Bonita Vista Middle Bonita Vista Middle SchoolSchool

School Counseling and Guidance Program

Intentional Guidance

Katherine ChangChristine Cura

Target GroupTarget Group

7th and 8th grade students at risk of academic failure

Target Group Selected Based on Target Group Selected Based on the Following Data:the Following Data:

Students who have (3) or more F’s at 1st semester final grade

National StandardNational Standard

Academic Standard AStudents will acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective learning

in school and across the life span

Academic Standard BStudents will complete school with the

academic preparation essential to choose from a wide range of substantial postsecondary

options, including college

Student CompetencyStudent Competency

A:A2 Acquire Skills for Improving Learning

A:A3 Achieve School SuccessB:B1 Improve Learning

Academic Support Academic Support GroupsGroups

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 How many many students?students?

7th – 168th – 13

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Students who have (3) or moreF's at 1st semester grade

7

8

Knowledge of Creating Knowledge of Creating Academic Goals Academic Goals

Pre PostPre Post7th - 50%8th - 18%

7th - 64%

8th - 66%

Knowledge of Creating Knowledge of Creating Academic Goals Academic Goals

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

7th 8th

Pre TestPost Test

Believe Grades are Believe Grades are Important to their Future Important to their Future

Success Success

Pre PostPre Post7th - 42%8th - 45%

7th - 64%8th - 88%

Believe Grades are Believe Grades are Important to their Future Important to their Future

Success Success

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

7th 8th

Pre TestPost Test

Skill in Using Test-taking Skill in Using Test-taking StrategiesStrategies

Pre PostPre Post

7th - 28%8th - 18%

7th - 42%8th - 44%

Skill in Using Test-taking Skill in Using Test-taking StrategiesStrategies

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

7th 8th

Pre TestPost Test

Why are we teaching Why are we teaching this?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 RatesSchool Attendance Rates

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Pre Post

7th

8th

Academic Group Attendance RatesAcademic Group Attendance Rates

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

2008

7th

8th

ResearchResearch

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 – 7Results – 7thth Grade GPA Grade GPA Improvement Improvement

(n=16)(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

Results – Results – 88thth Grade GPA Grade GPA Improvement Improvement

(n=13)(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

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Final Sem 1 Prog Report

7th8th

Improvement in GPA from Semester 1 Improvement in GPA from Semester 1 Final Grade to Next Progress ReportFinal Grade to Next Progress Report

SummarySummary

Even though not many students received a 2.0, we have seen slight GPA improvements with each of our 7th and 8th grade students

77thth Grade GPA Improvement from Semester 1 Grade GPA Improvement from Semester 1 Final Grades to Next Progress ReportFinal Grades to Next Progress Report

7th Grade GPA

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Students

GP

A Series1

Series2

8th Grade GPA

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Students

GP

A Series1

Series2

8th Grade GPA Improvement from Semester 1 Final Grades to Next Progress Report

What the Data ShowsWhat 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 LearnedLessons 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/LimitationsImplications/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!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 programThe school counseling program is committed to contributing is committed to contributing

in a meaningful way in a meaningful way to the academic achievement to the academic achievement

of all students of all students

The EndThe End