In-Class, Goal Setting Workshops
Each student participates in a series of eight Project SUCCESS-facilitated workshops throughout each year. These workshops are the most important part of our program model. A Project SUCCESS program facilitator works alongside teachers in all English and Language Arts classrooms. These classrooms include Basic English classes, as well as those for Special Education, English Language Learners, Advanced Placement, Emotionally and Behaviorally Disabled, and other groupings of students. Project SUCCESS, in consultation with committees of teachers and students, develops curriculum for the workshops. The curriculum is grade-specific and builds on the work done in previous grades.
Our main focus in middle school is to facilitate the students in increased self understanding and increased ability to set and achieve goals. We do this through a variety of creative activities—drama exercises, group games, writing explorations, guest artists, discussions, and/or whatever else the facilitator thinks would assist the achievement of our mission within a particular class. Whenever appropriate, the workshop theme is tied into the play that the students are currently being invited to. While we always keep the focus on students' hopes, goals and dreams, much of the workshop curriculum varies by grade in order to address the changing needs of the students.
Our high school curriculum is designed to further explore students' goals and dreams for high school and beyond. The closer students get to graduating, the more practical our program becomes. Our goal is that by spring of their senior year all students have a personal, post-high school plan that best suits their needs, personalities, and goals. As with middle school, our high school curriculum is designed for flexibility so that all the unique needs of the students can be addressed. In addition to the in-school workshops, we offer weekly after-school guidance workshops at all of our high schools where any student can come for one-on-one assistance with their plan.
Students who accomplished goals they never believed themselves capable of achieving have told facilitators, "I was able to do it because you believed I could."
Through in-class, goal-setting workshops Project SUCCESS helps students*:
· set and achieve short- and long-term goals;
· share their personal experiences and learn from other
students;
· understand classmates who have different perspectives
and backgrounds;
· understand themselves better;
· think about and plan for their future beyond high school;
and
· improve their school attendance rate.
*Results taken from a 2004 evaluation of 4,900 Project SUCCESS students, alumni, parents and teachers, conducted by The Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement of the University of Minnesota.
