Implementing Advisory Programs in the Middle School

1. Implementing Advisory Programs in the Middle School Information in Favor of Advisor Programs Compiled by Middle Web and the National Middle School Association Claire Landreville

2. Definition of Advisory Programs • According to the researchers for the NMSA, a Middle School Advisory Program is defined by: • An advisory program is an arrangement whereby one adult and a small group of students have an opportunity to interact on a scheduled basis in order to provide a caring environment for academic guidance and support, everyday administrative details, recognition, and activities to promote citizenship.

3. Research Also Says: Author and researcher Stevenson says of the programs: “ Stevenson (1992) stated that the purposes of advisory are "to ensure that each student is known well at school by at least one adult who is that youngster's advocate (the advisor), to guarantee that every student belongs to a peer group, to help every student find ways to be successful, and to promote coordination between home and school" (p.293).

4. Goals of Implementing the Program The National Middle School Association has outlined five general goals which they feel a good advisor program can achieve. They are: • Promote student-teacher relationships • Address general self-esteem and competence beliefs • Provide social exchange and peer recognition in a safe environment • Link parents and school • Mediate between academic and social concerns

5. Wigfield and Eccles A study conducted by the aforementioned in 1994 on 1, 875 students concluded that the self-esteem of children who had just transitioned to middle school or junior high is significantly lowered. They believe the decrease in self-esteem is caused by the disruption of established social networks at a time when social activities is gaining importance.

6. Advisory Programs and Self-Esteem The study of Wigfield and Eccles also concluded that a properly and well implemented advisor program can increase the sense of self-esteem in middle school students. The time spend daily with an adult who knows them and cares about them and a familiar 5 to 7 students has been shown to be very beneficial.

7. Advisory and Improved Academic Performance Robert Felner, Joan Lipsitz, Anthony Jackson, Deborah Kasak, et al., Illinois (Carnegie) report that: “Fully implemented" middle grades schools show gains in achievement standard scores of 23 points in math, reading, and language (with 25 points representing a half standard deviation) over "non-implemented" schools and schools that are initially implementing the recommendations of Turning Points (advisory programs)”.

8. The Three Most Common Goals The three most commonly sought after and achieved goals in relation to advisory programs are, according to Jim Burns of the NELMS journal: • 1) supportive and caring relationships with adults • 2) a constructive group of friends • 3) relationships with the community through service projects

9. Conclusion Thus, in light of the presented information and research, advisory programs are beneficial to students when implemented correctly and staffed with teachers who are willing to work towards the goals of middle schoolers. Such programs are need by students at this age who are in a difficult transition period. These 15 minutes a day will make the transition smoother, test scores and academic achievement higher and more significant, and truancy and low self-esteem decrease significantly.

10. Works Cited Information for this presentation on advisory programs was taken from: Articles by Jim Burns published in the NELMS scholarly journal in 1996 and used by www.middleweb.org Articles and research by Wigfield and Eccles and other members of the NMSA published to their website and in their publicaton, Turning Points 2000 which can be located at: www.nmsa.org