An advisory is a regularly scheduled period of time, typically during the school day, when teachers meet with small groups of students for the purpose of advising them on academic, social, or future-planning issues. In some cases, other adults and staff members, such as guidance counselors or social workers, may act as advisors or participate in an advisory program.
Advisories may meet daily, multiple times a week, or only a few times a month. Advisory periods tend to be shorter than a typical class, perhaps as 20 or 30 minutes long, and they are often used as an alternative to more traditional homeroom periods. Advisories are designed to foster stronger adult-student relationships and a stronger sense of belonging and community among students.
Advisory programs are important because they give students time that is specifically designed to help them succeed academically. Exactly how the time is used depends on the specifics of the school, but it is often used to do things like:.
Beyond simply supporting strong academics, this also helps students develop important skills that will help them succeed throughout the rest of their lives: time management, the ability to plan ahead, self-advocacy, and the ability to ask for help when it is needed.
Middle school can be a tricky time for students, both emotionally and socially, as they begin to create their own identity separate from their parents, siblings, and friends. By ensuring that each student has an adult that they are comfortable talking with about these things, a strong advisory program can help students work through common middle school issues like:. The key to success is making sure that the student understands that they can always talk to someone about anything that is bothering them, and that adults are ready to offer support and guidance.
By helping students work through social and emotional problems as they arise, advisory programs naturally help to create a positive and connected school culture. They do this directly by reminding students that they are a part of a community of parents, teachers, administrators, and friends that wants them to succeed, be happy, and be healthy. When students feel validated, understood, and accepted, they naturally develop stewardship for themselves and others.
And they do this indirectly by helping to reduce the stress—whether academic or emotional—that can lead to problems in the first place. By doing so, they can facilitate a level of mutual trust that allows for deep and meaningful communication. Once that open channel for communication exists between students and their advisors, we find that students naturally will seek advice and help when they need it. And advisors, for their part, gain insight into their students that helps them recognize when there are problems that might need to be addressed.
All of this helps to create a proactive safety net and support structure designed to identify issues before they turn into crises.
Harris, E. Little college guidance: high school students per counselor. New York Times. Maine Department of Education. Standards in Proficiency Based Education. Tocci, C.
Advisory Programs in High School Restructuring. Mary Ellen Bell , M. Over this period of time, she has raised two daughters who are now in their twenties, taken two sabbaticals focused on community involvement in education and taught almost every course the Wiscasset Social Studies Department offers. In addition to her teaching and the regular mentoring of new teachers, she was recently certified as a Global Career Development Facilitator.
She is currently piloting career pathway seminars for 10th and 11th graders at Wiscasset Middle High School, Wiscasset, Maine. She can be reached at mbell wiscassetschools. Printer-Friendly Version. Great article Mary Ellen. Thank you for sharing your methodology with us. Could you please tell us, in your opinion, what is the best way to get teacher buy-in for these types of initiatives? Thank you! JP Michel www. Thank you JP Michel. That is a critical question. Know when to register and when to drop or add classes.
Current preK—12 teachers. Aspiring counselors. Counselor Education Programs ». Aspiring teachers. Aspiring educational leaders.
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