Transcript Middle School Organization and Leadership EMD

Advisory and
Advocacy
EMD 335 | Newberry College
Advisory and Advocacy
• Recognize purpose and characteristics of
an effective advisory program.
• Identify appropriate ideas for advisory in
your context.
• Describe the qualities you have and you
need to develop to be a good advisor
and/or advocate.
Every student’s
academic and
personal
development is
guided by an adult
advocate.
TWBA (2012)
pp. 145-157
Why?
Rishel, T. J. (2007). “Suicide, Schools, and the
Young Adolescent” in Mertens, S. B., et al.
(Eds.), The young adolescent and the middle
school, pp. 297-322. Charlotte, NC:
Information Age Publishing Inc.
Advisory
The heart of a successful
advisory program is the
development of a
trustful, caring
community in which
students perceive their
advisor as demonstrating
unconditional support for
their growth.
- Knowles & Brown, 2000
Attributes of advisory programs
• One staff member responsible for small group
• Regularly scheduled meetings
• Ongoing individual conferences between
advisor and advisees
• Administrative support for advisory activities
• Parent contact with the school or team
through advisor
• An adult advocate for every student
More importantly, advisory…
• is a process and a relationship (not necessarily
a curriculum).
• establishes rapport between all members.
• models practices students can internalize and
use with others over a lifetime.
• establishes a continuity of caring over a
student’s middle school years.
• is about life, not academics, paperwork, or
test scores.
What are some good
ideas for advisory
activities?
What are some not so
good ideas for advisory
activities?
TWBA Video Clips
Adult Advocate

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“Focus Group”
“Ice Fishing”
“Community Liaison”
“Looping”
“Safe Environment”
Activity #1
From the associated
reading (pp. 145-157)
in TWBA, list three big
ideas that would make
advisory in your
context more effective.
Is advisory the place to teach
students morals and/or ethics?
How are teachers providing
moral education
these days?
Historically, teachers are
expected to teach ethics
and/or morality.
Traditional inculcation
 individual analysis
Models of Moral Education
• Values Clarification
• Character Education
• Service Learning/Community Service
• Comprehensive Values Education
But remember, advisory…
• is a process and a relationship (not necessarily
a curriculum).
• establishes rapport between all members.
• models practices students can internalize and
use with others over a lifetime.
• establishes a continuity of caring over a
student’s middle school years.
• is about life, not academics, paperwork, or
test scores.
Advocacy
The particular role that
middle level educators play
as active supporters of and
intercessors for young
adolescents. While each
student should have an adult
who is primarily responsible
for the academic and
personal growth of that
individual, advocacy should
be inherent in the school’s
culture and in shared
responsibility.
- Lounsbury & Brazee, 2004
The heart of advocacy is…
the notion that students are
known and know they are known.
What does it mean to advocate?
What qualities do you need to be a
great advisor or advocate?
• The ability to listen
• Understanding of young
adolescents and their needs
• A sense of humor
• Openness and a nonjudgmental perspective
• Positive attitude
• Self-confidence and clear
boundaries
Activity #2
Thinking about the
reading, associated
videos, and the
material in this
presentation, what
already makes you a
good advisor and/or
advocate? What can
you do to make
yourself better?
What’s next?