Searching for technology resources? Find fun and engaging school counseling tech right here! Apps, sites, videos, program tools and MORE! Keep Reading…

A few years ago our district became a 1:1 technology school. Meaning that each student had a device to use and teachers were starting to develop lessons with more and more technology. This was great for me, at the time… I was a first-grade teacher and I felt somewhat confident working with technology.

Then, I switched gears and became a school counselor! All of a sudden the Technology Train was empty… I had no more ideas to travel into my lessons. Most of the academic content I had, would not fit with what I was teaching in school counseling. Back to the drawing board, I went!

With lots of research, trial and error, and spending time using the apps below… I came up with a list of helpful and appropriate technology resources to use for school counseling.

Below you will find school counseling tech to use for many different situations.

Mindfulness/Anxiety

Headspace (Android and iOS) – Visually Appealing Mindfulness/Meditation App with cute animations. Able to get some free sessions or subscribe for more.

Settle Your Glitter (Andriod and iOS) – Has a puffer-fish that young kids can follow to learn deep breathing and focus attention.

Breathe – OMG I Can Meditate (Andriod and iOS) –  Great app that I use daily! It has some free and more when you subscribe. The thing I like about this app is the meditations for kids are just the right length of time, running around 8 min.

Stop, Breathe & Think (Andriod and iOS) – Learn to track emotions to reduce stress and anxiety. This app lets you check-in with your emotion, then meditate, then check-in again. This may be helpful over a period of time for some students.

Calm (Andriod and iOS) – Various length of guided mediation ranging from 3-25 minutes. This app also has tons of topics for guided meditations, as well as, open-meditation times featuring nature sounds, etc.

Mind Yeti (iOS and mindyeti.com) – Mindfulness for kids 5-12 years old. This app is very engaging and uses cute animated characters to teach kids how to calm down, focus and connect.

GoNoodle (Andriod and iOS) – GoNoodle is amazing! If you have not tried it out yet… please do! You will not regret it! This has so many fun brain-break ideas. But what I love about this app/website, is the Channels. Take some time and try FLOW, BRAINERCISE, THINK ABOUT IT, MAXIMO, EMPOWER TOOLS,

Creating Videos or Student Projects

Filmora – a video editing software that is super easy for beginners! I use this to edit assembly videos and student broadcasts.

ifaketext – a fun way to engage an older audience… these could be shown on the board for kids to read as a lesson starter or to dive into deeper conversations.

FlipGrid – short video responses to questions or discussions. This creates a way for every student to have a voice and be heard. (Very fun… but limits have to be set and videos reviewed).

Chatter Pix (iOS) – this app lets any object talk! My students love to see different animals talk… I sometimes use this to tell stories, assembly videos or grab their attention.

Kidblog – a way for students to safely publish writing and practice digital citizenship. This site allows students to create their own individual blogs or portfolios to have their voice heard.

TED Talks

Don’t Eat the Marshmallow – Joachim de Posada

Everyday Leadership – Drew Dudley

Breaking Down the Unknown- Vik Nithy

How Do You Define Yourself? – Lizzie Valasquez

Counseling Program Tech

Google Drive (Docs, Slides, Forms, etc.)

PowerPoint (Not just for making presentations… INSTEAD for making your own handouts, printable, games or worksheets)

Youtube

Blogs

Google Classroom (Setting up assignments and discussions)

Extra Fun Apps

Focus on the GO

Emotionary

Kahoot (Interactive quizzes and games)

GoNoodle.com

Class Dojo (Growth Mindset Videos)

Snote.com

Breakout Edu

There are astronomical amounts of resources via the internet! These are just a few that I have come across! Over time, I know this list will grow tremendously. Overall, I think it’s fun to incorporate new technology and keep lessons fun and engaging!