Linda Bonsall, Renae Pieters, and Rick Horne
School Counselors
Delaware County Christian School
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Tools are just that—tools! They are usually only as good as the craftsman who handles them. That’s the way it is with the resources listed below. Some are from Christian authors; others are not. The critical component is the context that the teacher, administrator, or anyone with school counseling responsibilities creates to use these tools. Teachers or counselors must be thoughtful about the worldview, or hidden curriculum, that may be contained in these materials. Nonetheless, we have used many of these resources to encourage biblical thinking in our elementary and middle school students.
Each of these tools can be used in a group or classroom guidance setting. No special counseling training is necessary in most cases. The love of Christian school teachers for their students, along with their skill in leading discussions, equips them to be helpful in these growth areas.
For conflict resolution:
The Young Peacemaker curriculum, Peacemaker Ministries
For handling bullying:
The Wounded Spirit by Frank Peretti, Word Publishing
Video: Understanding and Coping with Bullies, Jaguar Educational
For sexually related issues:
God’s Design for Sex series by Stan and Brenna Jones, NavPress
Book 1: The Story of Me for ages 3–5
2: Before I Was Born for ages 5–8
3: What’s the Big Deal? Why God Cares about Sex for ages 8–11
4: Facing the Facts: The Truth about Sex and You for ages 11–14
Learning about Sex series, Concordia Publishing House
Book 1: Why Boys and Girls Are Different
2: Where Do Babies Come From?
3: How You Are Changing
4: Sex and the New You
5: Love, Sex, and God
6: How to Talk Confidently with Your Child about Sex
For girls ages 10–14:
The Body Book: It’s a God Thing! by Nancy Rue, Zonderkidz
The Beauty Book: It’s a God Thing! by Nancy Rue, Zonderkidz
Videos: Date Rape and Why Abstinence, Educational Video Network
For grief:
How It Feels When a Parent Dies by Jill Krementz, Alfred A. Knoph
Help for People in Pain, Handi Vangelism, 237 Fairfield Avenue, Upper Darby, PA 19082-2299
Kids Caught in the Middle, workbook for children and workbook for teen, part of the Fresh Start series by Gary Sprague, Oliver-Nelson Publishers
For anger management:
Anger … Escaping the Maze by David Powlison, Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing
The Anger Workbook by Les Carter and Frank Minirth, Thomas Nelson Publishers
For study skills and motivation:
Seven Habits of the Highly Effective Teen by Sean Covey, Simon and Schuster
Test SMART by Gary W. Abbamont, Center for Applied Research
Homework without Tears by Lee Canter and Lee Hausner, Canter & Associates
Ending the Homework Hassle by John Rosemond, Andrews and McMeel
Some general guidance and counseling-related resources:
Right from Wrong: What You Need to Know to Help Youth Make Right Choices by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler, Word
Watchman on the Walls: Praying Character into Your Child by Anne Arkins and Gary Harrell, Multnomah Publishers
Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling, 3rd ed., by John G. Kruis, Baker Books
Me, My Work, My Future, Teen-Aid, Inc., 509-328-2080
Changing Lives seminar, Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation, 1803 East Willow Grove Avenue, Glenside, PA 19038
Teaching toward Solutions: A Practical Solution-Focused Program for Working with Students,
Teachers, and Parents by Linda Metcalf, Jossey-Bass
Resources for Elementary and Middle School Guidance and Counseling 6.2