Extended Advisory, and Why it Helps…
A report from SYP teacher, and LW alumni, Michael D.
This fall, the staff at LearningWorks decided to extend Advisory time, so we could have more one-on-one time with our students outside the classroom. At first I was skeptical, but then I started to think back on my own time as a LearningWorks student. I don’t even remember my advisor’s name. What I’m trying to get at is, Learning Works needs the extended Advisory time so teachers can actually get to know their advisees. Student teacher interaction is crucial outside of a classroom environment. Although it seems obvious, students often forget that, like them, LearningWorks teachers are also students, and are always learning as well. Students need encouragement and Advisory, with its focus on relationship building, gives students the opportunity to spend time with someone who’s had the exact same, or similar upbringing as them. If their teacher can successful, then the student feels empowered to be successful, too. This is the main reason we NEED the extended Advisory time. Students absolutely need to feel that teachers are human; they need to be able to see themselves in their teachers. For example, my advisee Joe will be attending South High school for the 2013-2014 school year – this is where I go to school now. To me, this is a great connection to have with Joe. The fact that we’ll be students in the same school will help show him that we are constantly learning and expanding our knowledge, together.
