The student competencies below describe by grade level what students need to know and be able to do as a result of participating in a developmental guidance program.
Guidance programs facilitate student development in three broad content areas. These are identified as follows: Academic, Career, and Life Skills Development. Academic development is comprised of strategies and activities that support and maximize student learning. Career development provides the foundation for acquiring the skills, attitudes, and knowledge that enable students to make successful transitions from schools to post secondary choices. Life Skills development provides the foundation for personal and social growth that contributes to educational and career success. These competencies are linked to Gwinnett County’s Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS), the State Department of Education’s "List of Values and Character Education" (CE) and Quality Core Curriculum (QCC) as well as the American School Counselor Association National Standards (ASCA).
Goal: Academic Development: Academic Achievement, Educational Attainment and Lifelong Learning
Standard 1.A. - Acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to school success and learning across the life span.
Standard 1.B.- Complete school with the academic preparation essential to choose from a wide range of post-secondary education and career options.
Standard 1.C.- Make plans for successful transition and attainment of educational and career goals.
Goal: Career Development: Awareness, Exploration, and Planning
Standard 2.A. - Acquire skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions.
Standard 2.B.- Employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success and satisfaction.
Standard 2.C.- Understand the relationship between personal qualities, education, training, and the world of work.
Goal: Life Skills: Personal and Social Development
Standard 3.A.- Acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and interpersonal skills to understand and respect self and others.
Standard 3.B.- Make decisions, set goals, and take necessary action to achieve goals.
Standard 3.C.- Develop safety and survival skills.
Kindergarten Competencies
Academic Development (Standards 1.A., 1.B., 1.C.)
1. Learn the importance of using listening skills at all times in school. (KLA_A2005-2) (CE) (LA.K.1) (A:A2.3)
2. Follow classroom rules and be able to explain what those rules mean. (EMLA_A2002-2) (KSS_C1998-9) (CE) (A:B1.3) (PS:A2.1)
3. Follow spoken directions given in school. (EMLA_A2002-2) (CE) (A:B1.3)
4. Cultivate school success by taking responsibility for their actions (self-control). (KPE_D2002-12) (CE) (H.K.11) (A:A3.1) (PS:A1.8)
Career Development (Standards 2.A., 2.B., 2.C.)
5. Learn about various careers and occupations. (KSS_D1998-14) (CE) (SS.K.8) (C:A1.2)
Life Skills (Standards 3.A., 3.B., 3.C.)
6. Express feelings appropriately and recognize the connections between thoughts, feelings, and actions (ex. learning anger management skills) (KHE_G2002-8) (CE) (H.K.13) (PS:A1.5)
7. Develop positive attitudes towards self as a unique and worthy person. (KSS_C1998-7) (CE) (H.K.10) (PS:A1.1)
8. Identify and respect similarities and differences of others. (KHE_G2002-8) (CE) (SS.K.14) (PS:A2.3)
9. Explore the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touches. (CE) (H.K.24) (PS:C1.3)
2. Use listening skills to follow oral and written directions. (1LA_A2005-4) (1LA_B2005-17) (CE) (A:A1.5) (A:B1.3)
3. Accept mistakes as essential to the learning process. (CE) (A:A1.4)
4. Learn when and how to ask for help with schoolwork. (CE) (A:A2.3)
5. Demonstrate personal responsibility in following rules. (CE) (A:A3.1)
Career Development (Standards 2.A., 2.B., 2.C.)
6. Explore personal likes and dislikes as they relate to various careers and occupations. (EMLA_A2002-3) (CE) (C:C1.3)
Life Skills (Standards 3.A., 3.B., 3.C.)
7. Demonstrate respect for oneself as well as others. (CE) (H.1.12) (PS:A2.2)
8. Learn about ways to handle disagreements without fighting (conflict resolution). (1HE_G2002-8) (CE) (H.1.8) (PS:B1.6)
9. Learn how to make and keep friends. (1HE_G2002-8) (CE) (H.1.11) (PS:A2.8)
10. Recognize the difference between the feelings associated with appropriate and inappropriate physical contact. (1HE_B2002-2) (CE) (H.1.25) (PS:C1.3)
11. Identify strategies for stopping inappropriate touches including sexual abuse. (1HE_B2002-2) (CE) (H.1.26) (PS:C1.6) (PS:C1.1)
Second Grade Competencies
Academic Development (Standards 1.A., 1.B., 1.C.)
