Focus On Success

Teaching Study Skills, Goal-Setting and Time Management to 7th and 8th Grade Students

Ted HendersonLEAP Symposium

Factors that influenced

the selection of this project

Experiences with my own child. Geoffrey Canada saying our kids don't study. Poor practice habits of my band students. Desire to improve the economic conditions of

families in Alum Rock USD.

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“In the 21st century, the best anti-poverty program is a world-class education.

- President Obama

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WHY? (Purpose of the class) To promote a college-going culture- According to the

US Department of Labor, college grads earn more money over the course of their lifetime, incur fewer health problems, suffer less penal involvement and live longer than non-college graduates. Students could have life-long benefits from this course.

Despite many years of interventions, the learning-achievement gap persists, in part, because various study techniques are not being taught.

To provide a regular means for parents to monitor, encourage and support their students towards high academic achievement.

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Facts about Sheppard Middle School

Located in Alum Rock USD of East San Jose Total enrollment = 800 46% Latino, 46% Asian, 4% Black, 3% White* 73% of students receive free/reduced lunch* 78% of parents do not have a college education*

Sheppard 2009-2010 API is 774 (highest non-charter school API in district)

API doesn't tell the complete story:

Asian API = 886 while Latino API = 686

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*Source: www.whichschool.com

“In the 21st century, teachers must be designers of learning experiences”

- James Paul Gee

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How? (Specific Actions)

Sheppard Middle School 7th and 8th grader students

have a 30-minute advisory period at the beginning of

every day except Thursday. Focus on Success will

be a new elective offered during the advisory period

that will teach study skills, time-management and

goal-setting. This class is open to all students but I

am especially interested in merging “at-risk”

students with those currently having academic

success.

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Course FormatEach week would follow a similar format.

Monday - “Personal Development Tool of the Week” mini-lecture. Grade Check Forms are Due.

Tuesday – Study Hall and Binder Check Wednesday – Study Hall and Binder Check Friday – Reflection on week's work. Awarding of

Personal Development Points Parent Questionnaire at the end of each quarter. College visit at the end of each semester.

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Personal Development (PD)Tool of the Week

Every Monday the students would be introduced to a

new study skill, time-management or goal-setting

tool referred to as the “PD Tool of the Week”. Each

PD tool will be accompanied by a handout which

should be place in the student's binder. These will be

placed in the students “toolkit” to be referred to and

used as needed.

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Personal Development Tool of the Week (Example)

Setting Priorities

Rocks – Pebbles – Sand demo

1. Take a jar and fill it with large rocks.2. Ask the class if the jar is full. (Most will say yes)3. Now, add pebbles to the jar, pointing out how they fill the gaps between the large rocks. 4. Once again, ask if the jar is full. (Now they aren't sure.)5. Next pour sand into the jar until it slightly overflows.6. Ask again, “Is the jar full?” (Most will say yes)

Big Rocks = School, Homework, Chores = Big Consequences if undone Pebbles = Sports, Band, Specific TV show = Lesser Consequences if undone

Sand = Video Games, TV, Texting = “If I do it great, if not, oh well!”

Lesson: There's lots of room for lots of activities in your life if you put the big rocks in first!

Activity: List your Big Rock, Pebble and Water activities. Be mindful of those activities throughout this week

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Focus On SuccessA Sample Schedule of Lessons

1st QuarterWeek 1: Setting Priorities/Grade Check FormsWeek 2: Organizing Papers and TimeWeek 3: Creating/Organizing Study SpaceWeek 4: Multiple Intelligences (How are you smart?)Week 5: Setting S.M.A.R.T GoalsWeek 6: Note-taking SkillsWeek 7: Math Study SkillsWeek 8: Essay Writing Tips - pt.1Week 9: Essay Writing Tips – pt. 2Week 10: Study Hall/Finals Week

2nd QuarterWeek 1: The Importance of Exercise and SleepWeek 2: Working in Groups Week 3: Science Study SkillsWeek 4: Planning Long-Term ProjectsWeek 5: S.M.A.R.T Goals Check-in (Renew/Adjust Goals)Week 6: Vocabulary Study SkillsWeek 7: Creating Study PacketsWeek 8: Making Practice TestsWeek 9: Dealing with Test AnxietyWeek 10: Study Hall/Finals Week/College Visit

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Grade Check Forms

On Mondays, students will also turn in Grade Check forms signed

and dated by teachers and parents. Students will also receive blank

grade check forms for the upcoming week. These forms would also

allow space where teachers could indicate any missing assignments

and/or projects. Focus on Success students and teachers would use

that information to help the student develop an action plan related

to each student’s individual workload.

