EDAD 854 Paper Presentation High School Reform: Advisory Program & Student Learning Styles By Jon Richards

“Our School, with family and community cooperation, promotes life-long learning to awaken, develop and enhance individual potential. Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools Mission Statement

Two strategies for high school reform from Breaking the Ranks II: Strategies for Leading High School Reform. First strategy implementing a comprehensive advisory program. Second strategy to accommodate student learning styles.

‘At its heart, advisory forces connection among students and the school community, creating conditions that facilitate academic success and personal growth. Intuitively, the program makes perfect sense’. Reino 2004

An advisory group will strengthen the relationship between the student and teacher, students begin to trust the teacher and create a sense of belonging for the student. Teacher, parent, and student would be involved in planning the high school plan and fulfill the student’s goal.

Creating communication between student, parent and teacher. Personal Learning Plan developed for each student, with input from student, parent and teacher. Promotes equity, all students would develop a plan regardless of socio-economical status and academic abilities.

Incorporate social skills, character education to become contributing members of society. Weekly advisory meetings between teacher and student. Quarterly meetings between teacher, student and parent.

Second Strategy: Accommodate each student’s learning style. ‘Creating a supportive environment that cultivates a student’s belonging, ownership of learning, and recognition of and ability to make good choices is crucial to the learning experience’. (NASSP 2008)

‘It is commonly believed that most people favor some particular method of interacting, taking in, and processing stimuli or information’. Wikipedia 2009 Each student take a learning styles assessment to determine their learning style. Each teacher would be given the results of the learning assessment of each student. Create and individual educational program for each student.

Teachers must teach to the student and not just the subject matter to be covered over a period of time. Require teachers to be more creative in lesson plans, group work, and allowing students to do test, homework, and other tasks according to their learning style strengths. Increased motivation by student and students master the outcomes of lessons.

Need to look at how to assist all students in the high school process and to have a sense of belonging and purpose. Advisor groups and teaching to personal learning styles increase all students to achieve in the classroom. Teachers do regard the individuality of each student and desire for students individuality for their high school experience and life experiences.

Students have accountability for their high school experience and development of social values. Creates a positive high school experience for students and ownership.