Student at risk of dropping out
While planning for inclusion should take an individual focus, it should also occur within
an ecological context
Students at risk of dropping out
• info
Teacher factors•awareness of student needs• provide structure and be explicit• teach general study skills •awareness of behavioral management discipline hierarchy
Physical environment factors•room lighting (artificial/natural)
•table arrangement
•student work displayed
Student factors•encourage students to use their own language/words
•prior knowledge/experiences
•hierarchy of needs (Maslow)•connection with content
Curriculum and resource factors•using alternative resources
•active and engaging activities
•human resources
•reinforcement through rewards
Toolbox
Activity choicesTopic Activity and explanation LinkCommunity definition
class brainstorm - explore the class’ understanding of a community
ATeenage communities
comprehension activity - students read an article and respond to questions individually
BSpatial inequalities
creative cartooning activity - students draw 3 cartoons to represent scenarios
CGlobal communities
ICT/visual activity - students watch YouTube clip and fill in a table of key differences
DOnline communities
reflection activity - students answer focus q’s about the role of facebook in changing communities
EAustralian communities
teacher-centred instruction using powerpoint slide-show of key definitions and visual aids
F
Class brainstorm
COMMUNITY
Comprehension activity
Creative cartooning
ICT / visual activity
Individual reflection
Teacher-centred instruction
Wrapping up...
• Not all tools are going to be “in classroom”
• Working within a department, a school and a system
• An example: Olivia....
Policy
ACT DET Policy website http://www.det.act.gov.au/
• Pregnant Student Policy and Implementation Guidelineshttp://www.det.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/19497/pregnant.pdf
• Canberra College Cares – Program for students that are pregnant or parenting – Year 10 and Year 12 Certificates – Flexible and on-line program– alternative education for students aged 14-21 years
• http://www.canberrac.act.edu.au/special_programs/cccares
RecommendationsIdentify :• your own tricks for your toolbox - for each of
the factors of the 'ecosystem‘• what your strengths are and what needs to be
further developed• what you're missing - and where to get them -
colleagues, departments, PD, “the hardware store”
• funding issues and possible sources for funding
ConclusionWays to reduce dropping out• mentoring of students at risk • providing support for students and families • focusing on vital literacy and numeracy skills for
students at risk • training and professional development for teachers
“Build on students strengths and maximise potential“ (Murik, 2002)