The document describes a proposed elective course called "Focus on Success" for 7th and 8th grade students at Sheppard Middle School. The course aims to teach time management, goal setting, and study skills to promote a college-going culture. It would be offered during an advisory period using various tools and activities each week. The course format includes study halls, binder checks, reflections, and college visits. The goals are to increase students' academic success through improved study habits and preparation for high school and college.

1. Focus On Success
Teaching Time-Management,
Goal-Setting and
Study Skills
th th
to 7 and 8 Grade Students
Ted Henderson
LEAP Symposium Project
June 2011

2. Focus On
Success
“In the 21st century, the best anti-poverty
program is a world-class education.
- President Obama

3. Focus On Success
WHY? (Purpose of the class)
 To promote a college-going culture- According to
the US Department of Labor, college grads earn
more money over the course of their lifetime, incur
fewer health problems, suffer less penal involvement
and live longer than non-college graduates. Students
could have life-long benefits from this course.
 Despite many years of interventions, the learning-
achievement gap persists, in part, because various
study techniques are not being taught.
 Parent involvement, time spent on task and study
habits, are strong determining factors in student
success (Nickerson, 2006). This course addresses all
three of those factors to varying degrees.

4. Focus On
Success
Two principle factors that influenced
my selection of this project
* Nine years of observing declining economic
conditions of families in Alum Rock USD
* Poor practice habits of my band students
(I was moved to a site where students did not
know how to practice.)

5. Focus On
Success
Interesting Facts about Sheppard Middle School
 Located in Alum Rock USD of East San Jose
 Total enrollment = 800
 46% Latino, 46% Asian, 4% Black, 3% White*
 73% of students receive free/reduced lunch*
 78% of parents do not have a college
education*
 Sheppard 2009-2010 API is 774
(highest non-charter school API in district)
API doesn't tell the complete story:
Asian API = 886 while Latino API =to686
* According www.whichschool.com

6. Focus On
Success
“In the 21st century, teachers must be designers
of learning experiences.
- James Paul Gee

7. Focus On Success
How? (Specific Actions)
Sheppard Middle School 7th and 8th grader students
have a 35-minute advisory period at the beginning of
the day except Thursday. Focus on Success will be a
new elective offered during the advisory period that
will teach study skills, time-management and goal-
setting. This class is open to all students but I am
especially interested in merging “at-risk” students
with those currently having academic success.

8. Focus On Success
Course Format
Each week would follow a similar format.
 Monday - “PD Tool of the Week” is discussed.
Grade Check Forms are Due.
 Tuesday – Study Hall and Binder Check
 Wednesday – Study Hall and Binder Check
 Friday – Reflection on week's work. Awarding of
Personal Development Point
 Parent Questionnaire at the end of each quarter.
 College visit at the end of each semester.

9. Focus On Success
Personal Development (PD)
Tool of the Week
Every Monday the students would be introduced to a
new study skill, goal-setting or time-management
tool referred to as the “PD Tool of the Week”. These
will be placed in the students “toolkit” to be referred
to and used as needed. Each PD tool will be
accompanied by a handout which should be place in
the student's binder.

10. A Sample Schedule of Lessons Focus On Success
Week 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr. 4th Qtr.
Setting Priorities/Using The Importance of The Importance of The Importance of
1 Grade check forms Exercise and Sleep Breakfast and Nutrition Playtime, Downtime and
Family Time(PDF)
Organizing your papers Working in groups The Importance of History Study Skills
2 and time (Think Win/Win, asking for help
Synergize, Listening)
Creating/selecting and Science Study Skills Proactive vs. Reactive Spelling Strategies
3 organizing your study Scheduling
space
Multiple Intelligences Planning Long Term Active vs. Passive Motivating yourself
4 (How are you smart?) Projects Learning/Reading
S.M.A.R.T Goals S.M.A.R.T Goals S.M.A.R.T Goals S.M.A.R.T Goals
5 Check-in Check-in Check-in
(Renew or Adjust) (Renew or Adjust)
Note-taking skills Vocabulary Study Skills Reading Study Skills Finding Appropriate
6 Role models
Math Study Skills Creating Study Packets The importance of Identify your learning
7 reviewing your work style
Essay Writing Tips – pt. Making Practice Tests The Appropriate use of Compass Exercise
8 1 (Bubble Charts and Technology (Which direction are
other visual organizers) you?)
Essay Writing Tips – pt. Dealing with Test Financial Benefits of Career Personality Test
9 2 (writing outlines and Anxiety Education
book reports)
Study Hall/Finals Study Hall/Finals/ Study Hall/Finals Study Hall/Finals/
10 College Trip College Trip

11. Focus On Success
Tool of the Week (Example)
Setting Priorities
Rocks – Pebbles – Water demo
1. Take a jar and fill it with large rocks.
2. Ask the class if the jar is full. (Most will say yes)
3. Now, add pebbles to the jar, pointing out how they fill the gaps
between the large rocks. Once again, ask if the jar is full.
(Now they aren't sure...)
4. Next pour water into the jar until it slightly overflows.
5. Ask again, “Is the jar full?” (Most will say yes)
Rocks = Biggest responsibilities
Pebbles = Spice of Life activities
Water = “If I do it great, if not, oh well!”
Lesson: There's lots of room in your life if you put in the big rocks
first!

