Transitions 8/31/15. Presentation Objectives Today s Transitioning Student Q &A

Transcription

1 8/31/15 Helping Students Transition to High School LCA Annual Conference September 27, 2015 Kellie Giorgio Camelford, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC Thrive Counseling Center LLC Presentation Objectives Today s Transitioning Student Utilizing Solution-Focused Counseling Creating a Transition Program Transition Activities Middle School High School Q &A Transitions The act of passing from one state/place to the next Transitions to High School is associated with a decrease in: Social Support Academic Functioning: grades, school attendance, motivation Mental Health Functioning: increased depression, anxiety, substance abuse Transitions to High School is associated with an increase in: Academic Stressors Social Stressors 1

2 Today s Transitioning Student Students must master a different set of learning competencies which include: } Analytical and creating thinking and problem solving } Complex oral and written communication } Leadership and teamwork } Digital and quantitative literacy } Global perspective } Adaptability, initiative, and risk-taking } Integrity and ethical decision-making Today s Transitioning Student Solution Focused Counseling } Future-focused } Goal-directed } Focuses on solutions, rather than on the problems } Middle and high school students can benefit from SFBT because they point them toward setting goals rather than looking back } Provides structure for a transitions program 2

3 Solution-Focused Counseling } If it works, do more of it. If it doesn t work, do something different } Every client is unique, resourceful, and capable of changing } Cooperative relationships enhance solutions } Student feedback improves outcomes } No problem is constant } Big problems do not always require big solutions Tasks of Solution-Focused Counseling } Establish cooperative, change-focused relationships } Clarify the problem and related details } Develop clear and meaningful goals } Build on exceptions and other resources } Change the doing or viewing of the problem } Evaluate and empower progress Creating a Transition Program } Summer Planning } Stakeholders Surveys } Advisory Board/ Committee } SMART Goals } Connect to Teachers } Work Backwards } Start Small } Evaluate Progress 3

4 Components of a Transition Program } Provide students and families with accurate, useful information } Provide social support } Support students academic preparation } Work together to support students successful transition A Checklist: Middle Grades to High School: Mending a Weak Link, by Sondra Cooney and Gene Bottoms, Southern Regional Education Board (2002). } Identify readiness indicators for high-school-level coursework } Require districts and schools to report annually the percentage of students completing algebra and Freshman English by the end of freshman year } Track whether schools are offering more rigorous courses to more ninth-grade students each year } Communicate to families what ninth graders are expected to know and be able to do to succeed in high school } Require one-on-one planning sessions for all students and their parents for the purpose of planning a rigorous high school program A Checklist: Middle Grades to High School: Mending a Weak Link, by Sondra Cooney and Gene Bottoms, Southern Regional Education Board (2002). } Require high schools to inform middle-grades feeder schools of the percentage of students who completed two years of college-prep English, math and science by the end of 10th grade } Provide guidelines on how middle and high schools can work together to prepare students for high school } Require and fund high schools to identify eighth graders who are not ready to take college-prep English and math in grade nine and provide a rich summer school experience } Provide guidance on how to offer double-doses of catch-up courses courses that are designed to help students meet the demands of more rigorous high school work, specifically algebra and English, when necessary in the first semes- ter of high school and enroll them in high school work by the second semester } Require districts to report on the outcomes of their transition programs 4

5 Questions to Ask About Your Program } Does your transition program: } Begin early in the school year? } Include a way to assess its effectiveness? } Have at least 3-6 different planned activities or elements? } Include ways for entering/exiting students to learn about their new school as part of the curriculum? } Include ways to communicate with parents? } Have a group of committed teachers or parents to help coordinate program? } Include ways for students and parents to test the academic waters of expectations? Middle/ High School: Transition Activities } Create a High School Handbook } Glossary page of high school terms } Mock schedules, transcripts, curriculum } Partner with subject teachers to create co-lessons } English: Student writes a letter to self about transition } Math: Student learns how to calculate a GPA } Individual Counseling Meetings } Goal setting for high school } Discussion about future goals/ careers } Transitions Group Counseling } Brown Bag Lunch } Before or After School } Shadow opportunities, Spend a Day Programs 5

6 8/31/15 Middle School: Transition Activities Provide Information regarding High School Options Create a Bulletin Board for Open House/ Spend-a-Day Events Connect with High School Development Offices for information Mock Interviews Psycho-Educational Curriculum What High School Students Say Gallery Walk Letter to a Friend about transitions SWOT Analysis Who I Am, Where I Want to Be Scene Scenarios of What High School Might Be Like 7th or 8th Grade Pathway Project Who I Was: How has my experiences shaped me? Life Map / Timeline Transition Reflection Character Sketch Who I Will Be: How will I develop positive habits to help me transition to my future? Creating a Resource List Schedule Analysis Challenge Analysis Future Letter to High School Senior Self Did I Ever Tell You? Decision Making Activity 6

7 8/31/15 High School: Transition Activities Club, Sports, & Extracurricular Activities Fair New Student Orientation Freshmen Hall Psycho-Educational Curriculum Social Skills through PE/ Religion/ Homeroom/ Study Hall The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey Graduation Requirements & GPA Jeopardy Student Risk Assessment Instrument Example of High School Activities Getting to Know Your School Scavenger Hunt Icebreaker Games Two Truths and a Lie Grouping Up or Peer Group Bingo Similarities and Differences Big/Lil Sis/Bro Program Breakfast / lunch Homeroom / study hall Opening event on weekend Transitions Group Topics Meeting New Friends Introduction to ExtraCurricular Activities Self-Esteem Study Skills Time Management Handling Social Pressures Making Positive Choices GPA & High School Curriculum Introduction to College / Requirements 7

8 Countdown to High School } Available program with templates, curriculum and materials you can use to help 8 th and 9 th grade students transition } +Lessons Small Group Discussion } Talk to colleagues around you to discuss what has worked or not worked at your schools! } How can you utilize solution focused theory to create or revise your transition program? } What issues do you see at your school in regards to transitions? Q & A 8

9 Contact Information } Kellie Giorgio Camelford, PhD, LPC-S, NCC Thrive Counseling Center LLC 6660 Riverside Drive, Suite 202 Metairie, LA kcamelford@thrivecounselingcenterllc.com 9