Enhancing Academic Support Through Advisory Time
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Presentation Transcript
Academic Support Providing Academic Support Services During Advisory
Academic Support We Were Already Providing • Study Table • After School for 30 minutes • All students can attend and are referred by counselors or teachers, but it’s mostly athletes • Transportation is a barrier • GEAR UP • Tutoring during lunch in computer lab • We averaged 0-2 students • Lunch was not enough time • Students needed their lunch time “break” mid-day
Using Advisory Time • Our school has Advisory “Flight Time” the first 30 minutes of each day. • Monday: Binder & Agenda Checks • Tuesday: Study Hall and GPS Student Guidance Forms • Wednesday: Growth Mindset, Goal Setting, Citizenship, Character Building • No Set Curriculum, we have a counselor attending Character Strong Training in Davenport on May 5th. • Thursday: Study Hall • Friday: Group Activities
Assistant Principal’s Idea • Use Educational Assistants (EA’s) as Tutors • 6 EA’s did not have assigned duties during Advisory. They report to the Advisory class of the teacher they assist 1st period, but do not have any assigned duties during that time. • Utilize the EA’s during Advisoryto provide academic support to students.
Identifying Students • We asked teachers to identify and recommend 1-2 students who: • Had numerous missing assignments • Would be open to participating • Would work well in the setting: • In Commons • 1:6 EA to Student Ratio
Informing Students & Parents • A letter was sent home with every student who was selected to participate. • The Assistant Principal attended nearly all the conferences of students who were selected. • We needed students and parents to have buy-in, so they could OPT OUT if they did not want to participate.
Gathering Missing Homework Teachers were asked to collect 1-2 missing assignments for the students and place them in the Missing Assignments bin.
The Evolving Plan • Plan A: Group students by missing work. • Plan B: Group students by grade. • Plan C: Assorted grade levels. • Plan D: No “groups”. Sit students separately and have EA’s checking in.
Even Better If… • Not identify the project to students or staff as “Missing Assignments”, but rather as “Academic Support.” • Present it to students as an “opportunity” versus a “punishment.” • Small incentives for completed work. • Have peer tutors. • Empower our EA’s to feel like leaders during this time. • Collect pre & post qualitative and quantitative data. To keep staff support, we need to show it’s working! • Incorporate activities to help students gain academic skills.