REVISED NARRATIVE AND CHARTS BELOW



The Northley Middle School Counseling Vision aims to empower all students to demonstrate a strong work ethic and reach their highest academic potential. For our closing the gap intervention, The Northley Middle School counselors identified students in each grade who received a certain numeric grade in each of their classes at the end of the first marking period in November 2016, onces grades were finalized. The results report recorded below is based on the 8th grade academic achievement group conducted by Mrs. Gina Crowley, 8th Grade Counselor. The criteria for this group was any student who received a 62% in any of their classes at the end of the first marking period for the 2016-2017 school year.



This group was comprised of 8 students and met 4 times throughout the year. The meeting topics and goals of each meeting are described below:

Meeting 1- Identifying Learning Styles- a fun and interactive learning style inventory was given to each student, who then provided them with study habits that matched their learning styles. A pre-test was given to the students at the start of the group.

Meeting 2- Creating SMART Goals- SMART goals were defined and examples were given to the students. Each student had to create one SMART goal that they wanted to achieve by the end of 8th grade. In each session proceeding this session, the goal was revisited and an incentive was given to those who achieved their goal by the fourth session.

Meeting 3- Study Skills- Packet of different ways to study was put together and given to students to keep. The packet was also discussed and modeled in group. Students has to pick at least one new study skill they wanted to try before the last group session.

Meeting 4- Time Management/Organizational Techniques- a time management worksheet was given for students to fill in how their time is distributed each day, from waking up and getting ready to go to school, to attending school, completing homework and participating in extra curricular activities. Organizational strategies were discussed so students could understand how to handle all the demands life has. Lastly, a post-test was given to the students before they left the group indefinitely.



Gina Crowley, 8th grade counselor, choose the above four topics not only because they are proven to help improve academics, but because healthy study habits that are geared to specific student learning styles and abilities are needed for high school and beyond, as well.



The information and data reported in the charts below show evidence to support that the 8th Grade Academic Achievement Closing the Gap Intervention met it's goal of having 20% of students in the eighth grade who received a 62 or below in one or more courses at the end of the first marking period will increase their overall grades to a passing mark of 62% or higher for the end of the year. After students participated in 4 sessions focusing on topics important for academic success, 62% of students who participated in the group grades increased over the last 3 marking periods of the 2016-2017 school year, allowing them to pass their classes with an overall grade of 62% or higher.

Goal: By June 2017, 20% of the students in the eighth grade who received a 62 or below in one or more courses at the end of the first marking period will increase their overall grades to a passing mark of 62% or higher for the end of the year.

Target Group: Students who failed one or more classes at the end of the first marking period, with an overall course grade of 59% or lower.

Data Used to Identify Students: 2016-2017 1st marking period grades

School Counselor(s): Gina Crowley

ASCA Domain, Mindsets & Behaviors Standard(s): MS:2, MS:5, MS:6, B-LS/3, B-LS/4, B-LS/6, B-LS/7

Type of Activities to be Delivered in What Manner?: Identifying Learning Styles- Learning Styles Inventory & Questionnaire Creating SMART Goals- SMART goals worksheet with definitions Study Skills- Packet of different ways to study was put together and given to students to keep. The packet was also discussed and modeled in group. Time Management/Organizational Techniques- Time Management chart & organization strategies discussed

Process Data (Number of students affected): 8 students who met in a group session 4 different times throughout the course of the year (1 time each marking period) for 45 minutes each session

Perception Data (Surveys or assessments used): Pre/Post Student Survey: How well do you think this group will help you/ helped you Pre: 4 Post: 6.5 Please list one thing you’ve learned and will apply in high school: 5 out of 8 students were able to identify a specific concept they learned in group that they can apply to their academic studies in high school.

Outcome Data (Achievement, attendance, and/or behavior data): Based on the 1st marking period intervention, all 8 students were able to clearly identify what type of learner they are and identify strategies that work well within their learning style Comparison of 4th marking period overall grades versus 1st marking period overall grades: 7 out of 8 (62%) students increased their overall grades 0 students performed the same 1 student performed worse in the 4th marking period in comparison to 1st marking period grades

Implications: The data suggests that our closing the gap interventions were successful: 62% of students who participated in the group's grades increased over the last 3 marking periods of the 2016-2017 school year, allowing them to pass their classes with an overall grade of 62% or higher. One student's passed all her classes, but one class only increased to a 61% Changes planned for the closing the gap intervention for the 2017-2018 school year: - More meeting dates - A different and more fluid way of identifying students so others can receive support even if they didn’t fail a class in just the 1st marking period.

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