MED7708 CURRICULUM LEADERSHIP

ADVISORY PROGRAM PRESENTATION

Cheryl Cresci

What is an Advisory Program? A Program to Connect Teachers &

Students A “Reach Out” to All Kids

Why Have Advisory?

Fact: One student every 26 seconds drops out of school….

A. Seconds B. Minutes C. Hours D. Days

Some Current Facts:

Dropouts make up nearly half the heads of households on welfare.

In the U.S., high school dropouts commit about 75 percent of crimes.

The dropout problem is likely to increase substantially through 2020 unless significant improvements are made.

America’s high school graduation rate ranks 19th in the world. (Forty years ago, we were number one.)  :DoSomething.org (n.d.) 11 Facts About Dropping Out Retrieved from

http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-dropping-out

Research- Generally, studies have shown that

students who don’t feel an attachment to school staff are likely to have poorer attendance and to drop out more than students who feel that they are part of a supportive school environment.

Advisory programs claimed improved achievement, school climate, planning and goal setting, teacher and student relationships, fewer failing grades, improved test scores, better attendance, reduction in dropouts, and attitude improvement (Myrick & Myrick, 1990). 

Arhar & Kromrey (1993) emphasized the importance of social bonding for potential drop-outs and other students who have few quality relationships elsewhere.

Parents Highest Level of Education

2000 2003 2005 2007 2009

Didn’t finish H.S.

253 257 259 263 265

GraduateH.S.

261 267 267 270 270

Some education after H.S.

277 280 280 283 284

Graduated College

286 288 290 292 295

Average Scaled Score Math ~8th Grade Students

ies National Center For Educational Statistics Digest of Education Statistics Retrieved from: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d09/tables/dt09_138.asp

National Assessment for Educational Progress

Developing

A.I.’sAdvisoryProgram

Who is on the Advisory Committee?

Sam Golder- Administrative Liaison

Laura Fitzgerald- Guidance Liaison

Want to join? See Sam or

Laura

How long will it take develop and implement Advisory? Fall 2007—Develop Advisory

curriculum January 2008—Revise Spring 2008—Publish

curriculum, Teachers preview lessons, Volunteer teachers will try out lessons in their classes, Teacher training

Summer 2008—Determine schedule and other logistics, Final revision of lessons

August 2008—Teacher training SY2008-2009—Full

implementation

How will this really work?

Advisory will meet once every week. Period will last 30 minutes. Students will be grouped by grade

and will stay with the same advisor each year.

15-20 students per group. Curriculum, lessons, materials,

detailed training will be provided for teachers!!!

All staff will have an advisory class

Scope Curriculum Designed Principle- C.A.T.S.

Connecting A.I. Teachers with Students

Provide a caring adult within the high school setting to advise and direct students with methods that will allow them to succeed academically, socially, and culturally, now and in the future.

So what might the themes of our Advisory lessons be? Introduction to

A.I. Conflict

Resolution Successful

“Students” Employment

skills Goal Setting Improving

Organizational Skills

College Preparations

Career Exploration

Communication skills

Personal Safety/Responsible Decision Making

Citizenship Time

Management Testing Tips

What student needs do we feel should be addressed? Appropriate social skills Communication skills Efficient study skills Appropriate decision making methods Effective, non-violent problem solving skills Being proactive—not reactive Development of post high school/long term

goals Sense of belonging/connection to school Acceptance of differences

Sequence

Teachers are provided with specific themes for each grade level 9th,10th,11th, & 12th.

Teachers are provided with a guide at beginning of year showing the sequence to present each lesson within each grade level.

Lessons Provided to teachers by email the week

before the Advisory class by coordinator.

Assessment No formal assessment for students Advisory coordinator relies on informal

feedback from teachers. Advisory coordinator has sent out 1-2

surveys to staff for feedback.

Revisions to Program After the First Year:

Administration- no longer has a class of their own.

Classes only meet 2-3 times a month Lesson plans were revised with Advisory

Committee After the Third Year:

Classes only meet 10 times a year

Success with the Program Teachers have talked to the Advisory

coordinator and shared their success stories for students in their advisory group

What’s really happening?Current problem:

Only 50% of teachers teach the provided lessons. 25% Create their own Advisory lessons. 25% Use it as study hall.

Teachers feel it is just one more thing they have to do Overwhelmed with Race to the Top, PD 360, DPASII Not a high priority SSP- Student Success Plan (required)- squeezed

into Advisory

What to do?Drop the Program….

Revised the Program Again…

Teachers expressed interest in Theme Based Advisory- too difficult with 1450 Kids for scheduling

Resources: Grin Publish and Find Knowledge. (n.d.) Student and Teacher Perspectives of the

Effectiveness of High School Advisory Program and the Sense of Belonging: Excerpt. Retrieved from: http://www.grin.com/en/doc/229739/student-and-teacher-perspectives-of-the-effectiveness-of-a-high-school

Makkonen, Reino. (2004). Advisory Program Research and Evaluation. Retrieved from: http://www.essentialschools.org/resources/282

  Copyright 1999. National Middle School Association. (n.d.) NMSA Research Summary

#9 Advisory Programs Retrieved from: http://www.ncmsa.net/ressum9.htm

DoSomething.org (n.d.) 11 Facts About Dropping Out. Retrieved from: http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-dropping-out

ies National Center For Educational Statistics Digest of Education Statistics. (n.d.) Retrieved from: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d09/tables/dt09_138.asp