School Counselors: Partners in Student Academic Achievement

1. School Counselors: Partners in Student AcademicAchievement By Irma Estrada-Lanier And Nuvia Dominguez

2. Overview • The focus of our workshop is to foster collaboration between parents and school counselors to assist students in reaching academic achievement and success.

3. Workshop Agenda • What is academic development • National Standards on Academic Development • Research • How do you set up this service • Counselors role in improving Academic development • Sample Parent Workshop Unit on Study Skills • Written & internet resources

4. Purpose To develop effective programs that empower parents and students. In order to reach more students, counselors must change the paradigm from service-centered for some students to program centered for every student.

5. Definition • Academic Achievement is important for the successful development of young people in contemporary American society. The academic development areas include: • acquisition of skills in decision making • problem solving and goal setting • critical thinking • logical reasoning • interpersonal communication • application

6. National Standards for School Counseling Programs

7. National Standards Academic Development These are standards that help guide the guidance counselor when implementing a program that fosters academic development. • Standard A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills • that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span. • Standard B: Students will complete school with the academic preparation essential to choose from a wide range of substantial post-secondary options including college. • Standard C: Students will understand the relationships of academics to the world of work and to life at home and in the community.

8. Academic Development: Standard A Student Competencies • Improve academic self-concept • Acquire skills for improving learning • Achieve school success

9. Academic Development: Standard B • Improve learning -apply critical thinking skills, study skills, seek information, understand learning styles, and become independent learners • Plan to Achieve Goals - apply interests to goal setting, use problem-solving and decision making skills

10. Academic Development: Standard C • Students will relate school to life experiences - understand that school success is the preparation to make the transition from student to community member - understanding the relationship between learning and work - understanding that learning is a lifelong process

11. What does research on Academic Development indicate?

12. Research Findings • Research has shown that students who do well in school are better able to make the transitions into adulthood and to achieve occupational and economic success. • A research project involving school counselors and students at the elementary, middle, and high school level demonstrated that school-counselor-led groups and classroom interventions were associated with a positive impact on student achievement and behavior (Brigman, G. & Campbell, C. (2003).

13. At one middle school site, after identifying students in need of academic assistance through a student data base query, school counselors met with teachers, students, parents and held skill building sessions in the areas of student skills and attitude. As you can see, it was quite effective, specifically at 8th grade where 72% of the students demonstrated GPA improvement.

15. Role of the Counselor • Identify students who are in jeopardy of failing through teacher referral. • Coordinate with teachers and parents. • Conduct a needs assessment. • Identify issues affecting academic achievement. • Develop strategies and interventions. • Conduct a post-assessment. • Follow-up

16. Setting up Service • Decide on specific targeted student population (ie. ESOL students who are struggling academically). • Collaborate with teachers to gather valuable information on student’s performance. • Invite student for a one-on-one session and discuss difficulties in class. • Send home a letter of invitation along with a questionnaire to assess the needs and concerns of the parents. • Follow up with a phone call to the home. • Choose a time that is convenient for most parents to meet. • Reserve a comfortable location with ample space to deliver workshop. • Post visible signs directing parents to location. • Greet parents cordially and thank them for participating. • Provide a written agenda so parents can follow along with the presentation.

17. Outline for Parent Workshop Presentation

18. Outline • Introduction of counselors • State purpose of workshop • Conduct icebreaker activity • Encourage an informal open discussion • Deliver workshop presentation • Conclude session with feedback • Provide time for questions/answers • Invite parents to enjoy refreshments

19. Parent Workshop Strategies for Developing Study Skills at Home

20. Six Steps for Successful Study Skill at Home • Step 1: Arrange a personal study area • Step 2: Help your child create a study schedule • Step 3: Determine the strengths and abilities your child already has • Step 4: Provide strategies and recommendations for better study habits • Step 5: Help your child accept responsibility • Step 6: Promote and encourage reading for pleasure at home

21. Arranging a personal study area • Brainstorm with your child the necessary conditions for an optimal learning environment. • Together create a list for the necessary learning conditions. These may include: -A quiet setting with no distractions -Bright lighting -Comfortable temperature -A desk to write on and store materials

22. Setting the Schedule • With your child set a weekly study schedule. • Look at the weekly schedule and fill in all activities for the week than help determine with your child the best study time. • Encourage your child to write down the beginning and ending time of the study period. • Praise your child for adhering to the schedule. Give incentives to maintain motivation.

