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Counselor Chat PodcastThe Essential Podcast for School Counselors Author: Carol Miller, School Counselor
Counselor Chat is a podcast for School Counselors. If you're looking for inspiration, collaboration, easy to implement strategies and a bit of joy, you'll want to listen along with your host, Carol Miller from Counseling Essentials. Share in some real talk and get tips, tricks and learn about tools of the trade with Carol and listen in as she interviews other school counselors who are experts in the field as they share their advice and enjoy a few laughs. Language: en Genres: Education, Education for Kids, How To, Kids & Family Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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146. How School Counselors Can Help With Attendance, Motivation, and Engagement
Episode 146
Wednesday, 21 January, 2026
January is often when attendance challenges start to feel impossible (for students and for counselors). In this episode, I break down why attendance dips during the winter months, how to reframe attendance as a support issue rather than a compliance issue, and what counselors can realistically do to help students re-engage with school.This episode focuses on compassion, collaboration, and practical strategies that honor what students are really experiencing.You’ll Learn:Common reasons attendance declines in January (illness, anxiety, routine changes, weather, and more)Why framing attendance as a symptom changes how students respondLanguage counselors can use to talk about attendance without blameLayered counseling supports for students with chronic absencesHow small wins (fewer tardies, staying longer, asking for help) matter more than perfect dataEngagement strategies that increase motivation and belongingQuote from the Episode“Students don’t avoid school because they don’t care. They avoid school because something feels really hard.”Resources Mentioned:Attendance Small GroupMiddle School Attendance Lesson (grades 6-7)Barriers To Attendance Lesson (grades K-1)Academic Success Attendance Lesson (grades 2-3)Barriers to Attendance (grades 4-5)Chronic Attendance Intervention Lesson (grade 8)Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcastJoin Perks Counseling Club Membership and get the lessons, small group and individual counseling materials you need. Join now and get your first month free when you sign up for 3 months!Connect with Carol:TpT StoreCounseling Essentials Website









