Transcript 7 th Grade GPA Improvement

Bonita Vista Middle School
School Counseling and Guidance Program
Intentional Guidance
Katherine Chang
Christine Cura
Target Group
7th and 8th grade students at risk of academic failure
Target Group Selected Based on the
Following Data:
Students who have (3) or more F’s at 1st semester final grade
National Standard
Academic Standard A
Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills
that contribute to effective learning in school and across the
life span
Academic Standard B
Students will complete school with the academic
preparation essential to choose from a wide range of
substantial postsecondary options, including college
Student Competency
A:A2 Acquire Skills for Improving Learning
A:A3 Achieve School Success
B:B1 Improve Learning
Academic Support Groups
7 weeks: one class period a week on rotating bases
– Learning styles
– Organization and time management
– Study habits and test-taking skills
– Decision-making
– Goal setting and motivation
How many students?
16
14
7th – 16
8th – 13
12
10
8
6
7
8
4
2
0
Students who have (3) or more
F's at 1st semester grade
Knowledge of Creating Academic
Goals
Pre
Post
 7th - 50%
 7th - 64%
 8th - 18%
 8th - 66%
Knowledge of Creating Academic
Goals
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Pre Test
Post Test
7th
8th
Believe Grades are Important to
their Future Success
Pre
Post
 7th - 42%
 7th - 64%
 8th - 45%
 8th - 88%
Believe Grades are Important to
their Future Success
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Pre Test
Post Test
7th
8th
Skill in Using Test-taking
Strategies
Pre
Post
 7th - 28%
 7th - 42%
 8th - 18%
 8th - 44%
Skill in Using Test-taking
Strategies
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Pre Test
Post Test
7th
8th
Why are we teaching this?
 We want students to acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and
skills to be…
 academically successful
 improve their GPAs
 If students feel more competent and confident, they are more
likely to attend school
School Attendance Rates
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
7th
8th
40%
30%
20%
10%
Pre
Post
Academic Group Attendance Rates
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
7th
8th
2008
Research
Overall, research indicates that students who attend school
perform better than those who do not (Easton & Engelhard,
1982)
Attendance is a stronger predictor of student achievement than
poverty (USA Today, 2000)
Results – 7th Grade GPA
Improvement
(n=16)
7 (44%) improved GPA from Semester 1 final grade to
next progress report
5 (31%) of targeted students earned a 2.0 or better GPA
from Semester 1 final grade to next progress report
th
Results – 8
Grade GPA
Improvement
(n=13)
8 (62%) improved GPA from Semester 1 final grade to
next progress report
5 (38%) of targeted students earned a 2.0 or better GPA
from Semester 1 final grade to next progress report
Improvement in GPA from Semester 1
Final Grade to Next Progress Report
4
3.5
3
2.5
7th
8th
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Final Sem 1
Prog Report
Summary
Not many students received a 2.0 GPA, but we have
seen slight GPA improvements with each of our
7th and 8th grade students
7th Grade GPA Improvement from Semester 1 Fina
Grades to Next Progress Report
GPA
7th Grade GPA
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Series1
Series2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Students
8th Grade GPA Improvement from Semester 1
Final Grades to Next Progress Report
GPA
8th Grade GPA
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Series1
Series2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Students
9 10 11 12 13
What the Data Shows
 Our 8th graders are doing slightly better than our 7th graders
 Overall, a slight GPA improvement for both our 7th and 8th graders
Lessons Learned
 Rapport-building is important to establish with students, teachers,




counselors, administrators
We can use data to measure competency achieved, knowledge and skills
gained, and attitudes/beliefs of students
We can use data to drive decision making
Intentional guidance lessons helps close the achievement gap
Intentional guidance supports teaching and learning by assuring that all
students achieve academic success
Implications/Limitations
 Intentional guidance was successful at both grade levels
 Attendance and intentional guidance are an integral piece to student
achievement
 Not all students learn at the same pace
 Not enough time to process group activities and experiences
 Focus on more skill-building activities
Next Steps
 Lower group size and enlist support and help from more teachers
 Look into impact of intervention on homework completion
 Disaggregate data to focus on where additional help is needed
 Increase academic support groups and other additional support for
students
 Collect and gather GPA and attendance data for semester 2
 Follow up with students individually to discuss grades and progress in
each of their classes
Thank you!
 Teachers who participated and supported
 Counselors and administration for consultation and
support of the program
 Together we can work to ensure equity and access to
achievement for all!
The school counseling program
is committed to contributing
in a meaningful way
to the academic achievement
of all students