23. What are your child’s strengths? • Observe your child’s study habits and Organizational skills. • Set time aside with your child and ask the following questions? -How do you study? What do you like most and least about studying? -What could help make studying easier? • Talk to your child’s teachers to find out their expectations and ask the following questions: -How much homework is assigned on a weekly basis? -How should the homework be turned in? -Are there specific skills that my child should be concentrating on when doing homework? -What are the consequences for late work?

24. Suggestions and Strategies for Better Study Habits • Help your child arrange in order all the assigned homework for that day with all required materials/textbooks. • Listen to your child as he/she reads the homework instructions. Encourage him/her to highlight keywords for better understanding. • Help your child familiarize himself with the organization and layout of the textbooks.

25. Help Your Child Accept Responsibility • Develop a contract with your child where you both agree to the conditions outlined. In the contract, your child promises to: -Prepare a weekly schedule -Follow through with the schedule -Complete and turn in homework on time -Ask for help only when needed • As a parent, you promise to: -Provide a quiet learning environment -Help in preparing the weekly schedule -Make sure your child has ample time to study -Offer assistance when needed and provide outside help -Motivate your child to reach his goals -Review the contract on a weekly basis

26. Encourage Reading for Pleasure • Read with your child a variety of materials of interest such as comic strips, sports articles, cereal boxes, etc. • Model reading for pleasure at home. • Praise your child when caught reading independently.

28. References American School Counselor Association. (2002). School Counselors: Partners in Education [Online]. Website: http://www.schoolcounselor.org Brigman, G. & Campbell, C. (2003). Helping students improve academic achievement and school success behavior. Professional School Counseling, 7 (2), 91-97. (EBSCO Academic Search Premier) Cook, J. B., Kaffenberger, C.J. (2003). Solution Shop: A solution-focused counseling and study skills program for middle school. Professional School Counseling, 7 (2), 116-123. (EBSCO Academic Search Premier) Crosswhite, L. & Araya, I. (1994). La Lectura y La Habilidad Para Estudiar en Casa. Manual Para los Padres. Massachussetts: Curriculum Associates, Inc. Wittmer, J. (1993). Managing Your School Counseling Program: K-12 Developmental Strategies. Minneapolis: Educational Media Corporation.

29. Resources for Parents • Binkley, Marilyn. Becoming a Nation of Readers: What Parents Can Do. Indianapolis, IN: D.C. Heath, 1988. • Gross, Jacquelyn and Leonard. Make Your Child a Lifelong Reader: A Parent-Guided Program for Children of All Ages Who Can’t, Won’t, or Haven’t Yet Started to Read. Los Angeles: Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc. 1986. • Lee, Barbara L. and Marsha K. Rudman. Leading to Reading: New Ways You Can Make Reading Fun for Children. New York: Berkley Publishing Group, 1983. • Mind Tools, Essential Skills for an Excellent Career. www.mindtools.com • Study Skills www.how-to-study.com

30. Resources for Counselors • Guidance Curriculum for the Comprehensive School Counseling Program, High School Academic Development. http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/curriculum/Guidance/index.html • A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement. http://www.sedl.org/pubs/catalog/items/fam33.html • American Student Achievement Institute. http://asai.indstate.edu/default.htm

31. Parents’ Needs Survey Pre-Assessment Questions: What do you expect to learn from this workshop? What aspect of the parent ladder provided do you find most difficult? Easiest to provide? Can you give some positive examples of how you have helped your children prepare for school or practice good study habits? What problems have you experienced in getting your child to study, read, and engage in other educational activities at home? Television is a major distraction for many students. What other distractions are present in your home or your community? Post-Assessment Questions: Numerous suggestions have been made today/tonight about helping your child with studying or homework. Do you feel comfortable with the roles suggested here for you as a parent? Have you found any tutors or special resources that you can share with other parents? Are you aware of other resources available here at our school? (ie. the afterschool tutoring program) What suggestions/recommendations can you provide us to include in a follow-up workshop session. 10. Are there any particular areas that you would like assistance with? (ie. Improving English literacy skills)