FOS Grade Check FormsFocus On Success

Study Hall On Tuesday and Wednesday, students will be able to work individually

or in small groups in a study hall format. Study Hall is not a free period and must be used exclusively for school work. If a student has no homework or upcoming project, they must use the time to study. There is always something which could benefit from extra study time.

Binder Check

On Tuesday and Wednesday, students will also have a binder check to ensure they can answer the following questions regarding every

core class:

When is the next quiz/test and what will it cover? What is the next big project and when is it due?

This information also informs the student's action plan

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Reflections on Personal Development

On Fridays, students will share which PD tools they used

throughout the week. They will also be given an opportunity to

reflect on any missed opportunities to use their new tools. Fridays

will also be the day that “Personal Development” points are

awarded. Students who earn twenty (20) PD points to be eligible to

attend the end-of-semester college field trip.

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Personal Development Points

There are many ways to earn Personal Development Points:

1) Successfully answering the binder check questions by Friday

2)Writing a journal entry on how they used a “tool of the week”

3) Write a journal entry on how they missed an opportunity to use a

“tool of the week”

4) Perfect school attendance for that week (with no tardies)

5) Provide a log of study time outside of school (signed by parent)

The points will be posted in a public place so that students may keep

track of their progress.

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Parent Questionnaire Besides, the weekly grade check forms, at the end of each quarter,

parents will receive a short questionnaire designed to encourage increased involvement in their student's daily school life.

Sample Questions

*Can you name all of your student's classes and teachers?*What is your student's favorite subject? Why?*What is your student's least favorite subject? Why?* Where are your student's favorite places to study?* Which school functions have you attended this quarter?

Parents are encouraged to review answers with their student before returning the signed questionnaire.

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College Visits

Different types of colleges will be visited to expose the students to their wide range of options. The following colleges have been selected for the 2011-2012 school year.

1st Semester – San Jose State University (4-year public university)

2nd Semester – Evergreen College (Community College)

Both colleges are accessible through public transportation and qualify for free “Class passes” from the Santa Clara VTA

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“We're getting our children through education by anaesthetising them. We should be waking them up to what they have inside of themselves!

- Sir Ken Robinson

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WHAT?

(Outcome/Expected Results)

Research shows:

The deeper the student is involved in studying, the higher the payoff in comprehension and retention.

The greater the degree of consistency of study, the better the results in comprehension and retention.

Students benefit from adequate training in the use of study techniques. It can not be assumed that student's already possess this skill.

In general, the more time students study, regardless of the study technique, the better their comprehension.

Source: Current Research on Studying: A Qualitative Analysis(Best, Brozo, 1985)

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Teacher Preparation and Financial Impact

While developing this course I relied heavily on three resources:

That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week (Helping Disorganized and Distracted Boys Succeed in School and Life)

by Ana Hoyayoun

S.O.A.R Study Skills ( A simple and efficient system for earning better grades in less time)

by Susan Kruger Woodcock

7 Habits of Highly Successful Teenagers ( The Ultimate Teenager Success Guide )

by Sean Covey

I'd recommend the site administrator purchase these books for each Focus on Success teacher to facilitate a bi-monthly collaboration meeting to share lesson plans, best practices and class experiences. Total cost is $40 per teacher.

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California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders

S t a n d a r d 1

A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community.

´ Facilitate the development of a shared vision for the achievement of all students based upon data from multiple measures of student learning and relevant qualitative indicators.

´ Identify and address any barriers to accomplishing the vision.

Focus On SuccessStandards Covered

California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders

S t a n d a r d 2

A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.

´ a culture in which high expectations are the norm for each student as evident in rigorous academic work.

´ the use of a variety of appropriate content-based learning materials and learning strategies that recognize students as active learners, value reflection and inquiry, emphasize the quality versus the amount of student application and performance, and utilize appropriate and effective technology.

Focus On SuccessStandards Covered

Conclusion

If we expect all students to achieve, we must commit ourselves to

providing all students with the tools necessar to imagine, set, meet

and even exceed their educational goals. Students learn what they

decide is important . As educators, we must make a greater effort to

convince all students of the lifetime value of a quality education.

Then, we must commit ourselves to providing one.

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Questions?

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Thank You!

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