Advisory

Purposes of Advisory 

Advisory is a strong, flexible structure that can support a variety of purposes, as you’ll see below. HPM  teacher’s responsibilities change depending on the purpose.

Build Student-to-Student Affiliation 

Middle school students are in a period of significant developmental changes. They’re seeking new connections and learning to navigate new school experiences, and they have increased autonomy. When the primary purpose for Advisory is to build student-to-student affiliation, HPM teacher’s responsibilities are to foster significance, belonging, and community. 

Energize and Re-engage

After sustained periods of academic focus, middle school students can benefit from activities that give them a brief mental break and recharge them for the learning ahead. When the primary purpose for Advisory is to energize and re-engage students, HPM teacher’s responsibilities center on effectively managing activities that are physically active and energizing while helping students develop positive social skills. 

Reflect and Recalibrate

HPM is our students’ community, so there may be times when the primary purpose for Advisory is to take systematic stock of events that are happening in school or to address critical issues, such as safe transitions, taking care of school property, preparing for high school, or bullying. When the primary purpose for Advisory is to reflect and recalibrate, HPM teacher’s responsibilities focus on providing leadership, clarity, and support. The Advisory is a key time for discussing important issues and helping students become invested in doing their part to create a strong, vibrant, healthy school community where they can flourish. 

Academic Readiness

HPM has a set of academic goals for its students. An Advisory that has the purpose of helping students achieve these academic goals does so through a “whole child” lens. While the focus is on helping students meet the achievement standards, consideration is also given to helping them develop the academic and social-emotional skills essential for positive academic performance. When the primary purpose for Advisory is academic readiness, HPM teacher’s responsibilities include ensuring that students get varied, targeted, and engaging learning activities that are curriculum-based and helping students develop a set of skills that enable them to engage in rigorous instruction. 

Advisor-Advisee Relationships 

For middle school students to be successful, it’s critical that they have a relationship with at least one adult at school who knows and cares about them and has a positive mentoring relationship with them. When the primary purpose for Advisory is advisor/advisee relationships, the Advisory meeting is structured so that HPM teachers can interact with a group of students in ways that build trusting relationships. HPM teacher’s responsibilities focus on getting to know each student personally and serving as mentor and advocate.

Communication and Social Skills Development 

Sometimes, there’s an expectation that middle school students should already have well developed communication and social skills. However, these skills must be explicitly taught to all students. When the primary purpose for Advisory is communication and social skills development, the Advisory meeting focuses on helping students develop competencies such as listening attentively, speaking effectively, and displaying cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self-control. HPM teacher’s responsibilities include demonstrating these skills in action, providing direct instruction and practice, and having students set goals for developing these skills.