Middle Level Advisory

Middle school is a time when students are at a very unique stage in their development, in which they require proper support systems in place to help accommodate to their academic, social, emotional, and developmental needs. Having a teaming system in place helps break the school into smaller groups where students have a sense of community and belonging, however school systems can go further than this to ensure student success. Advisory is a time where students are able to get the support they need by having individualized attention while the time is focused on community building and goal setting. Groups of students are overseen by their advisor, who facilitates activities that get students interacting with one another and forming a community within their advisory. This time is important to help students see middle school as a place where they not only can succeed, but a place where students feel like they belong. To help students to feel that sense of belongingness, advisory is where a sense of community and purpose can be found within each student. Advisory is also  a time where students work on their Personalized Learning Plans, with their advisor there to guide them in brainstorming steps to achieve the goals they set. Academically, this advisory time is essential to helping students form goals and helping track their progress so teachers are best able to assist them.

It is clear that advisory is an essential time within the school day, but I argue that it is preferred for advisory to meet at the beginning of the day for all middle level students. This gives students a place where they can transition from their home environment to their school environment, getting their minds ready to focus on learning. Many activities within advisory give students the opportunity to share about themselves if they wish to, which is a great way for students to get to know one another and build connections within their advisory community. Advisory is a time for positive student interaction through guided activities, which is a beneficial way for students to start their day. If students are excited about an advisory activity or a new fact they learned about a friend in advisory, they are more likely to start the day off with a smile on their face or a positive attitude going into their  classes following advisory. Another benefit of advisory being at the beginning of the day involves the PLP work that students do. When students start off their day by thinking about their PLP's and the goals they have set, along with steps they need to achieve them, the goals will be in their mind throughout the beginning of the day, allowing them to see opportunities to work toward their goals in the classes they have following advisory.