School Counselors: We ’ re in the Student Success Business NASAP Annual Conference Tucson, AR June 27, 2009 Greg Brigman, Ph.D. Paul Peluso, Ph.D. Florida Atlantic University

Overview Introduction of the Student Success Skills K-12 Model –Research Base –Program Components Demonstration and Discussion of Key Skills & Strategies

Setting Students up for Success Ready to Learn: K-1 Ready for Success:2-3 Student Success Skills:4-10 Parent Success Skills:2-10

What do they have in Common? Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from what you can do. Pat Summit John Wooden UT UCLA

Fundamentals and Teamwork Your playbook alone will not get you there. You must work on fundamentals and teamwork everyday.

Three Keys to Building Academic and Social Competence Skills: Cognitive, Social and Self-management Attitudes: Healthy Optimism, Self Efficacy Climate: Caring, Support, Encouragement

Embedding key skills and strategies into the daily curriculum to make the “ learning net ” tighter.

Student Success Skills Five classroom lessons Introduce student to the 20 SSS strategies Begin early in the fall So students have a tighter fishing net all year SSS strategies are embedded Into the regular curriculum to assist learning

Research Base for Student Success Skills: Five Key Reviews Of Research Wang, et al. (1994) Reviewed 50 years of research on “What helps students learn” Hattie, Biggs & Purdie (1996) Reviewed 10 years of research on “The effects of learning skills interventions on student learning” Masten & Coatsworth (1998) Reviewed 25 years of research and identified “The most critical factors associated with academic and social competence” Marzano, et al. (2001) Reviewed 10 years of research on “Classroom instruction and summarized research-based strategies for increasing student achievement” Zins, et al. (2004) Reviewed 10 years of research on “The relationship of social and emotional learning to academic success”

Student Success Skills: Key Skill Areas Goal setting and progress monitoring Creating a caring, supportive and encouraging classroom Cognitive/Memory skills Performing under pressure: Managing test anxiety Building Healthy Optimism

What happens when you teach these fundamental skills to students? Very encouraging results Rigorous research design gives us a high level of confidence in results

National Panel for Evidence-Based School Counseling Programs Carey, Dimmitt, Hatch, Lapan, & Whiston (2008). Professional School Counseling. Found “Strong and Promising” evidence for Student Success Skills program

SSS Efficacy Research Four studies 50 school counselors 36 schools - two counties Over 1100 students Grades 5,6,8,9 All four studies found students who receive the SSS program outperform comparison students.

RTL Efficacy Research Three studies Pre-K Head Start Kindergarten First Grade All three showed similar trends of positive gains for students in RTL classes compared to those not receiving RTL.

SSS Efficacy Research 15 published articles on SSS and RTL in leading professional journals. Two national award winning research articles

Consistent Findings: Standardized math scores improved for approximately 86% of SSS students. Average increase was 30 pts for SSS students VS. 5 for comparison students. Standardized reading scores improved for approximately 78% of SSS students. Average increase was 25 pts for SSS students VS. 7 for comparison students. Follow-up study shows SSS students continue to make similar gains two years after participating in the program.

Student Success Skills: Key Skill Areas Goal setting and progress monitoring Creating a caring, supportive and encouraging classroom Cognitive/Memory skills Performing under pressure: Managing test anxiety Building Healthy Optimism

Study Break – Brain Gym We learn better when our brains are awake and alert

Goal setting and progress monitoring (cont.)

4 Steps for Life Skills & 7 Keys Ask students to look at item on Life Skills or 7 Keys goal sheet & Rate progress for that week. Next ask “Who has improved even a little during the past week?” Ask for examples from 1-2 students. “Tell us what you did to improve” “How many of you agree that would be a healthy way to improve_____?” Ask volunteer to read next item and continue pattern for rest of items

Goal Set Sequence THINK WRITE PAIR SHARE VOLUNTEER SHARE

Creating a caring, supportive, encouraging classroom community

Four Key Skills Embedded into Pair Share Attending Listening Empathy Encouragement

Pair Shares & Information Processing Ah ha’s – New ideas, strategies Ta da’s – Validation of ideas or strategies with which you have had success Questions for clarification

Student Success Skills: Key Skill Areas Goal setting and progress monitoring Creating a caring, supportive and encouraging classroom Cognitive/Memory skills Performing under pressure: Managing test anxiety Building Healthy Optimism

Coyote Story

Building a Caring supportive, Encouraging Community What are other strategies you have used to build caring, supportive and encouraging community? Think, pair share, volunteer share

Student Success Skills: Key Skill Areas Goal setting and progress monitoring Creating a caring, supportive and encouraging classroom Cognitive/Memory skills Performing under pressure: Managing test anxiety Building Healthy Optimism

Strategies for Boosting Memory Every minutes student share “Most important ideas” Think, write, pair share, volunteer share Location Memory Brain Gym

Body Location Memory Pegs Ten top foods for health: Blueberries Nuts Salmon Broccoli Bananas Frozen Yogurt Olive Oil Brown Bread Spinach Tomatoes

Safe Place Use your imagination to create a safe place.

