Creating a Culture of

Success

Stephanie Robinson M.ED Cynthia Galloway MA

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Objectives (AKA Learning Targets) Increase Knowledge Around ACES

How to create a culture of success

Learn/ discuss skills on how to actively engage students to increase success in schools

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Outline for the Day: First Welcome Everybody

Talk about ACES/Resiliency

Talk about what factors can help students be successful in school

PBIS/Multi-Tier System

The importance of family engagement

Different examples of workshops for parents/guardians

Q&A and open sharing- ENCOURAGE

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Ground Rules: - Be an active participate- We are all learners: No question is ridiculous- Practice Self- Care- Take breaks as needed

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ACES: Acute Childhood Experiences What are ACES:

● Early childhood where toxic stress

was experience

● Toxic stress makes it difficult for the

brain to develop healthy neural

networks and some brain cells may

die

● ACES can influence whether a student

experiences triumphs or trial

● Transitional trauma is similar to ACES

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Activity

How does ACES impact your school?

How does ACES impact classrooms?

How does ACES Impact the curriculum for:

● Social/ emotional growth ● Academic● Career/college readiness

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Consider the following when looking at how ACES impacts your school and community…

● How many students are identified as McKinney Vento?

● What are the percentages of students on free/ reduced lunch ?

● How many of the students parents went to college(est.) ?

● What are some of the stories students are telling you ?

Creating a Culture of Success 1. The cultural of success includes assisting

students with academic, emotional, social and behavioral needs

2. Counselor's role is to teach evidence based social and emotional curriculum

3. Counselor offers brief individual and group counseling sessions

The goal is to develop and maintain a supportive and healthy relationship with student and guardian.

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Setting Classroom Expectations ● Clear expectations ● Clear and concise ● Make expectations age appropriate for

place and time● Promote success in the classroom ● Redirect and be creative

When setting expectations it is important to have consistency throughout the building

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Creating Success Around Transition

● Be mindful of class changes● Breaks● More discipline happens around these

times - think of alternative options● Provide structure, reinforce expected

behavior, and provide predictable patterns to help ease the transitional periods for students

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Elementary, Middle and High School

Learning is a place where children develop and thrive in. 10

Creating Success for Elementary

● Parent/child conferences● Love and Logic training for staff

and families● Parents/guardians participation in

schoolwide assemblies and school field trips

● Family and child read in days● PTSA and mentorship programs

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Creating Success in Middle School ● Student of concern meetings to discuss:

○ Prevention/interventions used to help students succeed:■ Academically■ Emotionally■ Socially

● Teachers be trauma informed: advocate at district/ building level to have ACES and Resilience building trainings

● Train all staff in motivational interviewing

● Provide students with opportunities to develop/ explore interests

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Creating Success in High School

● Students of concern meetings ● Promote post secondary planning ● Promote healthy choices● Encourage students to try new things

Provide time and space for students to be young

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Study skills- curriculum available for free through OSPI

Career Interests- curriculum through OSPI

Hold Career Day for 8th graders- recruit PTSA help, write local grants for refreshments, ask local business

Complete High School and Beyond plan- 8th grade- available through OSPI

Hold Character Days, No Name calling Week, Kindness Week,

WEB- Where everyone belongs 14

Create programs to explore and provide leadership opportunities:

As a school counselor, it is important to actively seek new and exciting programs to help encourage community and student success ies:

Time for some fun!

Inside out- parents If you think they have it hard

wait: SAT'S!!!

Fourth Grade is Rough

Fourth Grade is Super Rough

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Parent/Guardian Engagement Activities

Provide opportunities to engage parents/guardians:

● Ask parents/guardians to volunteer at events: career day, speed mentoring, field day, etc.

● Create a parent center at the school- a warm place for parents to feel comfortable and welcomed

● Have events at schools to help parents with parenting skills, keeping up with academics, and technology!

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How to Advocate? Consult, Consult, Consult- with other counselors, community resources, agencies that work with your families, etc.

Look for opportunities to enhance the school climate and community

Provide opportunities for parents/guardians to grow and learn

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School Counselor's Role with Community:

Work with Community Resources to provide outreach programs to members:

McKinney Vento: resources that provides members with food, housing, college application resources, and transportation vouchers,etc.

DSHS /DCFS - Department of Social Health Services

Working with Case Managers from various agencies such as: mental health or developmental disability office

Drug and alcohol prevention/intervention

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Help Students Cope with Stress/Anxiety: Create success by providing proactive interventions based on the students past and

needs:

- Look at disciplinary actions: look at their history… Prior to creating an Action Plan

- Mindfulness activities/ coping strategies - Focus on how to handle and manage stress/ anxiety- Provide opportunities for students to reflect on behaviors- Provide time for cool down- time to process

Ask important questions: have you eaten breakfast, how was your morning weekend/ tell me more about who you spent time ?

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Other things to consider

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Provide Opportunities for Growth:Provide opportunities for alternative disciplinary actions:

- Instead out school suspension- in school - Lunch dentions - After school classes- Provide opportunities to reflect on behaviors - School restitution- community service - Be mindful on what we input into our computers for

disciplinary actions (create bias)

Always look for opportunities for students to learn from their mistakes.

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Self

Car

e Before you can help others, you need to take care of yourself:

- Drink water - Exercise - Eat healthy- team up and have healthy snacks in break

room; have each grade level pick a month (We are budgeting!)

- Be around those who support you - Find a mentor in the district- When strong emotions for a particular student or event

comes up, reflect on how/ what are the reasons for it- Avoid countertransference

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References: Websites www.Boingboing.org.uk(2012) - provides information on how to build resilience in students and community members.

Kitsap Strong (2016)- provides trainings, resources, and articles about Adverse Childhood Experiences(ACES) and how to help build resilience in students.

OSPI(2017)- provides information regarding certification, career and college readiness and much more …

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References: Articles Ace Interface( 2014). Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences: Building Self-Healing Communities. Peachtree, GA.: Ace Interface

Center on the Developing Child(2016) Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to Adolescence. Boston, MA: Harvard University

References: Books Bowker, M. ( 2015) Creating a Success Culture: Transforming Our Schools One Question at a Time. Edmonds, WA: Scriber Lake High School

Canfield, J. & Wells, H. (1976)100 Ways to enhance self-concept in the Classroom: A Handbook for Teachers and Parents. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall

Christenson, S.L., Stout, K., & Pohl (2012) Check and Connect. A Comprehensive Student Engagement Intervention: Implementing with Fidelity. Institute on Community Integration: University of Minnesota.

Forbes, T.H. (2012) Help for Billy: A Beyond Consequences Approach to Helping Challenging Children in the Classroom.Boulder, Co:Beyond Consequences Institute.

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References: Books Continue Jensen, E.(2013)Engaging Students with Poverty in Mind: Practical Strategies for Raising Achievement. Alexandria,VA:ASCD

Marazano, R.J., Boogren, T., Heflebower, T., Kanold-Mcintye, J. & Pickering, D. (2012). Becoming Reflective Teacher:The Classroom Strategies Series. Bloomington, IN.:Marano Research.

Smith, R. (2004) Conscious Classroom Management: Unlocking the Secrets of Great Teaching. Fairfax, CA.:Conscious Teaching Publications.

Souers, K. & Hall (2016) Fostering Resilient Learners. Strategies for Creating a Trauma-Sensitive Classroom. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

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