Advisory: The Heartbeat of our School
by Mariana Urrea
At this year’s Back to School Night, Assistant Head of School Tara Kaine beautifully described the Explorer West Advisory program as “the heartbeat of our school.” Advisory gives students the opportunity to build their social-emotional skills by connecting with peers they might not otherwise interact with on a day-to-day basis.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Sarah, our Art teacher, about the key role this dedicated time plays in the Explorer West experience.
Before Advisory begins each afternoon, everyone takes a short break to socialize, visit friends, and grab a snack. At 2:40 pm, the day shifts into a time that is built with intention.
Sustained Silent Reading (SSR)
From 2:40 – 2:55 pm we nurture a culture of reading with SSR. Anyone who forgot or needs a book is welcome to visit the library.
Every Advisory mixes 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, and seating varies by advisor. Sarah intentionally seats everyone by grade level for organization and study hall purposes, while Kristin, our Science teacher, mixes grades together.
Planner Time
At 2:55 pm, the focus shifts to organizational skills. Students pull out their planners and coordinate, ensuring everyone is on the same page about upcoming assignments. Some students are ace planner keepers, which really helps those around them.
From there, they shift to some computer time to check their Gmail, calendars, and Google Classroom assignments. Sarah explains that during this time 6th graders are piecing together how everything fits, learning to prioritize, and, with the help of their fellow classmates, learning to navigate technology in a way that builds them up for success.
Study Hall
Once priorities are set, it’s time for study hall, where students focus on what they need to get done. They can briefly visit other teachers for a missing assignment or quick question, but this time is meant to be spent with their own Advisory.
Community Building
Advisory isn’t only about planners and study hall. It also includes monthly job rotations, circle, clubs, and community service. Every advisee has a monthly job, with tasks ranging from cleaning whiteboards to putting away computers. Similar to our “every student, every subject” philosophy, Advisory jobs are set up in a way that everyone can participate and take proud ownership over a task. Each role has a designated leader who makes sure the job gets done and steps in when someone is absent.
Beyond jobs, Advisory has a weekly rhythm built around connection. Tuesdays are for circle, when Advisories check in holistically on how things are going. Circle discussions center on how everyone is doing, how their workload is feeling, and fun topics that reflect our school values. (Students can optionally choose instead to head to an affinity group on Tuesdays, such as the GSA, Students of Color group, and others.) Fridays alternate between clubs, such as Italian club, D&D club, karaoke club, and many more; and community service projects, including picking up trash in our neighborhood and organizing the lost and found.
Growing into Leadership
Our multi-grade Advisories are one way we scaffold leadership and social-emotional development. Peers build connections beyond their own grade and have others to look up to along the way. In Sarah’s Advisory, students move through every level of leadership over their three years here, from learning the ropes as 6th graders to guiding newer advisees as 8th graders. That mix carries beyond Advisory too: students share lunch across grades and get a preview of what’s ahead, which gives younger students a picture of who they can grow into.
Everyone Brings Their Magic Sauce
Sarah describes her crew as 8th graders being silly, 7th graders being studious, and 6th graders trying to figure out where they really fit in. Advisors have the opportunity to course-correct expectations while building relationships with advisees and their families. Sarah shares that everyone brings their own “magic sauce.”
Sarah’s Advisory, like all of our Advisories, is where students get to continue building their skills, build their own little family, and meet each other where they are and as they are.