1. Demonstrate the ability to work independently and cooperatively with other students. (CE) (A:A3.2)
2. Practice effective listening skills in order to follow directions. (2HE_G2002-8) (CE) (A:B1.3)
9. Identify sources of positive and negative influences (peers, family, community, media.) (3HE_E2002-6) (CE) (PS:B1.8)
10. Use effective communication skills. (3EMLB_A2002-3) (CE) (H.3.9) (PS:A2.6)
11. Develop a healthy self-concept by making positive choices. (3HE_G2009-9) (CE) (H.3.10) (PS:A1.8)
12. Examine and practice safety skills including preventing/stopping sexual abuse. (3HE_B2002-2) (CE) (H.3.21) (PS:C1.3) (PS:C1.6)
Fourth Grade Competencies
Academic Development (Standards 1.A., 1.B., 1.C.)
1. Identify personal strengths and weaknesses to positively influence school performance. (CE) (A:A2.4) (A:A3.3)
2. Learn and apply test-taking strategies. (CE) (LA.4.60) (A:B1.3)
3. Utilize organizational and time management skills to complete school assignments. (CE) (LA.4.60) (A:A2.1) (C:A2.9)
4. Learn and apply goal-setting strategies. (CE) (A:B2.4) (C:A1.6)
Career Development (Standards 2.A., 2.B., 2.C.)
5. Explore how hobbies and personal interests relate to careers. (EMLB_A2002-15) (CE) (C:A1.8) (C:A1.9)
6. Use conflict resolution skills to solve problems effectively. (4HE_F2002-10) (CE) (H.4.10) (C:C2.2)
7. Learn how to prioritize time between work and leisure activities. (CE) (C:A1.10) (C:A1.7)
Life Skills (Standards 3.A., 3.B., 3.C.)
8. Accept responsibility and understand consequences for personal choices. (CE) (H.4.12) (A:A3.1) (PS:B1.2)
9. Learn effective strategies related to peer pressure. (4HE_F2002-10) (CE) (H.4.8) (PS:C1.9) (PS:B1.8)
10. Identify strategies to cope effectively with personal and classroom difficulties (conflict resolution skills). (4HE_F2002-10) (CE) (H.4.10) (PS:B1.4)
11. Recognize and appreciate differences in others (culture, ethnicity, students with disabilities). (4HE_F2002-11) (CE) (H.4.11) (PS:A2.3) (PS:A2.4)
12. Summarize and practice safety skills including preventing and stopping sexual abuse. (4H_A2002-1) (CE) (H.4.21) (PS:C1.3) (PS:C1.6)
Fifth Grade Competencies:
Academic Development (Standards 1.A., 1.B., 1.C.)
1. Apply time management and organizational skills to enhance personal and academic success. (CE) (A:C1.1) (A:B1.3)
2. Utilize study skills to help achieve goals and reduce test-taking anxiety. (CE) (LA.5.65) (A:B2.1) (A:B2.5)
3. Learn strategies to successfully transition to middle school (5HE_G2002-11) (CE) (H.5.18) (PS:A1.11)
Career Development (Standards 2.A., 2.B., 2.C.)
4. Identify how hobbies and personal interests influence possible careers and occupations. (5SS_G1998-36) (CE) (C:B1.2)
5. Develop skills to locate information about possible careers and occupations. (5SS_B1998-10) (CE) (C:B1.5) (C:B1.6)
Life Skills (Standards 3.A., 3.B., 3.C.)
6. Demonstrate skills needed to cope with challenges in daily life. (5HE_G2002-11) (CE) (H.5.18) (PS:C1.11)
7. Demonstrate behaviors needed to interact with peers effectively (friendship skills, avoiding peer pressure and bullying). (5HE_E2002-6) (CE) (H.5.5) (PS:A2.8) (PS:C1.9)
8. Demonstrate respect for and acceptance of differences in others (culture, ethnic, students with disabilities). (EMLB_B2002-18) (EMLC_B2002-13) (CE) (PS:B1.7)
9. Demonstrate the use of effective communication skills (verbal and nonverbal) in a variety of settings. (5LA_A2005-1) (CE) (PS:A2.6) (PS:A2.7)
10. Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate school behaviors. (CE) (PS:A1.6)
11. Identify neglectful, physical and sexually abusive situations and strategies for getting help. (5HE_B2002-2) (CE) (H.5.27) (H.5.28) (PS:C1.3) (PS:C1.6)
12. Understand the relationship between effective work habits (responsibility, punctuality, and effort) and the world of work. (5SS_G1998-36) (CE) (C:A2.8) (A:C1.6)