Illustrator Wendy Chang Editor Walter Kelly, M.A. Editorial Project Manager Ina Massler Levin, M.A. Editor-in-Chief Sharon Coan, M.S. Ed. Art Director Elayne Roberts Associate Designer Denise Bauer Cover Artist Larry Bauer Middle School Advisement Product Manager Phil Garcia Imaging David Bennett Hillary Merriman Publisher Mary D. Smith, M.S. Ed. Author Tricia Ball Teacher Created Resources, Inc. 6421 Industry Way Westminster, CA 92683 www.teachercreated.com 1996 Teacher Created Resources, Inc. Made in U.S.A. ISBN-1-55734-193-1 The classroom teacher may reproduce copies of materials in this book for classroom use only. The reproduction of any part for an entire school or school system is strictly prohibited. No part of this publication may be transmitted, stored, or recorded in any form without written permission from the publisher.
Introduction.......................... 4 Advisement Curriculum Goals............ 5 First Quarter.......................... 6 Getting to Know You I d Like to Introduce... The Famous Name Game The Name Game Relay Siamese Twins AName by Any Other... Orientation to Our School School Facts Orientation to the Staff The Staff at My School Shaking Hands Be a Detective Be a Star No Difference In Search of... Trust and Team Building Blind Trust Walk Group Get Up Blind Walk Reflections Hunter Versus Hunted The Binder Reminder Daily/Monthly Assignment Reminders Life Skills Vocabulary Create-a Skit-Record Compliments Design a Board Game Acknowledging Birthdays Birthday Calendar No Homework Birthday Pass It Just Bugs Me Becoming Test Wise How Do You Learn? Self-Analysis Study Test-Taking Strategies Organizing Study Materials Correct Note-Taking Form Sample T-Diagram Tips for Test Taking Tips for Research Papers Table of Contents Research Paper Guide Sheet Research Report Evaluation Sheet Getting Ready for Second Quarter First Quarter Student Survey Write Your Epitaph Sample Epitaphs My Own Epitaph Second Quarter....................... 84 My Problem Is... I ve Got a Problem Treasure Hunt All About Me! Understanding Myself Would You? What I Am Not... Can I Do Better Next Time? Reflection Activity Sheet I Have a Right to Feel Good... I Am Unique Using Your Senses How Well Do You Listen? How to be a Good Listener I Hear You! How Do You Learn? Brain Facts The Brain Right Brain/Left Brain Self-Assessment for Right/Left Brain... Seven Styles of Learning Seven Intelligences Questionnaire Seven Types of Intelligence Goal-Setting Activity Third Quarter....................... 114 I Am What I Am Mistakes in Relating May I Join Your Group? If You Can t Say Anything Nice... Self-Portrait If Johnny Jumps... ACoat of Arms My Coat of Arms Peer Pressure #193 Middle School Advisement 2 Teacher Created Resources, Inc.
Relationships Evaluating Your Relationships Friendship What Makes a Friend? Friendship Activity APicture Is Worth a Thousand Words ACollage of Famous Friends Decisions, Decisions Banishing Bad Habits Good Decisions for Bad Habits Make the Right Choice Up in Smoke or Down the Drain Research and Write Human Body Research Paper Research Paper Format The Title Page Note Cards Model Entry The Outline The Body of the Research Paper The Footnotes Acting It Out What Would You Do? Rules for Debating Debate Summary Sheet Gangs Families and Gangs Conflict Resolution I Admire... Goal Setting Fourth Quarter...................... 179 Working Out Problems That s a Load off My Mind It s a Problem for Me Real Life Problems I Am Innocent Are You Doing the Right Thing? Looking Toward the Future Walking Down Life s Path Fame and Fortune My Career Choice After I Am Gone Table of Contents (cont.) My Family Tree My Past, Present, and Future Career Orientation and Planning Want Ads Create an Ad Career Choices What Do Your Parents Do? Invitation to a Guest Speaker Job Hunting The Interview Interview Questions Writing a Résumé Résumé Outline Sample Résumé Why School? My School s Report Card Aw, Mom, Do I Hafta Go to School? The Ideal School School and Career Choice Multicultural Projects for the Year...... 233 The Ramadan Fast and Id-Ui-Fitr Map of Moslem Countries Flags of Moslem Countries Tet-Trung-Thu Mexican Independence Day Mexican Independence Torito American Indian Day Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Oktoberfest El Dia de los Muertos Diwali Loy Krathong Mardi Gras Mardi Gras Mask Arbor Day Urini Nal Glossary............................ 253 Bibliography........................ 265 Appendix........................... 267 Teacher Savers Awards Teacher Created Resources, Inc. 3 #193 Middle School Advisement
Introduction You have been asked to teach an advisement program to your middle school students, and you need some advice yourself as to what to teach and what to advise. If that is the case, this book is for you. Middle School Advisement will provide a year-long program loaded with hands-on activities geared to middle school students. This book is divided into the traditional four-quarter school year but can easily be adapted to any school year configuration. The individual activities are designed so that the teacher may choose to use them in order or individually. Some of the activities are year-long, providing the students with those skills needed to become independent workers and thinkers. Integrated throughout this book are activities that will stimulate the students independence, reinforce positive behaviors, and provide an opportunity for self-awareness. Generally speaking, the activities will fall into one of three categories: life skills, study skills, and goal-setting skills. Life Skills Life skills activities cover a wide range of topics touching on many of the day-to-day situations the students will encounter. It is important as a teacher not to overlook the fact that today many of the students we teach are left on their own while parents are at work. These children face many situations that need special skills to handle. These range from making the right decisions on a daily