Advisory: Take 2

As we enter the 2018-2019 school year, we begin the second year of our school-wide advisory program.  With a growth mindset as the focus of our work last year, we used that mindset to reflect on the successes and failures of our 2017-2018 advisory program.  To do so, we engaged our Building Culture Committee (BCC) throughout the year and incorporated students as valuable members of the committee.  In fact, our April session was designed through a collaboration between Adelphi University, our students, and the teachers who comprise the BCC (see "The Power of Words" below).

The Power of Words
Essential Questions:

1. To what extent do the power of the words we choose to use when communicating with one another have an impact?
2. How can one practice being open-minded, and recognize bias or assumptions in one’s speech?

WARM-UP:

1. Explain to your advisees that the purpose of this session is to discuss the “power of words” in order to open our minds to the fact that what we say and do has an impact.
2. Review the essential questions; explain that as a group you will explore possible answers to these questions, together by examining various scenarios.
3. Next, explain that as an example of what you mean by “scenarios,” they are going to watch 3 minutes and 24 seconds of “What Would You Do?” This will introduce them to the format of the discussion they are going to have. Show: https://youtu.be/qWIph_xlTbY              (Stop at 3:24)
4. Briefly discuss the video to prepare for the main activity, ask:
   1. How are the shoppers, the black man and two white women, impacted by the salesman’s statements? Consider: What biases did you hear?
   2. Ask: What would you do if you were in the store?

ACTIVITY: Discussion using scenarios. Choose one scenario to begin with.  All scenarios and discussion questions are available when you click below.  Depending on your time, progress through each of the scenarios below. Consider giving students time to discuss in pairs or smaller groups before sharing out with the whole group.
1. Scenario 1: Race
2. Scenario 2: Sexuality
3. Scenario 3: Religion
4. Scenario 4: Disability

Our Adelphi partnership flourished over the spring semester and with the support and partnership of Diana Feige, Ed.D., Clinical Associate Professor and Melanie Bush, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology we created an amazing day of dialogue where over sixty Mineola High School students met with Adelphi students to discuss issues of race in society.  
​The dialogue was rich and honest. It was all we hoped it would be and more. It was empowering for the high school as well as college students and what we hope is the beginning of a powerful partnership in this area of our students' education.  

Christina, Madison, and Sydnie address the group @ Adelphi University

We also engaged our student body in the cafeteria, during all lunch periods, to provide us with feedback as it related to the sessions.  This feedback (see "Student Advisory Feedback" below) was organized by grade, coded, and then used for curriculum writing this summer.  What we learned was that our students valued the dialogue more than the scripted lesson.  They want to talk about topics that are "real" to them.  They also helped us to recognize that like in any good lesson, we needed to differentiate the content and delivery based on the grade levels as well as the individual group needs/wants.   This year's program will include a menu of choices and suggested materials that will help our advisors to craft their sessions, with their advisees.  

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This unique program, tailored to the specific needs of our students, will develop over time and require regular input.  Year one had lots of successes! 

• Students each have an advisor who will stay with them for their high school career
• Groups formed developed rapport and formed bonds
• Growth Mindset principles were  learned and developed

We look forward to our next phase of implementation.  We know that this program provides students with the non-cognitive skills that they need to be successful beyond high school and we value the relationships that are created.  

Topics included in the  2018-19 advisory program will include:

1. ​​Time Management
2. Stress
3. Health
4. Drugs/Alcohol/Peer Pressure
5. Financial Planning
6. School/Community Culture
7. College
8. Career Prep
9. School Safety
10. Relationships
11. Current Events
12. Respect for All