Entries from August 2007 ↓

This is the article I wrote for the school website about our new advisory program. I am trying to get the word out to the community about the benefits of advisory, so they won’t just hear complaints. We have some students, substitutes, and yes, even a few teachers, who wish advisories would just disappear, so the “talk around town”, if any, may not be as positive as I’d like. Friday, when I spoke to a class about the reasons for the program, I was told that “everyone I’ve talked to says the same thing. All anyone does in advisory is sit around and do nothing, except maybe complain about advisory. Even the teachers make fun of it.” Sometimes it is hard to keep working toward a goal, or even keep believing in it when so few share the same vision.

High School Adds Building Wide Advisory Program
Building Relationships for Building Success

The mission of the Riverside Community School District is to prepare students to meet the challenges of the future as responsible citizens in a global society. That is a lofty goal when the careers of the future haven’t even been dreamed of today. With more and more jobs being outsourced to other countries, and the needs of businesses everywhere changing practically daily, it becomes even more important for our schools to help students succeed in as many ways as possible.Several recent research studies have pointed out that students are more likely to succeed when they feel connected to school. One of the ways more and more high schools are attempting to make this connection is by implementing building-wide advisory programs. In an advisory program, students spend time each week with the same advisor and group of students throughout high school. Learning and career plans are made and students are able to take an active role in choices related to their learning experiences.

Riverside High School has joined this reform effort so our students can also have greater chances of success. Fifteen minute advisory periods meet daily, in groups ranging from eight to fourteen students, and cover topics in the areas of relationships, citizenship, academic success and career/future success. The idea is to personalize the learning atmosphere to help ALL students have the greatest chance to fulfill their learning needs.

Along with greater chances of academic success, research also shows that students are less likely to engage in drug use, violence, and early sexual activity when they attend schools with caring teachers. Likewise, similar research has shown that students not engaged in school are more at risk of disruptive behavior, absenteeism and dropping out of school.

The goal of the Riverside High School advisory program is to provide each student an adult advocate to help him/her personalize the educational experience while working toward the school’s mission. The advisor will be a parent and student’s first stop in problem-solving as our high school moves toward helping all students reach for success.

Yesterday, I read a blog post by Christian Long about why people blog and what sacrifices they may make for blogging to be such a significant part of their lives. I guess I fit into his last group:

Some are still figuring where they stand in the aforementioned mix. They have a blog. Sometimes they actually use it. Or they are still wondering if this blogging-business needs to take up precious time otherwise spent with their families and friends and hammocks. They might be in your audience, in your faculty room, or reading your blog right now. They may be looking for Google Juice by linking to you so that you’ll link to them, if they’re clever (he smiles).

I have a blog. I have had one for a few years. I documented some personal ramblings and saved some pictures on another “blogger” page. I was using it as a kind of “therapy” for that mystical experience of figuring out who I am and what I want to be when I grow up. I wasn’t really sure I wanted anyone else to read it, yet I really did want someone else to read it and respond…maybe. But was I up for criticism of my writing?

Now, through a few serendipitous clicks of the mouse, I have discovered a fountain of “Google Juice” inspiration. I am totally guilty as charged of linking to someone, hoping they’ll link back to me, creating a network of “experts” that I can learn from. In my mind, anyway, this may be the antidote for feelings of isolation during the school year.

I had a recent discussion with someone not in education about blogging, and why anyone would want to do it. He said he was a private person, to which I responded “Don’t you ever want to share ideas with someone?” His answer, of course, was that he would much rather do that face to face with someone he knows. I can understand that, but I have identified a particular character flaw in myself. I can’t get past a need for affirmation–someone, anyone, saying “YES! Exactly!” or “I think you’re on the right track” or even “You might want to rethink that one.” I have a limited number of people in my school that I feel I can turn to without being tiresome.

Perhaps, even if I am tiresome here in my own little blogworld, someone I don’t have to face on a day to day basis might have an easier time telling me to stop whining. I think I can be more open to criticism in writing because I have more time to reflect on it before responding. Whatever the case, because of this whole “new world” that has opened up on my screen, I am almost looking forward to getting back to school, collaborating with colleagues, and helping to create the kind of school I envision.