A FREE COUNSELORA PRINTABLE
Free small-group counseling plan template
Turn a group idea into a practical sequence of sessions. This original three-page printable includes a blank six-session overview, a reusable session planner, and a completed example for grades 3-5. Choose a skill, plan repeated practice, and decide what you will look for as students learn.
The PDF is free. No account or email address required.
A small group, with a plan
Choose one teachable skill. Build practice across sessions. Leave room to adjust.
1. Plan the group
Group focus and grade band
Need or school context informing this group
By the end, students will be able to...
Schedule, session length, and participation arrangements
| Session | Skill or goal | Practice / materials | Check for learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | |||
| 6 |
2. Prepare each session
Session focus and observable goal
Opening and recall of the previous skill
Model and guided practice
Try it in a fictional school situation
Closing check and next step
What I noticed and what I will adjust
Group review: compare the same skill before and after. What will I revisit, and when?
3. See a completed example
Joining in and asking for help
Illustrative example · Grades 3-5 · Six 20-minute sessions
Students practice a respectful invitation that accepts no, and a specific request for adult help. Use the same two fictional scenarios at the beginning and end; note demonstrated independently, with a prompt, or not yet observed.
- Agreements and a first try
Agree on ways to participate and when adult help is needed. Invite a first try with two fictional scenarios.
Check: Record an initial observation of each target skill.
- Offer an invitation
Model inviting a classmate to join a shared activity or watch. Partners switch roles; observing is welcome.
Check: Can the invitation offer a choice?
- Respect the answer
Use role cards to rehearse yes, no, and maybe. Practice accepting the response without pressure.
Check: Can the student accept no and choose a next step?
- Ask for specific help
For a made-up assignment, say what you tried, where you are stuck, and what help would be useful.
Check: Is the request clear enough for an adult to respond?
- Try a flexible next step
Revisit an invitation and a help request. Rehearse what to do if a peer declines or an adult is busy.
Check: Can the student choose a workable alternative?
- Combine and revisit
Repeat the two opening scenarios. Make a reminder card with an invitation and a help request.
Check: Compare observations; name the next practice opportunity.
Session 4 timing: 3 minutes recall and check-in; 4 minutes model; 9 minutes paired practice; 4 minutes closing check. Adjust pacing and participation options to the group.
Two weeks later, offer a brief practice opportunity and ask which strategy was useful. Review observations with relevant colleagues and adjust support. Keep individual records in your school-approved system.
A few useful answers
Is this an official ASCA small-group plan?
No. It is an original Counselora planning aid, not an ASCA form or a substitute for your school’s required documentation. ASCA publishes its own Small-Group Plan and Data Report.
Does the PDF include a completed example?
Yes. Page three shows an illustrative six-session plan for joining in and asking for help in grades 3-5. It includes a skill goal, activities, practice checks, and a follow-up. It is a planning example, not an evaluated curriculum.
Can I edit or save this plan in Counselora?
The free PDF is designed for printing and writing by hand. Counselora also has a separate small-group planning tool for drafting and saving a group plan. It does not automatically import this PDF.
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