This last week's PA went remarkably well, which I had predicted. We had an excellent conversation about drug rehabilitation thanks to our visitor whose job was an addiction counselor. Everyone participated in the conversation, except one student who normally isn't completely quiet. Still, I found everyone to be quite engaged in the conversation - more so than when we had our community policing specialist visit a couple weeks ago.
Also, this week my students walked up the steps instead of running the halls. I asked them before we left the classroom where our group meets to walk together instead of what happened last time - and it worked.
Another excellent point was that my previously quietest student came up to tell me her week was going well (we didn't do a check-in due to lack of time) and that her notebook needed replacement. She said its pages were falling out, so I'll bring more next time - especially if we are going to have a specific project.
I want to have a brainstorming session where we discuss what potential PA projects we can take on. The PA site says these brainstorming discussions and planning take an hour each, so I am hoping that this next meeting we can in 40 minutes - which is likely unrealistic.
I want to show them a video first of what another PA group did. It has excellent production values, except a bit weak on original substance. The "just say no" line seems worn and could be added or amended. Still, I like that an individual asked his friends to back him up in not accepting drugs - even if the situation also seems contrived.
There are a great many things we could do to focus on preventing or reducing drug abuse in our community. It all depends what focus these students choose to go after. To make it easier, we could list all potential targets, all potential projects that would focus on them, and which ones we feel could be done most effectively given we only have a couple more sessions. I would like to meet with them more once we have chosen something, which is difficult but not impossible to do as the end of semester projects start taking greater precedent. I'd like them to be able to do something and enjoy having accomplished it.
Also, this week my students walked up the steps instead of running the halls. I asked them before we left the classroom where our group meets to walk together instead of what happened last time - and it worked.
Another excellent point was that my previously quietest student came up to tell me her week was going well (we didn't do a check-in due to lack of time) and that her notebook needed replacement. She said its pages were falling out, so I'll bring more next time - especially if we are going to have a specific project.
I want to have a brainstorming session where we discuss what potential PA projects we can take on. The PA site says these brainstorming discussions and planning take an hour each, so I am hoping that this next meeting we can in 40 minutes - which is likely unrealistic.
There are a great many things we could do to focus on preventing or reducing drug abuse in our community. It all depends what focus these students choose to go after. To make it easier, we could list all potential targets, all potential projects that would focus on them, and which ones we feel could be done most effectively given we only have a couple more sessions. I would like to meet with them more once we have chosen something, which is difficult but not impossible to do as the end of semester projects start taking greater precedent. I'd like them to be able to do something and enjoy having accomplished it.
I think you are really adding a deep sophistication to this project. In many ways, the "just say no" message does not respect the many ways that kids are being pulled in different directions. While more complicated and more difficult, I hope that you are able to bring the complexity of what your team has learned in your final project.
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