Counselors Affecting Change: Implementing an

Advisement Program

Kevin Custard and Jenn WalkerOctober 16, 2012

Objectives

• Learners will understand the purpose behind a successful advisory program, its implementation, and curriculum development

• Learners will understand the evolution of a successful advisory program

Omaha North High Magnet School

The mission of Omaha North High Magnet School is to prepare all students for success in life long studies and careers

Excels Goals: Students will advance on grade level each school year with

the goal of graduation in four years All students will demonstrate respect and responsibility for

others in the learning environment and school activities To improve reading comprehension in all content areas To improve numeracy in all content areas

By the Numbers

Enrollment 1800 Ethnicity

White – 45% African American –

45% Other – 10%

Certified Staff 119

Grad Rate ’02-’03 – 66.1% ’10-’11 – 71.05%

Poverty Percentage 61.46

Goals of a Quality Advisory Program

Create a caring school climate Building positive relationships Monitor the academic progress of students Promote critical thinking skills through discussion and

problem-solving activities Assist students in making responsible choices Assist students in accepting responsibility for their own

actions Advisors are well trained in the provided curriculum

Advisory is as important as AYP

Why is Advisory Important?

More one-on-one attention Develop a Personal Learning Plan Informed Course Selection Smoother transition between grade levels Career information More timely help available to students in need Develops positive school relationship between advisor and students

The relationship built in an advisory program is more important than the curriculum

Obstacles

Resistance to Change Fear of the Unknown Existing Rules and Traditions Advisor Training Scheduling/Space Past Experiences

Viking Time

This advisory program is a system in which certificated staff members are assigned to mentor a group of students

Advisors remains with group for four years of high school 15-18 students in each group Meets weekly for 30 minutes Wednesday is “Viking Time Day Schedule” Advisors include Administrators, Counselors, Teachers and

Curriculum Specialists

Viking Time was the winning advisory name developed by student submission

How to Achieve Success? Buy-In from:

Teachers Students Parents/Guardians Counselors Administrators

Advisory programs provide academic and emotional support to students

Getting Started Advisory Steering Committee Established HSTW Leadership Team Members

Attended the national HSTW conference in Nashville in 2008 Focused on advisement sessions Obtained info other schools’ advisement programs

Toured local schools in Omaha with successful advisement programs Addressed the importance of an advisory program during professional

development Jan Struebing (SREB) guided building leadership and provided

professional development regarding creation and implementation

Where We Started (‘07-’09)

Staff Surveyed About Grouping- size, mix,

continuity Schedule – length and

frequency Linking advisory to other

school programs Materials and resources

Staff Input Goals and Outcomes Content, themes, format Advisor – who, role and

expectations? Accountability- students,

staff and program

Advisory groups help the “Mid-Kid” most.

Developing a Curriculum

Compiled survey data Grade level specific lessons Staff modified/wrote lessons, borrowed other school’s advisory lessons,

paid in the summer Staff were trained on the curriculum before school resumed in August, by

assigned grade level

Units of Study (9th-12th)

Self Knowledge Life Skills Educational Development Work Ethics & Citizenship Career Planning Other

Grade Reports Student Conferences Scheduling Information Numeracy & Literacy Lessons

9th Grade Curriculum Ideas

Future goals Study skills Personal learning plan Decision-making skills Conflict resolution skills

Learning Styles Stress Management Reading Transcripts Calculating GPA Time management Communication skills

10th Grade Curriculum Ideas

Test taking skills Interest inventory Career Clusters Community Service Team Work

Character Building Study Skills Time Efficiency Graduation

Requirements

11th Grade Curriculum Ideas

Resume Job interview skills ACT or SAT College Search Technical School Military

Summer Opportunities Community Service Employment Exam Decision-Making Skills

12th Grade Curriculum Ideas

Credit Checks College applications Scholarships Financial aid Career Information Work ethics

Countdown to graduation Register to vote Military opportunities Community Colleges Specialty Schools

Grade Reports Students receive copies of the

reports sent home Students fill out progress

charts, problem solve, set goals

Student is always in the loop as to the status of their grades

Student Conferences One-on-one Ensures that an adult in the

student’s life has talked to them about grades.

Advisor can also help student problem solve, be advocate or support

Also a way for students to be praised/rewarded for progress, achievement

For All Grade Levels

Student Scheduling

January schedule is altered to be twice in one week to allow for students to select courses for the following school year

Guidance provides scripts for advisors to use to aide in this process

First day- students receive info, make initial selections Second day – selections are reviewed by advisor Counselors then have an individual conference Teachers are more aware of/invested in graduation

requirements HUGE IMPROVEMENT IN SCHEDULING!

Year One

Got it all together, and went for it! Graduation requirements presented as professional

development Growing pains with scheduling Quarterly grade-level advisor meetings

Evaluated program in general Evaluated curriculum

Advisors and students surveyed

Year Two

Ineffective advisors were reassigned Curriculum less paper intensive More back-up lessons Competitions

Door decorating Olympics Community involvement

Food time!! “If you like kids, you like Viking Time”

Year Three

No revisions to the curriculum Literacy/Numeracy Strategies included More student voting Teacher/student connections Testing assignments easier (PLAN, Explore) Grade level assemblies

The Future?

Literacy/Numeracy lessons required Second day for silent sustained reading? Continued evaluation/improvement Pep rallies by grade level/Viking Time Class of 2013 will be the first graduating class to have had

Viking Time all four years

BUCKSTARD Viking Time

Beck/Custard Viking Time is the best Viking Time at North High

“Our high school studies are important!” Division of labor Fun Stuff

Food Baby Pictures VT Challenges Field Trips Homecoming parade

The dorkier, the better. We are just ourselves!

Our Suggestions

Don’t rush Get staff input and buy-in all the way Continuous review Part of the school vocabulary Be yourself Don’t force advisor partnerships; use ones that already work Include all staff Have fun, form relationships!

Questions?

Kevin Custard – kevin.custard@ops.org Jenn Walker – jenn.walker@ops.org Viking Time Curriculum and a copy of this presentation are

available online at:

http://www.ops.org/high/north/About/VikingTime/tabid/1042/Default.aspx

Counselors Affecting Change:Implementing an Advisement Program