Advisory

Advisory is a recurring and consistent small-learning community with dedicated time in the daily or weekly schedule intended to provide opportunities to cultivate a sense of belonging, support learner agency, and explore strengths and interests. In Expeditionary Learning schools this structure is called “Crew” and it can go by many different names. It also isn’t just a structure for secondary schools. Elementary schools take on elements of advisory through morning meeting structures and in some cases structures such as houses, which are multi-grade small learning communities focused on building relationships and culture.

Advisors are educators who lead the advisory group and class period. They serve as mentors and guides to support learners both in and out of school. You can learn more about supporting learners with social emotional learning and building community in our course, Nurture a Meaningful and Engaging Learning Community.

What advisory is What advisory isn’t
Time for: 

  • Building relationships with peers and adults
  • Goal setting and reflecting
  • Exploring a sense of self: who am I and where am I going?
  • Preparing for student-led conferences and/or defenses or presentations of learning 
  • Curating portfolios and reflecting on personal and academic growth
  • College & career exploration
  • Mentorship 
  • Team building activities
  • Integration of community partners and families
  • Free time 
  • Intervention or tutoring
  • Study Hall
  • Operational task time
  • Group therapy

Bright Spots

Crew

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Michigan City Public Schools launched Crew, EL Education’s structure and culture to implement an advisory concept. Students see themselves as “crew, not passengers,” meaning they are actively engaged. Learn more in this podcast.

Circles

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Source: Compass Circles is a structure implemented at Collegiate Hall, to ensure students communicate, build relationships, and practice empathy.

Elementary Houses

John Muir Elementary has implemented a house system to build community and engagement. These are cross-grade level groups that participate in meetings and rallies, focused on building their SOAR principles.

Questions to Consider:

  • How might you create a clearly defined time, purpose and intention for your advisory time & hold it as sacred?
  • How might you structure your advisory groups (e.g. grade level, cross-grade level, one-year or multi-year) to support deep relationships and mentorship opportunities over the course of a learner’s journey? 
  • How can you ensure calibration of practice across a diverse staff? What structures and practices will advisories hold tight to and what is loose?  What is your school or district’s ideal balance of scripted resources versus organic connection and relationship building?

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