EL SEGUNDO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

EL SEGUNDO HIGH SCHOOL

 

 

Course Title:  Peer Counseling

Department:  Applied & Fine Arts

Grade Levels:  9-12

 

Course Description

 

 

Peer Counselors or Peer Helpers are teens that receive educational training related to drug abuse and skills training for helping positively influence others who may be having problems.  Peer counseling is a process in which the student is exposed to a variety of human interaction skills that permit a better understanding of oneself and others.  These skills include:  question and answer techniques, facilitating skills, active listening, paraphrasing, problem solving and values clarification along with empathetic understanding.

 

Length: one year

Prerequisite for enrollment: none

Type of course:  elective

 

Outline and Standards

Based on ESHS Objectives & Standards

 

  1. Interaction

(Integration of Core Knowledge; Critical Thinking; Effective Communication; Personal &       Social Development)

 

1.1    Students will use ice breakers to get to know each other better

1.2    Students will learn and play group games as a means of feeling more comfortable with each other and building group unity.

1.3    Students will understand the need for confidentiality in the helping process.

1.4    Students will understand and agree to abide by the Peer Counseling Code of Ethics.

1.5    Students will understand the concept of Group Dynamics and be able to use this information when working in groups.

 

  1. Decision Making

(Integration of Core Knowledge; Critical Thinking; Effective Communication; Personal & Social Development)

 

2.1  Students understand the decision process and the impact it has on our  lives.

2.2   Students will be able to identify categories of decisions and analyze the process of decision-making.

2.3  Students will understand the importance of values in the decision making process.

2.4  Students will be able to identify types of values and explain their importance and their development in individuals.

2.5  Students will apply decision-making skills to real life situations.

 

3.  Communication

(Integration of Core Knowledge; Critical Thinking; Effective Communication; Personal & Social Development)

 

 

3.1    Students will learn effective communication skills and apply them.

3.2    Students will be able to use active listening in the helping process.

3.3    Students will use open-ended questions in the helping process.

3.4    Students will be able to give and receive compliments in an appropriate manner.

3.5    Students will know the parts of an “I” message and will be able to use one in an appropriate situation.

 

4.      Peer issues

(Integration of Core Knowledge; Critical Thinking; Effective Communication; Personal & Social Development)

 

4.1    Pharmacology

 

                                                            1.      Students will know risk  and protective factors in drug use.

                                                            2.      Students will know and understand the eight drug categories, drugs that are in  those categories and their effects.

                                                            3.      Students will understand the concept of chemical dependency.

                                                            4.      Students will know and understand the five stages of drug abuse.

 

4.2    Death and dying

 

1.      Students will know and understand the stages of grief and the process of healing.

 

4.3    Suicide and depression

 

1.      Students will be able to identify common symptoms of depression and indications of suicide.

2.      Students will know basic treatments available for depression.

3.      Students will be able to answer questions frequently asked by teens about suicide.

 

4.4    Eating disorders

 

1.      Students will be able to identify warning signs of potential eating disorders as well as types and consequence.

 

4.5    STD’s

 

1.   Students will identify types of STD’s , their symptoms, method of transmission  and treatment.

4.6    Teen Pregnancy

 

1.   Students will be aware of types of birth control  and their effectiveness.

2.   Students will know the definitions of the different types of sexual abuse and assault and know and understand the need to report.

3.    Will be aware that abstinence is the only sure form of birth control.

 

4.7    Relationships

 

1.   Students will understand  the relationship between violence and relationships.

2.   Students will know the  difference between physical and emotional violence.

3.   Students will understand and know the definition of rape and when to report an incident.

 

Instructional methods

 

1.      Group and individual activities

2.      Lecture

3.      Discussion

4.      Written exercises

5.      Tests and evaluations

6.      Guest speakers

7.      Role plays

 

Evaluation / grading of student work

(Integration of Core Knowledge; Critical Thinking; Effective Communication; Personal & Social Development)

 

1.      Attendance

 

a.       Students are expected to attend class regularly and should not   miss more than five class sessions during a semester.

b.      Tardies

 

2.      Class participation

 

3.      Class Journal/ portfolio

4.      Oral report/ class lesson on a topic concerning teens today

5.      Quizzes

6.      Tests

7.      Final exam