Ashley McCray Louise Cline Steven Cox Advisory Team Ashley McCray Louise Cline Steven Cox

Students and Teachers United Committed Efficient Searching Succeeding

Mission Statement Coolville Middle School strives to provide a challenging learning environment that promotes high expectations for success. This success is reached through interdisciplinary team instruction that allows teachers to prepare cooperatively taught interdisciplinary lessons involving shared objectives and concepts that are able to be explored by more than one discipline.

Why an Advisory Team? “the advisor ensures that each student is well known by at least one adult who is that youngster’s advocate.” (Stevenson, 2002) “the advisory ensures that no student slips through the cracks in terms of academic work for want of attention and interest from a responsible adult.” “It guarantees that every student has a peer group for more casual and serendipitous friendships, and it assures that regardless of how things are going in the rest of a youngster's school life, the advisor is "always there for me.”” “Doing things together is a reliable recipe for advancing interpersonal bonding in an advisory setting..” “It is vitally important to recognize that the areas of development – physical, intellectual, moral, psychological, and social-emotional – are inexorably intertwined, making the achievement of academic success highly dependent upon the other developmental needs also being met .” (Association, 2010)

Goals & Objectives Skills For Future Success Support Our Program Implements a Tutor/Mentor Setting That Provides Civic Responsibility A Sense of Belonging Academic Guidance Open Discussion Support Skills For Future Success

How Do we accomplish this? Our advisors and students will work together to plan activities, carry out service projects, and spend time discussing matters that that are important in students’ lives.

Roles of the Advisor Promote a safe learning environment Instill a sense of ownership Build self-esteem Advocate for the student Provide support and commitment through preparation and planning (Stevenson, 2002)

Roles of the Students Write a Code of Conduct Plan a Public Service Project Help Plan Activities Assign Responsibilities (Secretary, Treasurer, etc.)

Sample Logistical Design Days: Monday – Friday Times: 9:30-10:00 Planning Activity Discussion Project Prevention Days: Monday – Friday Times: 9:30-10:00 Place: Selected Advisory Rooms Advisory Leaders: Team Teachers, Exploratory Teachers, and Administration Number of Students: 12-15 Students Per Group Group Make Up: Homogenous Groups From Diverse Backgrounds Group Selection: Selected by Teaching Teams & Administration Head Advisory Leader: School Guidance Counselor

Why this Logistical Design? In order to build a strong foundation we feel it is important to have small groups of like gender adolescents. This allows the students to feel more free to discuss gender specific issues, insures that every student has a chance to express themselves, and gives every student a chance to find out his or her strengths and weaknesses in a safe environment. By having advisory teams composed of students from varying backgrounds, the students have a chance to overcome stereotypical thinking and can become better prepared for high school, college, and the workforce.

Curriculum Peer Pressure Respect Relationships Trust Bullying The goals of our advisory program include the opportunity to discuss and incorporate the following ideas, issues, topics, and skills: Honesty Citizenship Commitment Community Sex, Drugs, & Alcohol Academics Bullying Abuse Relationships Trust Fairness Fitness Respect Compassion Personal Growth Acceptance Peer Pressure

Activities 6th Grade Sponsor a Career Fair Food Drive Fundraiser for the Team Recycling Project Personal Hygiene 7th Grade Health and Wellness Nursing Home Project (Pen pals) Wellness Project Abuse Project Fundraisers for a School Organization 8th Grade Safe Driving Project Fundraiser for the Community Fundraisers for a School Organization Visit the Local High School Plan Overnight Trip & Fundraiser

Sources Cited: Stevenson Chris. (2002). Teaching ten to fourteen year olds. (3rd ed., pp. 320-321). Boston: A Pearson Education Company. DOI: www.ablongman.com Association, N. M. S. (2012). This we believe, keys to educating young adolescents. Westerville, OH: National Middle School Association.