154. March Madness and School Counseling

March Madness already brings energy into our school buildings.

Students are talking about brackets.

There’s excitement.

Competition.

Predictions about who will win.

In this episode, I share how I take that same excitement and turn it into a college and career exploration experience that students find engaging and meaningful.

Because if there’s one thing I want students to feel about their futures, it’s this:

I want their future to feel exciting, not overwhelming.

So instead of basketball teams…

I create a Future Bracket Challenge.

As I tell my students during this lesson:

“What if your future had its own bracket?”

What if colleges competed for you?

What if careers battled it out?

And what if you got to decide what makes it to your Final Four?

In This Episode

• How to turn March Madness energy into meaningful college and career exploration

• The College Research Pennant Project and how it makes research feel celebratory instead of overwhelming

• The Career Research Pennant Project that helps students connect education pathways to real careers

• A Career Cluster Bracket Challenge that encourages critical thinking and reflection

• A Sweet 16 Skills Bracket that explores essential future workplace skills

• Reflection questions that help students identify what matters most in their future

These activities help students begin to see their future not as something distant or intimidating…

But something they can start exploring right now.

Resources Mentioned

Career Research Pennant Project

College Research Pennant Project

These ready-to-use templates include structured research sections and resource links, so students can focus on exploration rather than teachers building materials from scratch.

Grab the Show Notes: Counselingessentials.org/podcast

Join Perks Counseling Club Membership and get the lessons, small group and individual counseling materials you need. Join now and get your first month free when you sign up for 3 months!

Connect with Carol:

• TpT Store
• Counseling Essentials Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Elementary School Counselor Exchange Facebook Group
• Caught In The Middle School Counselors Facebook Group
• High School Counselor Connection Facebook Group

Mentioned in this episode:

Perks Membership