Teachers As AdvisorsTeachers As Advisors

Jan StruebingJan Struebing

What is it?What is it?

A series of advisory meetings, leading up to and culminating with, a conference involving

teachers, parents and students for the purpose of providing

students with individual planning of high school

curriculum directly related to a chosen career interest.

GUIDANCE

The help all students receive

from family, teachers,

counselors, community

members and others to assist with personal-

social, educational and career

decision-making.

COUNSELING

The help some students receive from counselors professionals to

overcome personal and social

problems that interfere with

learning.

Guidance vs.Guidance vs. CounselingCounseling

TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS TO

TACKLE DIFFICULT

CURRICULUM AND WORK

HARD

TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR

A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO

THE NEXT EDUCATIONAL

LEVEL

GUIDANCE: WHY DO GUIDANCE: WHY DO IT?IT?

TO HELP STUDENTS MAKE SOUND CHOICES

TO RAISE STUDENT

ACHIEVEMENT

Teachers As AdvisorsTeachers As Advisors

• An individualized, comprehensive, and continuing career and academic guidance plan (Personalized Learning Plans)

• A process that enables students and their parents/guardians to gain knowledge needed to make informed academic and career preparation decisions

• Ongoing assessment of student’s strengths, weaknesses, career and academic objectives

• Short and long term goal setting to meet academic and career objectives

• A positive relationship with a small group of students and an adult

• A HSTW “Best Practice”

Who?Who?

• All faculty – all students• Each faculty member will serve as an advisor to

approximately 15 – 18 students• Random selection of students in each group is

best • Keep students “grade pure”• Advisors may change students the following year

or keep their students during their next year• As seniors, students will become a part of a

larger advisory activity known as Senior Seminar if the faculty decides. Some schools want seniors to be in advisory groups

A Small Advisory GroupA Small Advisory Group

Benefits?Benefits?

• An opportunity to explore the possibilities and advantages of pursuing non-traditional careers

• A supportive environment where skills, abilities, and interests play a key role in decision-making

• A team approach to meeting student and parent/guardian needs academics.

• Integration between academic and career areas of education

• An organized method to distribute information and effectively use time

• Another adult on campus with whom parents/guardians can develop a relationship that is beneficial to all involved

• A process to assist in developing PLP (Personalized Learning Plans.)

When?When?

• Typically on a Tuesday, a different bell schedule will be followed which allows 30 minutes for advisory meetings (never first in the morning or last in the afternoon.)

• Tuesday is best day, then followed by Wednesday then Thursday. Never on a Monday or Friday.

• Set meetings on School Calendar by August. Follow schedule.

• Teacher Training—How Much?• Coping Skills on Situations• How Much Planning do I have to do?• Room Arrangement• Will I Have a Lesson Plan to Follow or

Will I Have to “Wing It”?• Who Will Be In-Charge of Program?

Concerns

I AM NOT A COUNSELOR!Why Am I Doing Their Job?

What If I Give Wrong Information??

WHY Do We Do This??• To Improve Attendance• Lower Drop Out Rate• Be Role Models/Positive Influence• Better Student/Parent Involvement at School

Functions.• Students Taking the Right Courses to Graduate• Students Being Better Informed of Options

Available to Them.• Teachers More Knowledgeable About School

and Students.

ImplementationImplementation

• Buy-In from: Administration

Counselors Teachers

Students• Who will oversee• Committee• Calendar

• Name Your Program

• Curriculum• Portfolios• Determine Groups• Advisor training• Public Relations &

Marketing• Evaluation

BURNING QUESTIONS !!!

Everything you ever wanted to know about “advisory” but

didn’t know who to ask.

and in conclusionand in conclusion

“Sometimes in education, we plan and plan, think of excuses, and never get a program off the ground. My advice is to try the program and evaluate. You will be happy with the results.”

Jan StruebingJan Struebing