Re: End Game from last post
A process to "catch" those students who might need a bit of redirection and refocusing on studies, rather than failing and/or being behavior problems. Think RTI, PBIS, Behavior Instruction, whatever.
We have a state athletics/activities "list" each week. On Friday students with F's and D's are put on a list. They get "red sheets" on Monday morning. The goal is - go to class, do your work, teacher signs it saying you were good today/did your work today, turn it in to counselors at end of day for a pass to your sport/activity. Here's why it doesn't work - band/choir/drama/debate does not hold practice after school - it's during class. And, some of the athletic coaches do not enforce it. And, b/c we have so many kids on it the counselors can't (or, won't) track down those who do not check in at the end of the day. And, it does NOTHING to raise their grades - it does nothing about the work they may be missing or having them bring back work started, but not finished in class.
We have nothing in place that connects any behavior issues with academic issues and that's what we want to start looking at.
Here's what our PBIS committee has suggested, but has received no backing or support for:
We need to focus on our staff being a staff that "buys in" to most of our preventative measures - things like being in the hallways most passing periods, handing out caughtya cards for the same kinds of things, saying "we don't do that in our school," which all seem like things we could get behind, but because we have no one encouraging it - it doesn't happen.
Then, we need a process for us to find these students BEFORE it's week 9, 12, or 18 and there's no hope.
We currently have ONE at-risk tutor. However, she is not a certified teacher and she is only ONE person.
We have suggested taking seminar students out of one teachers classroom - 22 students to be spread among 15-18 teachers - and then that teacher becomes the Behavior Interventionist.
We used to (before me) have a program like this. When my fellow committee member reminded our principal of this he said "Yes, be we got rid of that for targeted instruction for state assessments." That has NOT been effective at doing anything except making extra work for us and irritating the students.
I am willing to step into the role of Behavior Interventionist - I would LOVE the opportunity to work with these students in a focused ONE-ON-ONE environment, where I can build that relationship to connect and show someone cares enough to give a damn.
The idea is to have it be a "two week" program - where students are identified and I have them in MY seminar room for two weeks, or until they work out of their behavior issues and/or academic issues. I would be the person checking their grades in all classes. Finding out their needs. Offering services if necessary. Doing whatever I could WITH the kids to help them be successful.
But, we are waiting to see what happens. Why? Not sure. Likely because it would cause the counselors extra work.
It shouldn't be this hard.