School Counselors: Partners in Student Academic Achievement

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School Counselors Partners in Student
Academic Achievement

• By Irma Estrada-Lanier
• And
• Nuvia Dominguez

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Overview

• The focus of our workshop is to foster
  collaboration between parents and school
  counselors to assist students in reaching
  academic achievement and success.

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Workshop Agenda

• What is academic development
• National Standards on Academic Development
• Research
• How do you set up this service
• Counselors role in improving Academic development
• Sample Parent Workshop Unit on Study Skills
• Written internet resources

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Purpose

• To develop effective programs that empower
  parents and students. In order to reach more
  students, counselors must change the paradigm
  from service-centered for some students to
  program centered for every student.

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Definition

• Academic Achievement is important for the
  successful development of young people in
  contemporary American society. The academic
  development areas include
• acquisition of skills in decision making
• problem solving and goal setting
• critical thinking
• logical reasoning
• interpersonal communication
• application

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National Standards for School Counseling
Programs
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National Standards Academic Development

• These are standards that help guide the guidance
  counselor when implementing a program that
  fosters academic development.

• Standard A Students will acquire the attitudes,
  knowledge, and skills
• that contribute to effective learning in school
  and across the life span.
• Standard B Students will complete school with
  the academic preparation essential to choose from
  a wide range of substantial post-secondary
  options including college.
• Standard C Students will understand the
  relationships of academics to the world of work
  and to life at home and in the community.

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Academic Development Standard A

• Student Competencies
• Improve academic self-concept
• Acquire skills for improving learning
• Achieve school success

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Academic Development Standard B

• Improve learning
• -apply critical thinking skills, study skills,
  seek information, understand learning styles,
  and become independent learners
• Plan to Achieve Goals
• - apply interests to goal setting, use
  problem-solving and decision making skills

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Academic Development Standard C

• Students will relate school to life experiences
• - understand that school success is the
  preparation to make the transition from
  student to community member
• - understanding the relationship between
  learning and work
• - understanding that learning is a lifelong
  process

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What does research on Academic Development
indicate?
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Research Findings

• Research has shown that students who do well in
  school are better able to make the transitions
  into adulthood and to achieve occupational and
  economic success.
• A research project involving school counselors
  and students at the elementary, middle, and high
  school level demonstrated that school-counselor-le
  d groups and classroom interventions were
  associated with a positive impact on student
  achievement and behavior (Brigman, G. Campbell,
  C. (2003).

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At one middle school site, after identifying
students in need of academic assistance through
a student data base query, school counselors met
with teachers, students, parents and held skill
building sessions in the areas of student skills
and attitude. As you can see, it was quite
effective, specifically at 8th grade where 72
of the students demonstrated GPA improvement.
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Role of the Counselor

• Identify students who are in jeopardy of failing
  through teacher referral.
• Coordinate with teachers and parents.
• Conduct a needs assessment.
• Identify issues affecting academic achievement.
• Develop strategies and interventions.
• Conduct a post-assessment.
• Follow-up

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Setting up Service

• Decide on specific targeted student population
  (ie. ESOL students who are struggling
  academically).
• Collaborate with teachers to gather valuable
  information on students performance.
• Invite student for a one-on-one session and
  discuss difficulties in class.
• Send home a letter of invitation along with a
  questionnaire to assess the needs and concerns of
  the parents.
• Follow up with a phone call to the home.
• Choose a time that is convenient for most parents
  to meet.
• Reserve a comfortable location with ample space
  to deliver workshop.
• Post visible signs directing parents to location.
• Greet parents cordially and thank them for
  participating.
• Provide a written agenda so parents can follow
  along with the presentation.

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Outline for Parent Workshop Presentation
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Outline

• Introduction of counselors
• State purpose of workshop
• Conduct icebreaker activity
• Encourage an informal open discussion
• Deliver workshop presentation
• Conclude session with feedback
• Provide time for questions/answers
• Invite parents to enjoy refreshments

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Parent Workshop

• Strategies for Developing Study
• Skills at Home

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Six Steps for Successful Study Skill at Home

• Step 1 Arrange a personal study area
• Step 2 Help your child create a study schedule
• Step 3 Determine the strengths and abilities
  your child already has
• Step 4 Provide strategies and recommendations
  for better study habits
• Step 5 Help your child accept responsibility
• Step 6 Promote and encourage reading for
  pleasure at home

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Arranging a personal study area

• Brainstorm with your child the necessary
  conditions for an optimal learning environment.
• Together create a list for the necessary learning
  conditions. These may include
• -A quiet setting with no distractions
• -Bright lighting
• -Comfortable temperature
• -A desk to write on and store materials

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Setting the Schedule

• With your child set a weekly study schedule.
• Look at the weekly schedule and fill in all
  activities for the week than help determine with
  your child the best study time.
• Encourage your child to write down the beginning
  and ending time of the study period.
• Praise your child for adhering to the schedule.
  Give incentives to maintain motivation.