basis to saying no to drugs and peer pressure. From the first day of school to adulthood, the activities provided will assist in making the student a more productive part of society. Some of the many areas these activities cover are skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, communications, friendships, responsibilities, and cultural awareness. Study Skills Study skills provide the students with many of the tools they need to do their best in school. Many students in middle school are overwhelmed by having multiple teachers as well as an increased work load. Skills in time management, goal setting, test taking, and learning provide the students with the necessary tools to make middle school less stressful. Students will also learn how they acquire knowledge so that they can determine how they learn best. Goal-Setting Skills Each quarter the students are taught a different goal-setting technique. Throughout the first two quarters the students are given activities in time management, school rules and policies, and behavior modification techniques. During the second semester an emphasis is placed on cultural awareness, stereotyping, peer pressure, gangs, and drugs. Students are provided with opportunities to research and reflect upon which skills aid them in making the right decisions in their lives. Lastly, the school year finishes with activities for career awareness and planning for the future. Here is an opportunity for your students to meet business, professional, and political leaders in their community. Talking with role models gives the students a sense of some possible career choices they might pursue in later years. #193 Middle School Advisement 4 Teacher Created Resources, Inc.
FIRST QUARTER Ice Breakers Getting to Know You Building Relationships Building Trust and Teams Life Skills Study Skills Goal Setting #193 Middle School Advisement 6 Teacher Created Resources, Inc.
Getting to Know You First Quarter When new students enter school with trepidation and anxiety, getting kids together especially middle school kids is no easy task. Many old friendships will be renewed after the long summer break, but there will be students new to the area or just entering a new school (as in the case of sixth graders) who may not feel comfortable in their new surroundings. The following activities are designed to make all students feel at home and get to know each other. They are non-stressful and fun. Some activities require a full period; others can be used at the beginning of a session as ice breakers to put your students at ease. Most of these activities provide easy ways for students to learn about their classmates and establish a basis for common interests which might promote lasting friendships. In all cases these activities are a relaxing way to get acquainted for both the teacher and students. The activities are arranged for a new group of students entering school but can be adapted in whole, in part, or in any order, as the teacher judges best. I d Like to Introduce... is excellent for opening day. What begins as a standard stand-up-and-sayyour-name activity becomes the highlight of the day with many students wanting to introduce everyone in the class from memory! One student introduces himself/herself and states a memorable personal fact or characteristic. The next student must introduce the student prior and all who came before, pointing to each student in turn; then the speaker must add his/her name and memorable fact to the list. Most middle school students love this type of memory game and really become involved in learning classmates names. The Famous Name Game is another student favorite. It is a take-off on a popular party game and provides students a chance to use their knowledge of famous people and their skills of investigation. The teacher has the option of restricting the topics to famous people in history, authors, scientists, or other groups of persons. The Name Game Relay is a way to relieve first day jitters and to build cooperative groups. This physical education activity is a relay race with a twist. Students are asked to provide a word in the writing of a sentence. When each student has written a word, the team should have a grammatically correct sentence on their sheet. Orientation to Our School helps students to become aware of the physical layout of their new school and to map their way from class to class. This activity should be followed by Orientation to the Staff so that students may also become acquainted with school personnel. Be a Star offers the students an opportunity to reflect on the events in their lives. A bulletin board display is an excellent way for the students to know each other. The remaining activities are just as exciting and fun for the student and the teacher. So share your warmth, your spark, and your enthusiasm with your new students and have a successful year. Teacher Created Resources, Inc. 7 #193 Middle School Advisement
First Quarter I d Like to Introduce... The teacher starts this activity by stating his/her name and telling one memorable thing about himself/herself. The teacher then chooses one student to repeat the procedure. It sounds easy, but the student must first repeat the teacher s name and what was unique about that person. The introductions continue until everyone has spoken, repeating information about each prior person. Obviously, this is quite a test of memory, and it is the teacher s option to allow names and facts to be written down or require them to be committed to memory. The following I d Like to Introduce... fact sheet is provided to record names and facts. After the students complete this activity, the fact sheets can be expanded by allowing time for the students to get additional information about each other and to converse about common interests. Telephone numbers can provide students with a person to call if they are absent. Name of Teacher #193 Middle School Advisement 8 Teacher Created Resources, Inc.