Analysis Of The Alternative By Galen Leonhardy

My educational goal is focused on becoming a school counselor and developing a theoretical orientation that will provide a framework for me to choose and direct therapeutic interventions with students. My theoretical orientation will guide me as I provide resources and services to students, staff and parents. Also, I want to be able to work with students so they are able to identify, understand and appropriately display the feeling they experience.

I want the children to gain a sense of independence. I will encourage them to make their own decisions, and assist them when I see it is necessary. I think that all the programs serve children because they were created to assist children succeed. High/Scope serves the best interest because it supports developmentally appropriate, active learning experienced for each child, along with encourages decision making, creative expression, problem solving, language and literacy, and other emerging abilities (Morrison, 2009,

Everything teachers plan and do should focus on the individual child. They tailor, adjust, and adapt the curriculum to fit each child in the program, rather than expecting children to fit the program (Elkind, 1987). It is imperative in a developmentally appropriate perspective that the curriculum and teaching methods be age appropriate, individually appropriate, and culturally appropriate (Bredekamp & Copple, 1997). This means considering and understanding similarities within an age group, and also recognizing each child’s individual differences. In a developmentally appropriate classroom, children are allowed to progress at their own rate, and both the curriculum and teaching strategies are relevant for all the children in the classroom. Thus, a great deal of flexibility is required, but this does not mean a total lack of structure and academics; rather, it means that the structure and academics of the program are based on individual and group needs and current understanding of child development (Raines, 1997).

This means students and teachers work collaboratively in this unique educational setting to ensure student success. In addition, the program offers students the opportunity to have more input into their mode of learning through a combination of differentiated academic programs as well as Cooperative Education. Most students entering an Alternate Program start by participating in an intensive five-week orientation credit course focused on helping students understand themselves, their relationships and their responsibilities through a range of activities emphasizing students' social-emotional development and well-being. At the senior level, a range of courses is provided at the open, college and Grade 12 university preparation pathways ensuring access to College and University programs. Upon graduation, students will achieve their OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma) and most will go on to college, university, apprenticeship or to the world of work. Some students choose to leave the program after receiving their OSSC (Ontario Secondary School Certificate) or move on to Adult High School to continue their learning.

Identifies skills, theories of change, program designs, partnerships, and ways of building schools where students achieve.

School counseling programs are designed to serve the school as a whole. They serve the students as counselors, act as consultants to teachers, parents and administrators and coordinate activities to implement the developmental guidance program. However, in order to have an effective program they need to instill the qualities of Lencioni’s model into their interaction with the individuals they serve.

In schools all over the world today, School Counselors are crucial to assisting students, parents, school administrations, and the community. I believe that creating an effective counseling program that supports the counselors’ role in education will foster a close interaction between students and counselor to achieve success in their personal/social lives, academic achievements, and college readiness careers.

Robert W. Pazmiño describes education as, “the process of sharing content with people in the context of their community and society, which necessitates an invitation for all to bring their distinct gifts.” If we were to use this definition for education, it is important for Mr. Thompson to take Pazmino’s idea of context to the community and apply it to the kids he is teaching. If there are other students that are having the same problems as Jennifer,

The topic I have chosen to write this research paper over is the rational choice theory. The rational choice theory started with the work of Cesare Beccaria in the late eighteenth century. From that point forward, the theory has been developed and opened up to incorporate different viewpoints, like discouragement and routine activity theory. The rational choice theory is a monetary rule that expresses that people dependably settle on reasonable and legitimate choices. These choices furnish individuals with the best advantage or fulfillment, given the decisions accessible and are likewise in their most elevated self-interest.

The program’s philosophy is based on the NAEYC’s guidelines on developmentally appropriate practices and Froebel, Piaget, and Gardner’s early learning theories. We believe that every child can learn and grow with the proper care and instruction. The NAEYC defines practices as developmentally appropriate when they consider age and stage related differences, individual differences in learning style and preferences, and social and cultural differences among children (Kostelnik, Soderman, & Whiren, 2011). For this reason we believe that the best way to ensure positive development is to adapt the materials, activities, and the mode of demonstrating learning to meet the varied needs of our students.

My personal theory of education can be expressed as we teach the present for the future success of the world. Each student can have opportunities to succeed within their own life. There are many facets of education that can make a successful student. From the teachers’ year to year, subject information, school based leaders, mandated standards and much more. I feel that the Curriculum and development class gave an overview of vision, mission, and resources for the standards to be taught.

Professional development principles Ben embraces are Rigor, Relationships, Relevance and Realness. Mr. Rhodes continually emphasizes that work needs to have relevance and rigor in assignments and that the relationships teachers build with students is essential for success. Specific content used for staff development goals are Glenn Singleton’s work (Equity), National Achievement Gap, High Performing Schools, 90/90/90 Studies, 21st Century Skills, Marzano’s Instructional Strategies, and Heidi Hayes Jacobs’ literacy work. A variety of activities for teaching new skills to teachers occurs throughout the year. These include study groups, guest speakers, ERO (staff development classes), open classroom visits, master teachers sharing best practices in literacy, differentiated instruction, , math, and culturally responsive teaching, conference opportunities, mentors, district content area inservices, building inservice days, monthly district content area meetings, partnerships with universities, Collaborative Action Research for Equity (C.A.R.E.) cadre, and monthly building equity meetings. Mr. Rhodes uses the district Teaching Learning Cycle (Plan-Teach-Monitor- Adjust) to evaluate and assess the learning goals and make improvements. Ben also meets with Ben and the leadership team about the goals and creates the timeline to provide training and analyze progress. Evaluation of the learning goals using the SIP (as a living document) and individual goals are important

In looking at the needs of an entire school, it is important to examine the needs of each individual student. It is known that not every student learns the same and achieves the same; therefore, each intervention should be personalized for the individual students. For the past two years, Whitley County High School has developed an intervention model that focuses on the middle tier of students. It is thought that these students can be instructed at a level that brings them out of the middle

The goal of a school counseling program to help all students reach academic success by providing supportive services that addresses issues or concerns comprising of academic, career and social/personal development. School counselors are not only concerned with students who are succeeding and motivated to learn, they also aim at encouraging students who are at risk of failing or dropping out of school to continue striving for success and setting goals that encourage productive citizens in communities. In order to create a comprehensive school counseling program, one must first recognize their own assumptions, perceptions and stereotypes regarding students’ behaviors, values and beliefs. One should also have a willingness to accept and understand

This quarter’s course of “theories of counseling” felt like a whirlwind of theories, theorist, therapeutic techniques, and proper application of theoretical framework to help counsel students. As the course continued each new theory and therapy style I learned about seemed more appealing and useful than the last. In deciding which therapy styles I would favor using I have to take into account the general demographic of the students and communities I wish to work in. I plan to work with middle school to high school students that are from urban low social economic status and are recent arrivals to the country. Some of the characteristics of obstacles these students and families face daily are, single parent home/income, past/recent trauma, history of low family education level and legal trouble. I am fortunate to live in the community and society I want to help and that I have grown up in. I am equally blessed to be raised and have the opportunity to give back to my community and society the best way I know how by giving back in a positive manner.