Why Advisory?
STRONG ADVISORS:
Strong advisory programs address issues of community
Strong advisories promote open communication
Strong advisors know and care about their advisees
Strong advisors closely supervise their advisees' academic progress
Strong advisors are problem solvers and advice givers
Students and advisors perceive that advisory directly improves academic performance
Students and advisors perceive that advisory functions as a community of learners
Young adolescents, especially sixth graders, are leaving the security of the
self-contained elementary school classroom, where they came to know both the
teacher and their peers well, and coming into a situation where they are one of
100’s of students.
To combat the social anonymity that students feel, the faculty and staff strive to
build relationships among a small peer group.
The role of the advisor in this program is to foster a sense of belonging and
community, a sense that "we are family."
(George
& Alexander, 1993; Kunkleman,
1994; Shaw & Koppleman,
1994).
Purpose of Advisory programs
Most true middle schools offer advisory as a pillar of non-cognitive instruction. W.M.S has set the following themes for advisory:
6th grade: Identify SPARKS
7th grade: Understand Mindset and Develop SPARKS
8th grade: Use SPARK and mindset to go out into the community and solve interesting problems