Teacher Tuesday: With Respect to Advising...

Lauren Miles

Thank you to Lauren Miles, Student Advisor, and her Student Advisory Group for writing today’s blog.

It’s hard to describe the role of an Advisor. Every day, I seem to find out something new that falls under my title.  In fact, our title was changed from Academic Advisor to Student Advisor because we deal with so much more than just academics.

When I was hired, I was told to become the expert on my students - if there was ever a question about them I should be able to answer it.  While I would not consider myself an expert, I am sometimes surprised with how much I know about each student. 

A few things the Advisors do with the students include scheduling and taking them to the doctor, assisting them with budgeting and handing out their money every other week, setting and working toward goals, dealing with disciplinary issues as needed, communicating progress with their parents, and being the person they can come to whenever they need something. 

A tool that I have found to be very effective when working with my students is the Five Love Languages quiz.  I had each of my students take this quiz to determine the best way to love and encourage them.  This has been helpful when my students need a little extra encouragement. If their love language is words of encouragement, I can leave them a note in their mailbox; if it is quality time, I can stop by their residential area for a visit.  

I feel my most important responsibility as an advisor is seeing my student’s potential, even when they cannot see it themselves, and always pushing them toward it.  

I try to make every interaction I have with my students a teaching moment.  While we are not in a classroom taking notes and being tested, there are still so many opportunities to learn.  During group meetings, I address issues that multiple students seem to be struggling with including being kind to one another, being servants, learning and using the six character traits, and building their self-confidence.  We do this through journaling, service projects, writing encouraging notes to staff, looking up what the Bible has to say, and other fun projects I find on Pinterest.  

I also take advantage of teaching moments in the hallway, at lunch, and during residential life.  During lunch, we can talk about healthy food choices; in the hall, we can talk about being professional and greeting people as they walk by; and during residential life, we can focus on effectively completing daily living skills and working toward the goals the students set each semester.    

I meet with each of my students once a week, typically during lunch or right after classes, for about 30 minutes.  This is a time for students to check in and tell me how things are going.  We discuss classes, residential life, the future, their goals, medical issues… basically anything the student needs to talk about. If one of my students is struggling with something in particular, we use this time to problem-solve ways to fix the issue. 

 

Miss Miles with students at SkyZone.

I also meet with my entire advising group twice a week on Tuesdays for an hour and Thursdays for two hours.  During this time we talk about budgeting, fill out their student money request, give them their money, study for classes, and discuss important issues in their lives as a whole.  We also use this time to do team building activities and, every once in a while, run to McDonald’s for a treat! 

Recently, we talked about RESPECT in our Student Advising group.  I had the students write their thoughts about what respect is to them:

Joshua

What is RESPECT?

“Respect – Recognizing and showing value to God, authority, others, property, and myself.  Being honest to God in order to show faithfulness.” – Joshua Maher 

                                                                                                                                                                Why do we teach about RESPECT at Shepherds College?

Sharon

“Respect is important in classes because it teaches you to be respectful to your boss or co-workers.  It helps you show kindness and that will get you far in life.  Kindness will help you get more friends in a job situation. You will be able to keep your job or get promoted.”  - Nikki Monroe

 

“Why?  Because in class talking to the teacher in a kind way with a right attitude and not using bad body language.  Being kind to students even though it is hard sometimes.  Praying for all people.” – Sharon Ackerman

 

Christian

How do you show RESPECT at Shepherds College?

“Respect is honoring the other person.  When I respect the other classmates or roommates, I help with chores or homework.  By respecting and following the rules here in Shepherds College.” – Micah Muma

 

“The class can respect the teacher by saying kind words, so that everyone can follow directions.  I think that to not talk while the teacher is talking.” – Abby Grabinski

 

“How we use respect on the basketball team: To respect your teammates, to listen to them and to share the ball with your other teammates.  To be positive in the game and on the bench, then to be respectful to the other team who is playing us.” – Christian Ladd

 

Katy

How can you show RESPECT when you leave Shepherds College?

“I can show respect in the future when I leave Shepherds by listening to others when people try to tell me something or how to do something.  Also, by having a good reaction when they do tell you something.”  - Katy Stengele

 

“You could show respect by working hard and staying on task when you’re at a job.  I could show respect by being honest and gentle to my boss and co-workers.”  - Charles Arnold

 


 
Shepherds College is grateful for the investment each Advisor makes in the lives of the students. We value the commitment the Advisors show in teaching, encouraging, disciplining and caring for the students as they grow toward lives of Appropriate Independence. We respect and thank Lauren Miles, Alyson Piatt, Daniel Gaschke, Laura Pollard, Elyse Cyr, Erin Luchterhand and Karli Luchterhand.


Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.edu.

A College with Character

Back in 2009, Shepherds College had just completed its first year. We had only a handful of students, but we could already see the potential in the program.

The leadership was dynamic, hands-on and visionary.

The teachers were warm, energetic and creative.

The curriculum was simplified, yet groundbreaking.

The program was comprehensive, life-changing and one-of-a-kind.

We all knew it could be successful in bringing hope for a brighter future to students with intellectual disabilities.  But, how would we reach the prospective students, where were they, what were they like, and what would the students be like after completing three years of our program?

This was the stuff of marketing, so in 2009 we brought in professionals who helped us develop a plan to reach young adults with intellectual disabilities who wanted an advanced education - people who needed to hear that there was a new post-secondary option available to them.

The marketing company gave us a lot of good information and a solid plan for moving forward with college recruitment, but the one area they couldn’t help us with – the one area we needed to work out on our own – was “values.” What values would underpin the whole college program? What values would resonate with all individuals? What values would we teach to the students to impact their future relationships, influence their decisions as independent adults and equip them to excel in their internships and future careers?

After many marketing and faculty meetings, we decided on six values – or character traits - that we hoped to instill in the students by the time they graduated:

Diligence – Investing their time and energy to complete each task assigned to them

Discernment – Perceiving the difference between right and wrong

Initiative – Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before they are asked to do it

Integrity – Knowing and doing what is right all the time

Respect – Recognizing and showing value to God, authority, others, property, and themselves

Responsibility – Knowing and doing what is expected of them

The students would hear about and learn these character traits in a variety of ways every day in their classes. The Residential Life training would support the development of these character traits in the students’ living areas. The faculty and staff would exemplify these character traits in their own lives so students could see them as role models for the values of the college.

And what company wouldn’t want an employee who exhibited these traits in the workplace? 

They are a cornerstone for the success of our program, and they provide a solid path for the students’ journey toward Appropriate Independence.

Watch this blog in the coming weeks. I hope to give you an idea of what teaching each character trait looks like in different classes, in Res Life, and in the activity of the students.

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

                                                                                                        Unknown

Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.edu.