Chapter 7: Integrating Play Techniques with Students Experiencing Academic Challenges

Academic achievement refers to students ’ skill development and overall understanding of information (Ebel & Frisbie, 1986). Academic problems can manifest in many different ways for students within the school setting. Students may have difficulty concentrating in class, engaging in class discussions, grasping concepts related to subject matter, or attending school regularly. Some signs of academic struggles include poor grades, low levels of class participation, incomplete assignments, refusing to attempt class work or not focusing on academic tasks, and low scores on standardized tests. Unfortunately, poor academic achievement in early grades can have a lasting impact on students’ psychosocial development and educational progress. Professional school counselors are in a unique position to address students’ academic and personal/social development through developmental guidance and responsive services within the delivery system of the American School Counselor Association National Model (ASCA, 2012). In this chapter, we discuss the effects of poor academic achievement and present practical play therapy techniques that school counselors can use to assist students in their development.