Hi everyone! I’m Tesla, and I’ve been a social worker in the school systems since 2014. I've worked at the district level, as well as the middle and high school levels. Next year, I'm excited to expand my experience to elementary!
I created this site as a resource for current school social workers, counselors, home school educators and anyone else helping students with social/ emotional/ behavioral skills. Click below to read more about my background and why I created this site!
Determining Eligibility for Autism in Girls
Autism diagnoses are becoming more prevalent in recent years. However, much of the research about what Autism “looks” like stems from young Caucasian males. In this post, we will discuss how Autism is currently evaluated (specifically in schools), the differences between Autism in girls and boys, and some helpful school interventions for girls with Autism.…
How to Create a School Social Worker Toolkit
As a first-year school social worker, tracking all the documentation and different types of meetings can feel overwhelming. This “one-stop-shop” school social worker toolkit creates a central location for all information and helps to make life easier for new and experienced social workers alike! What is a School Social Worker Toolkit? There are two types…
Tips for Writing Social Emotional IEP Goals & 10 Example Goals
Probably one of the most daunting parts of being a new school social worker is writing IEP evaluations and goals. While some school districts have templates available, most do not. Here are 10 of the most common social emotional goals for an IEP and how to write your own goals. Tip #1: Be SMART One…
Social Emotional Goal: Targeting Selective Mutism
Selective mutism is a disorder that affects an individual’s ability to communicate verbally and consistently across all settings. Targeting selective mutism in schools is a complicated task, but here are some tips for interventions and goals to help students with selective mutism lead healthy and happy lives. What is Selective Mutism? Selective mutism is an…
How to Set Up Small Groups for Counseling: 8 Steps
School social workers run small groups on a variety of topics. In this post, we discuss some of the most important steps to setting up small groups for counseling/ school social work. 1. Conduct a Needs Assessment The first step in setting up small groups is to determine a specific need. Some schools conduct formal…
How to Determine the Best Social Emotional Curriculum
Selecting a social emotional curriculum can be overwhelming and feel like you’re getting sold. In this post, we’ll discuss some key elements for selecting an appropriate social emotional curriculum. CASEL Certified Social Emotional Curriculum The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is the agency that reviews social emotional curriculum to ensure it is…
The Fundamentals of Social Emotional Skill Development
Understanding the key concepts of social emotional functioning for students is critical for anyone starting out in the field of school social work. What does it mean to have social emotional skills in social awareness, relationship management, decision-making skills, self-management and self awareness? How can social workers help develop these skills? The CASEL Model The…
School Social Work Office Must-Haves: 5+ Tips
School social work offices can be customized and look vastly different! Here are five of the most essential elements no matter your style. Paperwork Area We’ll start off with the least fun, but probably most essential area. School social workers have a ton of required paperwork and having a dedicated space to keep this paperwork…
Special Education Initial Mental Health Evaluations
Initial evaluations for Special Education include assessments from a wide variety of stakeholders. In this post, we will discuss the role of the social worker, types of assessments for initial mental health evaluations and common concerns requiring mental health support. Role of the Social Worker in Initial Evaluations The role of the social worker in…
Step-By-Step Guide to Setting up a School Social Work Calendar
Creating social work lesson plans for a whole school year can feel overwhelming! We break it down here into 6 manageable steps for creating a school social work calendar to create less stress and start the year off organized! I. Map Out Weekly Schedule The very first step is to set up a calendar. You’ll…
Best Tips for Becoming a LCSW (in Colorado)
The process of becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Colorado can be confusing and long. In this post, we will untangle the process of social work licensure and help determine which pathway might be best for a school social worker. Types of Social Work Licensures There are a few different licenses school social…
How to Develop School Social Work Lesson Plans
This post outlines how to determine school social work lesson plans for the school year. This post discusses some of the most important considerations including: the role of the social worker, mental health supports, age/ grade level, mandatory lessons and calendar considerations. As a new school social worker, developing an intentional plan for groups or…