12. Focus On Success
Grade Check Forms
On Mondays, students will also turn in Grade Check forms signed
and dated by teachers and parents. Students will also receive blank
grade check forms for the upcoming week. These forms would also
allow space where teachers could indicate any missing assignments
and/or projects. Focus on Success students and teachers would use
that information to help the student develop an action plan related to
each student’s individual workload.

13. Focus On Success
FOS Grade Check Forms

14. Focus On Success
Binder Check
On Wednesday, students continue the study hall but will also have a
binder check to ensure they can answer the following three questions
regarding every class:
* When is the next quiz/test and what will it cover?
* What is the next big project and when is it due?

15. Focus On Success
Study Hall
On Tuesday, students will be able to work individually or in small
groups in a study hall format. Study Hall is not a free period and
must be used exclusively for school work. If a student has no
homework or upcoming project, they must use the time to study.
There is always something which could benefit from extra study
time.

16. Focus On Success
Reflections on Personal
Development
On Fridays, students will share which study or time management
tools they used throughout the week. They will also be given an
opportunity to reflect on any missed opportunities to use their new
tools. Fridays will also be the day that “Personal Development”
points are awarded. Students must earn twenty (20) PD points to be
eligible to attend the end-of-semester field trip.

17. Focus On Success
Personal Development Points
There are many ways to earn Personal Development Points:
1) Successfully answering the binder check questions by Friday
2)Writing a short paper on how they used a “tool of the week”
3) Write a short paper on how they missed an opportunity to use a
“tool of the week”
4) Perfect school attendance for that week (with no tardies)
5) Provide a log of study time outside of school (signed by parent)
The points will be posted in a public place to that students may keep
track of their progress.

18. Focus On Success
Parent Questionnaire
At the end of each quarter, parents will receive a short questionnaire
designed to encourage increased involvement in their student's daily
school life.
Sample Questions
*Can you name all of your student's classes and teachers?
*What is your student's favorite subject? Why?
*What is your student's least favorite subject? Why?
* Where are your student's favorite places to study?
* Which school functions have you attended this quarter?
Parents are encouraged to review answers with their student before
returning the signed questionnaire.

19. Focus On Success
College Visits
Different types of colleges will be visited to expose the students to
their wide range of options. The following colleges have been
selected for the 2011-2012 school year.
1st Semester – San Jose State University (4-year public university)
2nd Semester – Evergreen College (Community College)
Both colleges are accessible through public transportation and qualify
for free “Class passes” from the Santa Clara VTA

20. Focus On
Success
“We're getting our children through education by
anaesthetising them. We should be waking them up to
what they have inside of themselves!
- Sir Ken Robinson

21. Focus On Success
WHAT?
(Outcome/Expected Results)
Research shows:
* The deeper the student is involved in studying, the higher the payoff in
comprehension and retention.
* The greater the degree of consistency of study, the better the results in
comprehension and retention.
* Students must receive adequate training in the use of study techniques. It can
not be assumed that student's already possess this skill.
* In general, the more time students study, regardless of the study
technique, the better their comprehension.
taken from “Current Research on Studying: A Qualitive Analysis”
(Best, Brozo, 1985)

22. Focus On Success
Teacher Preparation/Collaboration
While developing this course I relied heavily on three resources:
That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week – Ana Hoyayoun
S.O.A.R Study Skills – Susan Kruger Woodcock
7 Habits of Highly Successful Teenagers – Sean Covey
I'd recommend the administrator purchase these books for each Focus on
Success teacher to facilitate a bi-monthly collaboration meeting to share
lesson plans, best practices and class experiences.

23. Focus On Success
California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders
Standard1
A school administrator is an educational leader who
promotes the success of all students by facilitating the
development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship
of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the
school community.
Facilitate the development of a shared vision for the
achievement of all students based upon data from multiple
measures of student learning and relevant qualitative
indicators.
Identify and address any barriers to accomplishing the
vision.

24. Focus On Success
California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders
Standard2
A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the
success of all students by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a
school culture and instructional program conducive to student
learning and staff professional growth.
a culture in which high expectations are the norm for each student
as evident in rigorous academic work.
the use of a variety of appropriate content-based learning
materials and learning strategies that recognize students as active
learners, value reflection and inquiry, emphasize the quality versus
the amount of student application and performance, and utilize
appropriate and effective technology.

25. Focus On Success
Conclusion
I suggest that if we expect all students to achieve we must commit
to providing them with the tools necessary to imagine, set and meet
and exceed high educational goals. Research shows that students
learn what they believe to be important (Mitra, 2009). As
educators, we must make a greater effort to convince the students of
the lifetime value of a quality education. Then, we must commit
ourselves to providing one.

26. Focus On Success
Questions?

27. Focus On Success
Thank You!