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What are your childs strengths?

• Observe your childs study habits and
  Organizational skills.
• Set time aside with your child and ask the
  following questions?
• -How do you study? What do you like most and
  least about studying?
• -What could help make studying easier?
• Talk to your childs teachers to find out their
  expectations and ask the following questions
• -How much homework is assigned on a weekly
  basis?
• -How should the homework be turned in?
• -Are there specific skills that my child should
  be concentrating on when doing homework?
• -What are the consequences for late work?

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Suggestions and Strategies for Better Study Habits

• Help your child arrange in order all the assigned
  homework for that day with all required
  materials/textbooks.
• Listen to your child as he/she reads the homework
  instructions. Encourage him/her to highlight
  keywords for better understanding.
• Help your child familiarize himself with the
  organization and layout of the textbooks.

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Help Your Child Accept Responsibility

• Develop a contract with your child where you both
  agree to the conditions outlined. In the
  contract, your child promises to
• -Prepare a weekly schedule
• -Follow through with the schedule
• -Complete and turn in homework on time
• -Ask for help only when needed
• As a parent, you promise to
• -Provide a quiet learning environment
• -Help in preparing the weekly schedule
• -Make sure your child has ample time to study
• -Offer assistance when needed and provide
  outside help
• -Motivate your child to reach his goals
• -Review the contract on a weekly basis

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Encourage Reading for Pleasure

• Read with your child a variety of materials of
  interest such as comic strips, sports articles,
  cereal boxes, etc.
• Model reading for pleasure at home.
• Praise your child when caught reading
  independently.

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References

• American School Counselor Association. (2002).
  School Counselors Partners in Education
  Online. Website http//www.schoolcounselor.org
  
• Brigman, G. Campbell, C. (2003). Helping
  students improve academic achievement and school
  success behavior. Professional School
  Counseling, 7 (2), 91-97. (EBSCO Academic Search
  Premier)
• Cook, J. B., Kaffenberger, C.J. (2003). Solution
  Shop A solution-focused counseling and study
  skills program for middle school. Professional
  School Counseling, 7 (2), 116-123. (EBSCO
  Academic Search Premier)
• Crosswhite, L. Araya, I. (1994). La Lectura y
  La Habilidad Para Estudiar en Casa. Manual Para
  los Padres. Massachussetts Curriculum
  Associates, Inc.
• Wittmer, J. (1993). Managing Your School
  Counseling Program K-12 Developmental
  Strategies. Minneapolis Educational Media
  Corporation.

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Resources for Parents

• Binkley, Marilyn. Becoming a Nation of Readers
  What Parents Can Do. Indianapolis, IN D.C.
  Heath, 1988.
• Gross, Jacquelyn and Leonard. Make Your Child a
  Lifelong Reader A Parent-Guided Program for
  Children of All Ages Who Cant, Wont, or Havent
  Yet Started to Read. Los Angeles Jeremy P.
  Tarcher, Inc. 1986.
• Lee, Barbara L. and Marsha K. Rudman. Leading to
  Reading New Ways You Can Make Reading Fun for
  Children. New York Berkley Publishing Group,
  1983.
• Mind Tools, Essential Skills for an Excellent
  Career.
• www.mindtools.com
• Study Skills www.how-to-study.com

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Resources for Counselors

• Guidance Curriculum for the Comprehensive School
  Counseling Program, High School Academic
  Development. http//www.dpi.state.nc.us/curriculu
  m/Guidance/index.html
• A New Wave of Evidence The Impact of School,
  Family, and Community Connections on Student
  Achievement. http//www.sedl.org/pubs/catalog/ite
  ms/fam33.html
• American Student Achievement Institute.
  http//asai.indstate.edu/default.htm

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Parents Needs Survey

• Pre-Assessment Questions
• What do you expect to learn from this workshop?
• What aspect of the parent ladder provided do you
  find most difficult? Easiest to provide?
• Can you give some positive examples of how you
  have helped your children prepare for school or
  practice good study habits?
• What problems have you experienced in getting
  your child to study, read, and engage in other
  educational activities at home?
• Television is a major distraction for many
  students. What other distractions are present in
  your home or your community?
• Post-Assessment Questions
• Numerous suggestions have been made today/tonight
  about helping your child with studying or
  homework. Do you feel comfortable with the roles
  suggested here for you as a parent?
• Have you found any tutors or special resources
  that you can share with other parents?
• Are you aware of other resources available here
  at our school? (ie. the afterschool tutoring
  program)
• What suggestions/recommendations can you provide
  us to include in a follow-up workshop session.
• 10. Are there any particular areas that you
  would like assistance with? (ie. Improving
  English literacy skills)