PRoBE Presentation 6 th grade Study Skills Kristin Budzyna Cherokee Middle School Springfield Public Schools COU 783, Spring 2010

SIMS Students: 6 th grade students who indicated at the beginning of the school year that they would like help with study skills Students: 6 th grade students who indicated at the beginning of the school year that they would like help with study skills Interventions: Counselor met with group for 6 weeks, 30 minutes per week Interventions: Counselor met with group for 6 weeks, 30 minutes per week Measurements: Progress reports, attendance, and referrals were compared before and after group was completed Measurements: Progress reports, attendance, and referrals were compared before and after group was completed Settings: Counselor met with group for 30 minutes, meeting 6 weeks at Cherokee Middle School in a conference room Settings: Counselor met with group for 30 minutes, meeting 6 weeks at Cherokee Middle School in a conference room

Purpose of Interventions The purpose of this group was to give students study skills to improve grades. It focused on study habits and how to better study for tests; as well as the completion of assignments and organization. The purpose of this group was to give students study skills to improve grades. It focused on study habits and how to better study for tests; as well as the completion of assignments and organization.

Pre-group Preparation Students were self-referred at the beginning of the school year via a questionnaire distributed by the counselor Students were self-referred at the beginning of the school year via a questionnaire distributed by the counselor Permission slips were sent home and all were returned Permission slips were sent home and all were returned

Students Selected All 6 th grade students at Cherokee Middle School All 6 th grade students at Cherokee Middle School One was selected as a role model One was selected as a role model 2 females, 4 males 2 females, 4 males

Group Desires/Goals To improve grades To improve grades Become better at studying Become better at studying Work on organization Work on organization How to study for tests How to study for tests

Small Group Schedule Group began March 1, 2010 and met each Monday for 6 weeks (with the exception of spring break) Group began March 1, 2010 and met each Monday for 6 weeks (with the exception of spring break) Group ended April 12, 2010 Group ended April 12, 2010 Met for 30 minutes; alternated between reading class and afternoon specialty class Met for 30 minutes; alternated between reading class and afternoon specialty class Two students missed one session (E.L and K.R.) Two students missed one session (E.L and K.R.)

Group Topics Session 1: Session 1: ~“Toilet Paper” get to know you activity. ~Complete study skills pre-test. ~DESE “Getting your act together” lesson-the importance of organization. Session 2: Session 2: ~Checking out personal study habits worksheet. ~Group came up with personal areas to improve upon. Session 3: Session 3: ~Test taking strategies

Group Topics, cont’d. Session 4: Session 4: ~Discuss habits to improve worksheet. ~Organizational tips. Session 5: Session 5: ~Homework and note-taking strategies. ~Keys to improving assignments. Session 6: Session 6: ~Review progress reports; missing assignments individually. ~Review tips and strategies learned in past sessions with game. ~Complete post-test.

Student B.W. Results Percentage SUMMARY: 3 rd Qtr: 4 B’s, 1 C 4 th Qtr: 3 B’s, 2 C’s

Student L.M. Results Percentage SUMMARY: 3 rd Qtr: 2 C’s, 2 D’s, 1 F 4 th Qtr: 5 D’s (close to C’s)

Student K.R. Results Percentage SUMMARY: 3 rd Qtr: 2 B’s, 3 C’s 4 th Qtr: 2 B’s, 2 C’s, 1 D

Student E.L. Results Percentage SUMMARY: 3 rd Qtr: 2 D’s, 3 F’s4 th Qtr: 3 D’s, 2 F’s

Student K.S. Results Percentage SUMMARY: 3 rd Qtr: 1 C, 4 F’s4 th Qtr: 1 D, 4 F’s

Student A.G. Results Percentage (Role Model Student) SUMMARY: 3 rd Qtr: 5 A’s4 th Qtr: 5 A’s

Attendance and Referrals Attendance was monitored before and after group. All students, except 1, continued attendance percentage above 96. The other student increased attendance from 91% to 95%. Attendance was monitored before and after group. All students, except 1, continued attendance percentage above 96. The other student increased attendance from 91% to 95%. Referrals were also monitored before and after group. Student L.M. had 4 referrals prior to the group and received 0 referrals during the group. Referrals were also monitored before and after group. Student L.M. had 4 referrals prior to the group and received 0 referrals during the group.

Feedback From Students Students overall felt they benefited from the group. Students overall felt they benefited from the group. Feedback via anonymous post-test included: Feedback via anonymous post-test included: “Studying different.” “I am staying a lot more organized.” “Easier when I study for tests.” “More organized and confident.” “I am better at studying.”

Recommendations Continue to monitor progress reports and missing assignments. Continue to monitor progress reports and missing assignments. Conduct planner checks and locker clean outs. Conduct planner checks and locker clean outs. If I were to run this group again, I would monitor progress reports throughout the group and keep the student aware of his/her grades and missing assignments instead of only reviewing at session 6 of the group. If I were to run this group again, I would monitor progress reports throughout the group and keep the student aware of his/her grades and missing assignments instead of only reviewing at session 6 of the group.

Considerations This group met from the middle of 3 rd quarter through the middle of 4 th quarter. This group met from the middle of 3 rd quarter through the middle of 4 th quarter. The group also met during MAP testing when no homework was being completed. The group also met during MAP testing when no homework was being completed. If I were to run this group as a counselor, I would begin at the start of 2 nd quarter and meet through 3 rd quarter. If I were to run this group as a counselor, I would begin at the start of 2 nd quarter and meet through 3 rd quarter. I would pull grades for the start of 2 nd quarter, end of 3 rd quarter, and end of 4 th quarter for comparison. I would pull grades for the start of 2 nd quarter, end of 3 rd quarter, and end of 4 th quarter for comparison. Study skills is something that I believe takes time to show results. Study skills is something that I believe takes time to show results.