An investigation of school counsellors? consultations with classroom teachers and classroom guidance teachers at primary schools

The purpose of this study was to examine differences between the ideas of counsellors, classroom teachers and classroom guidance teachers about counsultation services according to gender, age, the years of experience and graduation field. Nineteen counsellors, 167 classroom teachers and 100 classroom guidance teachers at 17 primary schools in Seyhan and Yureğir central dictrict of Adana participated to the study. This study was conducted at two stages of quantitative and qualitative research designs. In the first stage participants completed a questionnaire named as Assessement of Consultation Services. In the second stages four counsellors, eight classroom teachers and eight classroom guidance teachers chosen from the participants filled the questionnaire were interviewed by using a semi-structured interview schedule developed by the researcher.The results of the study showed that there were differences between counsellors? ideas of consultative works in six items in favor of counsellors experienced more than 11 years. A difference was also found between the opinions of classroom guidance teachers in favor of teachers who worked with 500-1500 students at school. Classroom teachers and classroom guidance teachers? views of consultation in five items were significantly different in favor of classroom guidance teachers.According to the findings of interviews counsellors mainly consult with teachers for classroom guidance activities, dealing with behavioural problems and preparing individual education program for some students. Similarly, classroom teachers and classroom guidance teachers get help from counsellors for low achieving students, behavioural problems and family problems. They admitted that counsellors help them by interviewing with students and parents, collecting information about students from teachers, referring students to other helping institutions when needed. The majority of teachers thought that the help provided by counsellor were effective in solving problems. It was clear that there was not any consultation model followed by counsellor. In other words they have not enough information/knowledge about consultation models. Counsellors mainly consult with teachers by interviewing with teachers, organising meetings and seminars for sharing their knowledge in several issues.Key Words: consultation, psychological counsellor, classroom teacher, classroom guidance teacher.