Karen G. Burnett
    Appreciating and Respecting Differences
    • The Sneetches, by Dr. Suess
    • Just A Little Different, by Mercer Mayer
    • Two Eyes, A Nose, and a Mouth, by Roberta G. Intrater
    • Why Am I Different?, by Norma Simon
    • Families, by Meredith Tax
    • This is Our House, by Michael Rosen
    • A Bad Case of Stripes, by David Shannon
    • People, by Peter Spier
    • Freedom Summer, by Deborah Wiles
    • Teammates, by Peter Golenbock
    • Amazing Grace, by Mary Hoffman
    • Eggbert the Slightly Cracked Egg, by Tom Ross
    • Loudmouth George and the New Neighbors, by Nancy Carlson
    Empathy/Caring
    • Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink, by Diane DeGroat
    • The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams
    • A Chair for My Mother, by Vera Williams
    • Mufaro's Beautiful Daughter, by John Steptoe
    • Two Good Friends, by Judy Delton
    • The Hurt, by Teddi Doleski

    *Book list compiled by Elizabeth Duke, Counselor, Darnestown ES, 2003

    Parent Resources

    Emergency Phone Numbers

    • Crisis Center Hotline: 240-777-4000/240-777-4190  
    • Youth Crisis Hotline: 301-738-9697  
    • Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 240-777-4417  
    • Spouse Abuse/Abused Persons Crisis Line: 240-777-4673 
    • Emergency Shelter: 240-777-4000