What will kids do for a Chick-Fil-A gift card? At our most recent Youth LifeSkills class, resident students were happy to bring both their backpacks and, more importantly, their school planners with them to work with some fantastic educators. In return, each student received a gift card to the famous Atlanta-based restaurant chain.
Certified teachers Carrie Weatherford, Carolyn McCarthy-Jackson, and Jessica Boyd led the HomeStretch middle and high school students in an informative class on how to organize their school life. However, the team went beyond education and encouraged the students through engaging activities. The three teachers led the group in animated role-playing about the benefits of being organized and the risks students face when they are not. This was a clever way to get the students talking about what’s really happening in their classrooms. It also helped them set goals that can be revisited throughout the school year.
“Most students don’t reflect on how they are doing until much later in the year,” explains Weatherford. “It was good for them to think about what they are doing right, what they could do better, and what they need to start doing in particular classes or with particular teachers.” McCarthy-Jackson agrees. “Kids always pay a price if they aren’t organized, ” she says. “On the other hand, kids who are organized earn easy extra points – literally and figuratively, with their teachers.”
This program was part of the HomeStretch “Smart Start” Back to School Initiative which included distribution of school supplies, small group counseling sessions, and valuable time with this team of talented mentors. At the end of class, twelve resident teens, a 100% attendance rate, left with agendas in hand and a prized gift card to Chick-Fil-A. Here’s to a successful, organized school year!
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