Daily Advisory for Human Connection

Advisory is a dedicated time each day focused on fostering students' social-emotional growth, building community, and supporting academic and personal development. Highlights include engaging activities that promote self-awareness, empathy, and collaboration, as well as opportunities for skill-building and reflection. Through meaningful discussions, team-building exercises, and goal-setting; students strengthen connections with peers and develop the tools they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.

Structure (1 Hour)

Welcome, Check-In, and SEL Focus (10-20 Minutes)

• Purpose: Create a safe, welcoming environment and foster social-emotional growth - a daily advisory for human connection.
• Activities:
  • Begin with a brief mindfulness exercise or icebreaker.
  • Conduct an emotional check-in (e.g., a quick round where students share how they’re feeling).
  • Teach and practice SEL skills through guided discussions, role-playing, journaling, or group exercises.
  • Assign advisory roles or tasks (e.g., discussion leader, note-taker, or activity planner) to rotate responsibility and encourage leadership.

Skill Building or Community Time (20-25 Minutes)

• Purpose: Develop practical skills and strengthen the advisory group.
• Activities:
  • Conduct academic or life skills workshops (e.g., study tips, stress management, time management, budgeting).
  • Organize team-building exercises or fun group activities (e.g., trivia or games).
  • Set weekly goals and reflect on group achievements.
  • Check on progress in other learning Elements

Sharing and Collaboration (10-15 Minutes)

• Purpose: Build connections, encourage active participation and encourage public speaking.
• Activities:
  • "Show and tell" sessions for students to share completed assignments they are proud of or something else meaningful.
  • Group storytelling or collaborative problem-solving activities.

Closing Reflection (5-10 Minutes)

• Purpose: End on a positive, reflective note.
• Activities:
  • Share one highlight or take away from the session.
  • Preview upcoming sessions or events.
  • Close with a motivational quote or affirmation.

Sample-Weekly Thematic Focus: Overall areas to incorporate

• Monday: Goal setting, SEL focus, and planning for the week.
• Tuesday: Science skill-building (e.g., hands-on experiments, exploring scientific concepts, or STEM challenges).
• Wednesday: Book studies (e.g., group reading, discussing themes, or literary analysis, critical thinking activities).
• Thursday: Project-based learning (e.g., collaborative projects that integrate various skills, ideation, and topics to inspire).
• Friday: Reflection, celebration, and fun (e.g., group games, sharing successes, and planning for the next week).

This outline provides a framework but can be adjusted as needed if certain activities require more time. The key is to focus on areas that engage students' interests while still maintaining a clear and consistent structure.