Sequoia Middle School

1
Sequoia Middle School

• School Counseling and Guidance Program
• CST Goal Setting Test Taking Strategies

2
National Standard

• Academic Standard A
• Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge,
  and skills that contribute to effective learning
  in school and across the life span.

3
Student Competency

• AA1 Improve Academic Self-Concept
• AA3 Achieve School Success

4
Target Group

• 7th 8th Grade Bubble-ups (Students scoring
• 347 335 in LA and/or Math CST in 2006).

5
Why did we do this?

• Goal setting lessons were well received by
  students.
• CST Math 24.3 LA 29.6 PRO/ADV 2006
• No Child Left Behind Need to raise test scores!

6
CST Goal Setting Groups

• Grades 7 8
• April 2007
• Bubble up Students in small groups
• Reviewed Goal Setting
• Reviewed Test Taking Strategies PPT
• Set a personal CST goal
• Developed a Plan

7
CST Goal Setting Groups

• Questions discussed were
• What do YOU need to do to improve your test
  scores?
• What is your goal for this years CST/CAT6?
• What is your 3-5 step plan?
• How will you know you have met your goal?
  (Evaluate)
• Name two people who can help you reach this
  goal.

8
ExplanationData Mining!

• Student data shows that
• 72 of 7th graders improved their 2007 CST scores
  in one or both areas.
• 66 of 8th graders improved their 2007 CST scores
  in one or both areas.

9
Results
10
ExplanationData Mining!

• Further research of student data showed that
• 77 of 7th graders that had improved their test
  scores scored PRO or ADV on their 2007 CST.
• 62 of 8th graders that had improved their test
  scores scored PRO or ADV on their 2007 CST.

11
Improvement Results
12
September 2007 Session included

• Students received a copy of their goal-setting
  sheet from their April group.
• Students could see their 2006 scores, their 2007
  scores and review their goal and plan.
• Students reviewed 7th grade test results of all
  students participating in goal-setting group.
• Students participated in an electronic survey.

13
Did you reach your CST goal?
Yet, the data shows 72 of 7th graders improved
their 2007 CST scores even though they may not
have met their goals.
14
Did you follow your plan?
15
What obstacles made it difficult to achieve your
CST goal?
16
On next years CST, you will
17
Results

• 72 of students reported that the test taking
  strategies lesson was helpful to them.
• 53 of students reported that the goal setting
  activity was helpful. 38 stated they left the
  office and never thought about it again!
• 85 of students intend to use a goal setting plan
  to help them on their 2008 CSTs!

18
Trends

• 68 of students that improved their scores felt
  the goal setting activity was helpful.
• 60 of the students that didnt improve their
  scores felt the goal setting activity wasnt
  helpful to them.
• YET, 85 of total students intend to use a goal
  setting plan to help them on their 2008 CSTs!

19
We did this group activity with 116 students. Do
you think it would be effective to

20
Lessons Learned

• Groups were successful.
• Pre and Post surveys will allows us to find out
  true impacts on attitudes, knowledge, and skills.
  
• While many things impact student success on CSTs,
  students that met their goals had a tendency to
  feel that the goal setting activity was helpful.
  
• Those students who did not improve, generally
  didnt follow through with their plan after the
  group.
• Students felt that this activity would work with
  other bubble-up kids, but not many thought it
  would work with BBS or FBB students.

21
Implications

• We have used thi same activity with our AB1802
  students to see if they will be successful at
  moving their scores in an upward motion.
• All 7th graders have set testing goals.
• All 8th grade Bubble Ups have set testing goals.
• We incorporated the goal setting process into our
  career guidance lessons with 95 success on the
  post test.
• We will continue to report our results!

22
Thank you!

• Teachers who participated and supported.
• Administration for consultation and support of
  the program.
• Working together we are succeeding!

23
The Sequoia School Counseling program is
committed to contributing in a meaningful way
to the academic achievement of all students
The End
Sequoia Counseling Eyrie Where Eaglets Fledge