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Crisis Intervention, Fights with Friends, and "My Teacher Sent Me:" Data Collection on Unscheduled Sessions

4/28/2014

13 Comments

 
Because my district is REALLY struggling financially and I'm the newest of only four school counselors, I figured it would be wise for me to have information on hand to show how much of my job involves crisis intervention or dealing with the unscheduled and unexpected.  

Before the start of the school year I made a Google Doc form for that purpose.  I've been spending maybe 5-10 minutes after school entering the name and general presenting issue of whoever has shown up at my door that day.  That version has been okay, but it doesn't quite capture everything I want to track.  

So I created a new form to collect data on the number of unscheduled kids I see, how those kids get to me, how much time I'm spending with them, and (super important from a CYA standpoint) whether these sessions with kids in crisis are forcing to miss any of my kids on IEPs or 504s.
Much of the information will go on my end-of-year report next year. Some is just to satisfy my own curiosity.  Some is to have on hand in case anyone (besides one 4th grade wiseguy) believes that I choose to avoid them by sitting in my office with the door shut "reading romance novels."  As if!

I prefer thrillers or historical fiction.

Anyway, I liked what I came up with, especially since entering data on "drop-ins" is already part of my daily routine.  I imagined plenty of other people might like to collect similar data.  The problem was that I could not for the life of me figure out how to share a GDoc form so that all of you could have it and change it to suit your needs without messing up my original.

Enter my new hero, Jeff Ream from The Counseling Geek.  I watched a couple of his Google Docs tutorials and decided to e-mail him and ask for help.  He not only figured out a clever way to share forms, he even made another video tutorial about it!

If you'd like to check out my data-collection form and use it as a basis for your own, give it a try.  The crucial thing to remember is that you have to make a copy of mine (rename it so you don't get confused), then make any changes you'd like on the copy.  That way you'll have yours and I'll have mine.  To set up the spreadsheet for your responses, open your copy, click on "Choose Response Destination" in the top bar, then "New Spreadsheet." Done!

If Google Docs is an enigma to you, check out Jeff's tutorials.  Let me know how you fare.  Good luck!
13 Comments
Melodi Howard
6/24/2014 12:27:26 am

Hi Ms. Mendoza!
Thank you so much for sharing your Google Doc. I created a data tracker based on your copy and I know it's going to be a valuable tool this upcoming school year. I am beyond thrilled and so excited to use it! This was my first time creating a document using Google Docs so I hope that I did it correctly and didn't interfere with anything that you've created. Thank you again for creating this form and sharing it with fellow school counselors. I truly appreciate it!

Reply
Laurie Mendoza
6/24/2014 09:54:47 am

That's great news, Melodi---I'm so glad you think it will help. You'll find that Google Docs is going to help you do a lot of great stuff, and the more you use it, the easier it gets. E-mail me if you have any trouble though. Good luck!

Reply
Lana Liggett
8/29/2014 07:01:24 am

I love your website!! I created my first Google doc today using your minute meeting form. However I tried to copy the above mentioned form on data collection and there was not an option to make a copy. It wasn't highlighted. Do you have any suggestions?

Reply
Laurie Mendoza link
8/29/2014 08:37:45 am

Hi Lana,

Hmm, I'm not sure what's happening. If you open the form and then click on "File" at the far upper left corner, "Make a copy" should be one of the options available. I don't know why it didn't work for you, especially if you were successful with the Minute Meeting one.

Anyway, if it still doesn't cooperate, try using this link to get to the form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SvUZaoLdFWR1GGsq7619SNcqeNJoD3S3MOs0TJIKeUg/edit?usp=sharing

Anyone with the link can edit (i.e., make a copy for yourself then edit the copy), so that should take care of the problem. If it doesn't, let me know. Not that I'd know what else to do, but still... :-)

Sorry for the technical difficulties! And thanks for visiting!

Reply
Carol Huck
9/20/2014 11:32:08 am

Hi Laurie,
I discovered your blog today and took advantage of your generous offer to share your Time Analysis document. Like you mention, I know it is just a matter of time before Administration is going to require something like this to support my value to our school. I really appreciate it. I am dipping my toe in the world of Google Docs and this will be my third item. Thanks again. Carol
ps - love your customer comments

Reply
Laurie Mendoza link
9/20/2014 10:26:46 pm

Thanks, Carol! I'm very glad you found my site, and I'm hoping that you'll find other helpful things here as well. Don't be a stranger--come back again soon! :-)

Reply
Ashley Harrell
9/15/2015 12:27:36 pm

I am just starting to use google docs and ran across the one you created above for Data Collection! I am wondering how I input the information? I've saved it to my drive; however, every time I open it, it is to edit. I do not want to edit! Any advice? Thanks so much! Loving this gem of a blog!

Reply
Laurie Mendoza
9/15/2015 03:05:27 pm

Hi Ashley,

Aww, thanks so much for your kind comment!

If you have COPIED my form to your drive, it should be okay for you to edit it. Try changing the name of the file, then you can go back to my original and make sure it wasn't affected. I believe though that once you've made a copy and it's on your own drive, nothing you do will show up anywhere but your copy.

Good luck! And thanks so much for stopping by.

Best,
Laurie

Reply
Amanda
1/7/2019 12:20:17 pm

Hi, I came across your post while looking for better ways to track my time. When I click on the link above to your google form, it takes me to a form called Facts and Myths of Bullying....do you still have the original form you created for tracking your time?

Thank you!

Reply
Laurie Mendoza
1/10/2019 04:26:07 am

Hi Amanda,

Argh, someone didn't follow my instructions and *completely* changed the form. I'm going to have to re-create it and post a new link, which is going to take some time. I'll see if I can get to it over the weekend. Thanks for pointing this out to me!

Reply
Carla
1/31/2019 01:05:52 pm

Data collection form! Have you had a chance to correct the link yet. I got the Bullying form when I checked it!
Thanks

Amanda
1/31/2019 02:23:54 pm

Frustrating! Thank you for your time!

Rachel
3/18/2019 09:20:12 am

Hi. Can you upload the data collection file? I see a bullying myth questionnaire. Thx!

Reply



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    Laurie P. Mendoza, 
    MA, CAGS

    I've been an elementary school counselor in Massachusetts for almost 20 years, so have a lot of opinions on everything!

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  • Program Planning
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    • Activities for Kids on the Autism Spectrum
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    • Activities for Anxious Kids
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