Breathe, Picture, Focus Breathe in slowly to count of 5, hold for count of 5, exhale to count of 5 Picture yourself in your “Safe Place” Focus on your strategy for the task at hand

Kaizen Japanese Continuous and never ending improvement The ability to notice even very small improvements in ourselves and also in others

Kaizen Little by little, Bit by bit, I’m improving, Everyday

Student Success Skills: Key Skill Areas Goal setting and progress monitoring Creating a caring, supportive and encouraging classroom Cognitive/Memory skills Performing under pressure: Managing test anxiety Building Healthy Optimism

Optimism One of the greatest predictors of student academic success is their level of healthy optimistic thinking. Seligman (1995).

Optimism Don’t doubt your ability Doubt your strategy If what you are doing is not working Try Something Different!!!

Optimism Can Be Learned We can help students learn optimism by teaching them to: Use cognitive, social and self- management strategies Set realistic goals Notice even small improvements Outcome: Students see that what they do makes a difference and become more optimistic and resilient.

Student Success Skills Five classroom lessons Introduce student to the 20 SSS strategies Begin early in the fall So students have a tighter fishing net all year SSS strategies are embedded Into the regular curriculum to assist learning

Students Fishing for Higher Achievement Help students get a tighter net Tighten their net with Cognitive, Social and Self- Management Skills

Pair Shares & Information Processing Ah ha’s – New ideas, strategies Ta da’s – Validation of ideas or strategies with which you have had success Questions for clarification

Parent Success Skills Parent Success Skills: Building a Community of Caring, Support and Encouragement

Parent Success Skills PARENTS DO MATTER!! According to Christenson (2003): A good family-school connection increases the probability that students will be successful in school. The goal of family-school connections for children ’ s learning must be to create a culture of success that enhances learning experiences and competencies across home and school and underscores that the partnership means shared goals, contributions and accountability (p. 457).

Parent Success Skills Correlation with National PTA Standards 1.Communicating - Communication between home and school is regular, two-way, and meaningful. 2.Parenting- Parenting skills are supported and maintained. 3.Student Learning- Parents play an integral role in assisting student learning. 4.Volunteering- Parents are welcome in the school, and their support and assistance are sought. 5.School Decision Making & Advocacy- Parents are full partners in the decision that affect their children and families. 6.Collaborating with Community - Community resources are used to strengthen schools, families, and student learning.

Parent Success Skills Goals of the Program 1)Improving student academic and social performance by increasing child ’ s exposure of and mastery of “ Student Success Skills ” (SSS) 2)Proving parents with proven, effective tools 3)Fostering family wellness.

Parent Success Skills Schedule for Each Session Part 1 : Overview of the Student Success Skills Program (45 minutes) Part 2 : Parent Success Skill (45 minutes)

Parent Success Skills Paired Parenting Skills Topics Session 1: Understanding your child ’ s behavior Session 2: Parenting with style: Guiding your child through life skills. Session 3: Building Optimism Through Encouragement and Refocusing. Session 4: Communicating IS the heart of the matter!

Parent Success Skills Paired Parenting Skills Topics Session 1: Understanding your child ’ s behavior Parenting Skill- Understanding the Goals of Behavior Attention, Power, Revenge, Demonstration of Inability Discussing Connection to Belonging (Adler/Dreikurs) SSS Principle- 7 Keys to Mastering Any Course As new ideas are incorporated, misbehavior may increase. 7 Keys and Understanding Goals help reduce tension.

Parent Success Skills Paired Parenting Skills Topics Session 2: Parenting with style: Guiding your child through life skills. Parenting Skill- Understanding Your Parenting Style “ Hands On ”, “ Hands Off ”, and “ Guiding Hands ” Discussing Consequences of Each Holding “ Guiding Hands ” (Family) Meetings ( Adler/Dreikurs) SSS Principle- Life Skills Having the family practice goal setting and progress monitoring. “ Guiding Hands ” approach allows children to see parents struggle, and celebrate together.

Parent Success Skills Paired Parenting Skills Topics Session 3: Building Optimism Through Encouragement and Refocusing. Parenting Skill- Using Encouragement How encouragement focuses attention on the child How to properly use encouragement DO WE REALLY NEED TO SAY IT??? ( Adler/Dreikurs) SSS Principle- Teaching Healthy Optimism Healthy Optimism Leads to Academic Success Optimism “ Cheer ” “ Imagine, Practice, Start Over, You are Very Close ”

Parent Success Skills Paired Parenting Skills Topics Session 4: Communicating IS the heart of the matter! Parenting Skill- Effective Communication Strategies Problem-Solving, Brainstorming, and Sharing Choosing solutions and putting them to use SSS Principle- Listening with Eyes, Ears, and Heart Have parents decide what the family would look, sound, and feel like if they were communicating respectfully. Understand and using Pair-Sharing Techniques to increase communication Cognitive reframing mistaken beliefs.

Cognitive Reframing That ’ s not like me to______ I ’ m usually more_________ OR Up until now I__________ From now on I __________

Parent Success Skills PARENTS DO MATTER!! In SSS, Students are taught that success in Academic Achievement requires a certain set of skills. Success in Parenting also requires a certain set of skills. In SSS, Students are taught that they can constantly improve their strategies. Parenting is also something that can be constantly improved. In SSS, Students respond rapidly and positively to changes in the classroom. Changes in parenting can also lead to rapid and positive changes in families.

Helping Students Develop the Skills They Need to Succeed –What do you most want to take away with you from this presentation? –Share with a partner –Discuss any questions you have

School Counselors: We ’ re in the Student Success Business www,studentsuccessskills.com Greg Brigman, Ph.D. Paul Peluso, Ph.D. Florida Atlantic University