CEESA Counselor Conference April 5-6, 2013 Cathy Ottaviano, Grade 6-9 Counselor Social Emotional Learning and Advisory Approaches AISBucharest

Current Status of Advisory/Counseling Programs at AISB Planning and approvals for Our Program Initiatives of HS Peer Counseling and Social Emotional Experiential Learning Class Additionally we were involved in implementing the Olweus Bully Prevention Program School wide Peer Counselors HS Implemented Use Natural Helpers Program and modified it Teaches students to be better friends and refer to counselors more difficult problems Off campus retreat Thursday noon to Saturday noon and ongoing training Social Emotional Experiential Learning Class Implemented Grades 8 and 10 (Based on Rachel Kessler’s Soul of Education) Dedicated time in schedule 40 minutes twice a week, counselor taught Peer Facilitator conducted Advisory in Grades 6-7 Implemented after a false start initially Peer Facilitator conducted Advisory Planned for Grade 9

CEESA Counselor’s Conference April 5-6, 2013 MS Advisory Using Peer Facilitators

Initial False Start—Teachers Planning Advisory August/Sept 2012 started to work with teachers to plan advisory lessons with common planning time, etc First set of advisories devoted to Icebreakers and then planning fall field trip 6 advisories devoted to Anti bullying discussions (lessons already prepared) Did NOT work well—time to plan was a problem, teachers feeling overwhelmed, lack of buy in, etc

Enter Peer Facilitator Idea Peer Facilitator approach was suggested by one of our new teachers who came to us from ISManila. User friendly lesson using YouTube video to introduce the topic and then Peer Facilitators (PF’s) facilitate a discussion on the topic with the advisory group using Essential Questions PF’s used in their Grades 9 and 10, called G-Talks (short for Guidance Talks)—Counselor met with PF group at lunch to review each week’s G-Talk Decided that with modification this approach could work with Grades 6 and 7 Began training and implementation in second semester this year AISB calls it A-Talks (Advisory Talks), or Advisory Peer Facilitators

The Goals for Grades 6 and 7 Student centered facilitated lessons called A-Talks (Advisory Talks) on Guidance Topics using easy to use format with YouTube and other short videos Teachers assist with having You Tube video ready to go Student goals are to build deeper connections with each other through encouraging inclusion and building bonds among them Teachers help monitor student behavior in support of the peer facilitators and guide where needed

Logistics for Program Implementation Principal Approval of new Approach Announcement to teachers of new revamped approach Student survey of topics desired was conducted and tabulated Sought a strong Co-Leader Among Teachers Counselor and co-leader conducted 2 Morning 4 hour Workshops to Train Selected Students as Peer Facilitators Student selection by volunteers. Conducted meeting with teachers to discuss program, student training initiative and goals Began the program—students wanted to do ‘Ensemble Building’ first

Benefits of Peer Facilitator Approach Train students in Facilitation skills Students hone leadership skills Teachers don’t have to plan an additional lesson (just support) or do social/emotional lessons they are uncomfortable delivering Build teacher confidence subtly in delivering social emotional content Peers lead the way showing classmates the benefit of developing good connections and bonds with the group Students get to know each other in a deeper way than normal