Prevention Topics in the Classroom

1. Prevention Topics in the Classroom Dana Quesinberry Genny Jenkins Rowan County UNITE Coalition Rowan County Schools Rowan County, KY

2. Presenter Information • Dana Quesinberry is the Executive Director for Rowan UNITE, a community anti-drug coalition. • 10 years of prevention experience • Also the mother of two teenagers, age 19 and 16 • Genny Jenkins is the gifted specialist for the Rowan County school system. • 16 years of teaching experience • Also the mother of three boys, ages 15, 12, and 10.

3. The Story of Our Collaboration

4. Background info: The Common Core • The Common Core Standards are the blueprint by which teachers plan their classroom instruction. • Included in the middle school standards are three types of writing (narrative, explanatory, and argumentative). • “Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence” • In elementary school, argumentative is called “opinion” and in high school it’s called “argumentative with analysis.”

5. Background Info: Program Review • Writing in schools – Program Review • WRITING: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES, Demonstrator 2d) Teachers regularly collaborate with community, business and postsecondary partners through advisory committees, work exchange programs and community groups with a focus on writing. • WRITING: CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, Demonstrator 2b) Curriculum integrates the strands of literacy (reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language use) across content areas to explicitly instruct and develop communication skills. • WRITING: CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, Demonstrator 2e) Curriculum provides opportunities for students to practice 21st century critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, problem- solving and communication skills and to connect these to real world experiences.

6. Background Info: The Classroom • 8th grade classroom • 20 students • High achievers/leaders

7. Description of Project • Guest Speaker • Presented as a neutral topic for consideration • Background information provided (very little online research) • Audience was legislators

8. Implementation of Project • Students used a graphic organizer to begin work. • They chose a stance and then argued their position. • Out of the 20 students, several of them wrote in favor of legalization. • Three of them wrote in favor of legalizing hemp as a crop.

9. Replication and Adaptation • What you need? • Interested teacher/administrator • Identified substance abuse prevention need • Creativity in integrating into subject matter • Other areas for integration of prevention in academic settings Health/physical education Communications/speech Family and Consumer Sciences Businesses classes Science class Social Studies Math & Statistics Even art and music

10. Barriers and Resolutions • Barriers to implementation of prevention strategies in schools • Level of expertise • Academic/instructional time vs. prevention programming • Disinterest by administration • Parental kick-back – “Don’t teach them about drugs” attitude • Others? • Strategies for resolution • Through the barrier – Be persistent! • Around the barrier – Be prepared, be factual, be persuasive! • Over the barrier – WIFM?

11. Resources • Genny Jenkins website: Rowan County Schools, click on Rowan County Middle School, Click on Teacher Websites • Common Core Website • Kentucky Program Review website • dana.quesinberry@rowan.kyschools.us • genny.jenkins@rowan.kyschools.us • www.rowanunite.org