9TH GRADE GUIDANCE LESSON:

DECISION MAKING AND STUDY SKILLS

Counselor Parks and Counselor Sledge

Schedule for Today

� Review information covered last semester

� Discuss student-selected important issues:

� Decision Making

� Study Skills� Study Skills

� Review

� West Charlotte Mentoring Coalition

Introductions

Who and Where are your Support Staff

� Support Staff members are here to help meet students’ needs beyond the classroom

� Students need to know who members are and where they can be located

Staff Members?

and where they can be located

� Activity Time

� On the following slides, Support Staff members pictures will be displayed. Please raise your hand and volunteer your answer for who you think the person is and what their role is here at WCHS.

All WCHS IB Students

Counseling Department Chair

Key Club Advisor

Ms. Anderson A11-A

Communities in School – TRIO College Program

Ms. Cafaro D6 office

Communities in School – 9th Grade Coordinator

Ms. Draine D3 office

Assistant Principal – 9th Grade

Mr. Felder A3

Communities in School – Adjudicated Youth Coordinator

Mr. Lee A19

Social Work Intern

Ms. Hill A-18

Communities in School – 9th Grade Coordinator

Mr. Lockhart D7office

School Counselor - 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th

Students Last Names’ R-Z

Beta Club Advisor

Ms. Maple A11-B

Family Advocate

SAVE Advisor

Mr. McClary A15

School Counselor - 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th

Students Last Names A-G

Key Club Advisor

Ms. McCullough A9

College Advisor

Ms. Newman Guidance Hall

Attendance Secretary

Ms. Nichols A5

Family Advocate

SAVE Advisor

Leading Ladies Advisor

Ms. Nicholson A15

School Counselor – New 9th Graders Last Names A-M

Ms. Parks A14

School Counselor – New 9th Graders Last Names N-Z

Mrs. Sledge A16

School Counselor - 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th

Students Last Names H-Q

National Honor Society Advisor

Ms. Thompson A12

Social Worker

Mrs. Vaughn A18

School Nurse

Mrs. Vaughan I building

What are the promotion requirements for current first-time 9th graders?

Promotion Requirements Review

first-time 9th graders?

Minimum of 6 Credits during 9th Grade Year

* AND *

1 High School Exit StandardEnglish I or Algebra I

Student must achieve level III IV

• Last semester over 240 students completed the Freshmen Survey

Survey Results from 1st Semester

Freshmen Survey

• The 9th grade team reviewed the results and is using your responses to help guide our efforts to improve student success

• We are listening to you!!

42.4%

27.6%

32.8%

23.7%

26.7%

41.6% 54.8%

12.5%

8.3%

35%

36.1%

48.4%

Starting to plan for

Focus on how what you do now aligns with your goals

3.7%

26.3%

5.8%

37.8%

4.1%

27.6%

5.0%

18.7%

21.6% 44.2%

1.2%

14.3%

36.1%

WCHS Clubs & Orgs.

Pamphlet

plan for Class of 2016 now

51.2%

28.7%

You’re relationships with teachers

are so important

We want every student to have a connections with a

supportive adult

Mr. Felder is

16%

9.4%

23.8%

7.8%

14.3%

4.9%

28.7%

5.8%

Felder is working hard

11.1%

18%

6.6%

3.3%

0%

We’ll be coordinating more student-

parent-teacher

Connect with Ms. Newman and Ms. Cafaro

Yes!! It’s your choice!

16.8%

30.3%

4.5%

1.2%

8.2%

teacher conferences

49.2%

47.1%

43%

41%

32.8%

Focus of today

Focus of today

32.8%

32.4%

31.6%

31.1%

28.3%

26.6%

Decision Making Skills

Opening Questions:

� Why are decision making skills important for you to develop?

� What types of decisions do you make?

What/Who influences your decisions?� What/Who influences your decisions?

� Who do your decisions affect?

Decision Making Model

� Identify and define the problem. � Consider what an optimal outcome or goal might be.

� List possible options/alternatives.

� Evaluate the options.� Evaluate the options.� Is it unkind? Is it hurtful? Is it unfair? Is it dishonest? Is it in line with the goal?

� Choose one option.� It is important that the solution to the problem does not create a problem for someone else.

� Make a plan and do it.

� Evaluate the problem and solution.

Applying the Decision Making Model to Scenarios

� Choose 1 scenario from below and apply the decision making model to determine your response:� Drunk Driver: You’re at a party, but the friend who was supposed to give you a ride home is drunk or drugged. She insists that she’s fine and tells you to get in. You know getting in the car with her would put your life at risk – and hers – but you don’t want to make a big scene.

� Off Campus High: On your way to lunch, a guy or girl you like suggests � Off Campus High: On your way to lunch, a guy or girl you like suggests that you leave campus to get high. You really like this person and don’t want to embarrass yourself. But you also don’t want to get high.

� Acceptance: Your family moved here in the middle of the school year from out of state. You connect with a group of students who live in your neighborhood. They seem cool and even stick up for you at school, but one day the leader of the group says you have to fight the toughest kid in order to continue hanging out with them.

� Write down your answers on your handout

� Get into groups based on the scenarios you choose to compare your answers

Study Skills

Opening Questions:

� What does studying mean to you?

� How is studying different from completing homework?

� When should you study?� When should you study?

� How long should you study?

� How can you tell the impact of studying on your academic performance?

� What are the challenges getting in the way of you studying?

Successful Study Skills begin in Class with Note Taking

* Record * Reduce * Recite * Reflect * *Review, Review, Review!� RECORD: Take Notes in class by identifying the main points, write down

examples or math problems� Heading: Date, Class/subject , Chapter #, Page #’s, etc.

� REDUCE:� after the class summarize what you have written down / learned� key/cue words, phrases� Questions that you may have for the teacher � Questions that you may have for the teacher � Don’t write down everything your teacher says. Summarize!

� RECITE: Talk Aloud� Review from your memory what you have learned� Create your own examples or memorization techniques

� REFLECT: Think it over!� How is this relevant to what you have learned before? � Make connections that jog your memory!

� REVIEW: the notes you took

� Before reading new material

� With friends (if that compliments your learning style)

� Before every test (not 15 minutes before!)

Study Skills – The Tools

� Agenda

� Class material � Notes

� Books/Handouts

� Previous Assessments

� Flash cards

� Other recommendations:� Extra blank notebook paper

� Multi-color writing utensils and/or highlighters

� Flash cards� On one side, write the answer

� On the other side, write the question, concept or cue

� Shuffle the cards. Test questions won’t always be in the same order as your study guide.

� Benefits of flash cards� Portable, quick, and effective

Study Skills – Tips

� Set a regular time to study each day

� Find a quiet place without distractions

Clear off study area

� Avoid cramming –procrastinating

� Study in chunks of time.

� Don’t burn out! � Clear off study area

� Don’t take phone calls during study time

� Turn off the radio/T.V.

� Keep supplies close at hand

Don’t burn out!

� Take breaks in between study sessions (15 minutes)

� Drink water often to stay hydrated

Review

� Support Staff

� Promotion Requirements� 6 credits and 1 EOC (Algebra I/English I)

� Decision Making Model� Identify and define the

� Study Skills� The 5 Rs

� Record

� Reduce

� Recite

� Reflect

Review, Review, Review!� Identify and define the problem.

� List possible options/alternatives.

� Evaluate the options.

� Choose one option.

� Make a plan and do it.

� Evaluate the problem and solution.

� Review, Review, Review!

WEST CHARLOTTE MENTORING COALITIONMENTORING COALITION

Mr. McClary and Ms. Nicholson