Help Freshmen Succeed

American School Counselor Association Conference – July 2, 2013 Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania

Karl D. Liedtka, Lebanon School District • Secondary School Counselor • Supervisor K-12 Counseling ProgramsKliedtka@lebanon.k12.pa.us • (717) 270-6733

• http://cedars.lebanon.k12.pa.us/groups/karlliedtka/

Where is Lebanon?

We are here

Where K

arl grew up

VACATION

Where is Lebanon?

Lebanon School District

Demographic ProfileArea: 81.9 square miles

Total Population (2010 U.S. Census Bureau estimate): 25,477Enrollment 2012-13: 4,893

Ethnic Diversity White: 36% Black: 6%

Hispanic: 52% Native American: .18%

Asian: .84% Multi-Racial: 4.13%

Free and Reduced Lunch: 80%Post-Secondary Education Rate: 16 year average: 66%

• Freshmen are challenging (crazy)– more discipline referrals than 10-11-12– more personal/social visits than 10-11-12– more “drama” – more failed classes– more agency referrals

• They are high maintenance– but not usually high profile – Seniors!

How did I get here?

• Challenges– Transition to high school– Hormones– Learning the delicate social cues

• Reaction to this– Initially – not effective– Brain Science• Frontal Lobe, Cerebellum, Limbic System

– Under construction

How did I get here?

Brain Under ConstructionPrefrontal Cortex

Regulates decision making, problem solving, control of purposeful behavior, emotions

CerebellumRegulates initiation and

timing of movements.

http://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_jayne_blakemore_the_mysterious_workings_of_the_adolescent_brain.html

Limbic SystemMore sensitive to

stimulation “risk taking” than in the adult brain.

• Needs assessment – Created needs assessment– Surveyed faculty and students– Identified the most concerning issues

• LFS lessons– A system used to organize attention– Active, dynamic, get their attention, commercials,

snap shots, sound bites, entertaining, social.

– Lessons………………..Show and Tell

Where do you start?

Why LFS?• Everybody’s Doing It

– District wide movement to LFS – Part of the Team - Don’t allow marginalization– Easier access to classes

• Less You - More Them– The more they do the more they learn – James Brown– Basic principles of LFS-

• Movement, Interaction, Deeper Understanding

• Flexibility – LFS allows you to go to plan B, C…..D etc

• Have to teach students why having good grades is important – before they are taught becoming better students.

3-2-1Did you know – videoThemes and IdeasCause and Effect

Why Care?

3-2-1Work Smart ArticleStudy Skills GuideStudy Skills – Power PointExtended Thinking - Prompt

• Work Smarter Not Harder – Well, maybe a little.

• use a butter knife to cut a pieces of wood

Study Skills

• S.M.A.R.T• S.M.A.R.T Video

Goal Setting

• They have to gain an understanding of the importance of time – before they try to manage it.

– 86,400 – video– Attack Your Day - video

Time

Students have to know how common it is and what it looks like before they can improve upon it.

Ellen – videoHow to procrastinate like a proTypes of procrastinators

Procrastination

• Students have to know how common it is and what it looks like before they can improve upon it.Ellen – videoHow to procrastinate like a proTypes of procrastinators

• Discussing priorities is difficult – we often tell them WHAT to value…not WHY it is of value…..FREEDOM? Sneakers! Do what you have to do

ProcrastinationPrioritization

• Emotional? – video• Distracted?-video• Expectations-video• Decisions – Graphic Organizer

• Decision - Cartoons

Decision Making

• Things look different when you slow down – videosSoggy FaceMiscommunication-1Droplet Miscommunication-2

Things look different when you examine them more carefullyPic 1 EscherPic 2Pic 3

Conflict Resolution

• Once posted you lose control

• Think before you post

Cyber Smarts

Questions?http://cedars.lebanon.k12.pa.us/groups/karlliedtka/