Suncoast Credit Union

At-risk students will develop positive mindset methods that will help them track their progress and learn how to make adjustments that will steer them towards meeting graduation requirements.

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Positive Student Success

School:
Alternative Schools 
Subject:
Other 
Teacher:
Milagros Lee 
Students Impacted:
202 
Grade:
9-12 
Date:
July 22, 2017

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

 

Suncoast Credit Union - $90.00

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Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 323

At the beginning of the school year, a bulletin board was set up at the main entry, displaying the differences between a fixed mindset to one that is positive and flexible.  The board is colorful and eyecatching, which helps students and visitors to the building ponder about their own thinking strategies. It has helped start conversations with parents/guardians and led to making them an active part of their child's educational team.  Those parents that do not speak English, I have been able to explain to them in their primary language, what it is all about and how they can become their child's "cheerleader" as we journey together through the last few years of high school.

 

Initially, I met with students in their classrooms and presented them with a color coded folder.  The folder included color coded course sequence sheets, weekly trackers, monthly calendars, a self-assessment, action plans and mindset information.  The purpose and use of these sheets were explained in a large group setting initially during the first month of school. Personalizing this experience, I started meeting one on one with the students and reviewed their self assessments and helped them concentrate on areas they were having difficulties.  We continued to monitor credits and course progress as the first quarter continued.  An area of concern that I saw for many of our students was the difficulties they experienced in managing their time in class or at home and the rate at which they completed units within a course.  This prompted me to work closer with them on what was occurring in the classroom and bringing the teacher on board with this experience.  The teachers became a second mentor to our population as we moved into the second and third quarter of the school year.

 

Focusing on the difficulties and praising their achievements, students slowly began to use their weekly trackers to determine where they were in their course progress.  The students continued to meet with me and together we reviewed their daily, weekly and monthly progress.  There were many students that had a difficult time at the beginning keeping written information in their folders but as time progressed, it became familiar to them and knowing that I was going to be checking in on them along with their teacher, and the positive behavior support incentives, may have had made impact.   Also the fact that parents became more involved in their child's progress, may also have assisted in making this a success. Together we looked at strategies to improve their progress, it does take a village.

 

Students continue to monitor their progress, strategies and time management.  Our meetings continue as we are entering the fourth quarter and graduation is two months away.  They have come a long way and many of the students are meeting their graduation requirements.  Our 2019 cohort or junior class, is moving along and I hope that next year at this time we will have a greater number of students involved and ready to graduate.  Being an alternative school where students are sent as a last chance to graduate, I have to say that they are doing it, they are doing their absolute best to beat the odds and be ready to move on to their post-secondary adventure.  Learning how to be successful in the short term they are going to be carrying skills with them that can help them for a lifetime. 

 

Original Grant Overview

Goal

At-risk students will develop positive mindset methods that will help them track their progress and learn how to make adjustments that will steer them towards meeting graduation requirements.
 

 

What will be done with my students

At-risk, underachieving or low achieving students will be identified by their attendance record, FSA level and academic history. Students will complete a self-evaluation assessment to determine their level of academic and organizational skills. This will include how well they manage their time and complete assignments.
The students will be given color coded folders to use as they keep track of their in-class and homework assignments. They will also receive a weekly tracker, a monthly calendar sheet and a progress monitoring form which will be used daily. Students will be taught how to effectively keep track of their time through hands-on activities and personalized counselor attention. Evaluation of the student's progress will take place weekly, providing appropriate feedback and ample time to make necessary adjustments throughout the school year.
 

 

Benefits to my students

By acquiring and applying basic time management and organizational skills, students will be encouraged, motivated and supported in improving their academic performance. As their self-management skills improve and strengthen their academic progress, students will discover that their personal/social and career domains will also improve. These accomplishments will motivate them to strive for success in school, improve their self-regard and help them develop into contributing members of our society. 

 

Budget Narrative

The materials listed above were priced through the OfficeMax website. These materials will be used by the students to keep track of their assignments/due dates. Colored paper will be used to identify the different forms (for student use such as grade monitoring forms, calendars, homework sheets and self-evaluation and pre and post test). Charts will be posted near my office to track student progress (stickers) and celebrate accomplishments.
 

 

Items

# Item Cost
1 Blue colored paper $13.00
2 Green colored paper $13.00
3 Yellow colored paper $13.00
4 Colored folders-multi $17.00
5 Poster Board $14.00
6 Stickers $20.00
  Total: $90.00

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Suncoast Credit Union