Facilitator Reflections for Ninth Grade Retention Group: Female Edition Erika Johnson, M.A.

Third Year School Psychology Intern Hamden High School Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

Updated: 12/2/2012

Date: November 20, 2012 Group Members Present:

Session: Pre-Group Meeting (attempt 1)

Facilitators (2), Student (1) Six additional students requested: 2 absent, 4 failure to show up

Intended Session Goals: (Re-) Introduce purpose of the group Develop group norms, discuss confidentiality and its limitations Begin the get to know you process Brief Summary of Session Content: Prior to the scheduled group facilitators distributed passes to request participant attendance. At the scheduled time participants were expected to show up following a check-in with their teacher/class they would be missing. One student came to the group. Facilitators checked on the attendance of other students and found two were absent. The student was offered the choice of staying with the facilitators or heading back to class. She was informed that the plan was to meet the following week for a second attempt. Student Learning (How will students lives be better as a result of what happened during this lesson?): Not Applicable Self-Evaluation (How did I do?): Though the group did not occur as scheduled, I ensured that preparations were done in order for the pregroup meeting went smoothly. Implementation Procedures (How did the session work?): After reviewing our procedures used to request student attendance it was determined that different measures would need to be taken based on the days behavior and the population we are working with. A plan was decided upon for requesting attendance (i.e., calling each individual from the class before group). Facilitators also decided to disseminate teacher rating scales (see proposal) the following week (November 26, 2012).

Updated: 12/2/2012

Date: November 29, 2012 Group Members Present: Facilitators (2), Students (5) Two additional students requested but absent

Session: Pre-Group Meeting (attempt 2)

Intended Session Goals: (Re-) Introduce purpose of the group Develop group norms, discuss confidentiality and its limitations Begin the get to know you process Brief Summary of Session Content: Students were called individually to the group. Once all participants were presented the facilitators introduced purpose of the group. Common myths of group counseling were reviewed and discussed. Participants developed group norms and the importance of confidentiality was stressed. Participants played a get to know you game. Student Learning (How will students lives be better as a result of what happened during this lesson?): Participants varied in the projected desire to participate in the group (i.e., some very outgoing, others very quiet). Facilitators did most of the talking as it was reviewing structure and details. Participants were vocal about what group norms were important to them, especially confidentiality. Participants were able to connect on these details, as well as what they perceived the group process to be like (i.e., reviewing the myths). A few students opened up about themselves (i.e., get to know you game), but all were able to provide at least compliment to another group member, which was a positive experience (both giving and receiving). All participants indicated that the group was something they wanted to continue and areas they were interested in focusing on, which required some insight as to their obstacles at school (Group Survey; see proposal). Self-Evaluation (How did I do?): As discussed prior to group beginning, I allowed the co-facilitator to take the lead for this session. I wanted to participate where appropriate but also observe her techniques and approach as I have little group counseling experiences, and she has a lot of experience with facilitating groups. I was sure to participate and interject where appropriate. I also made connections with participants and between participants. Todays session was more formal in the sense that it was reviewing the details (structure, format, purpose) and casual since we were beginning to get to know each other through a low pressure game. Next week I would like to direct one aspect of the group (e.g., introduce topic/focus, game/activity) rather than adding points. Implementation Procedures (How did the session work?): The participants, though apprehensive at first, seemed to enjoy themselves. All participants were interested in returning, and hoped that the group would keep them on track and motivate them to do well in school. One participant was more outgoing than all the other girls and mentioned that she felt like should be less so. This should be monitored to ensure the participant feels like she can share within the group without being made to feel negatively about it. Two participants were extremely quiet and had difficult time sharing information about themselves. Attempts to develop opportunities to share themselves (in future sessions) without feeling like they are being put on the spot will be helpful (e.g., activities with anonymity).

Updated: 12/2/2012

Date: December , 2012 Group Members Present: Facilitators (2), Students ( )

Session: _1__

Intended Session Goals: Brief Summary of Session Content: Student Learning (How will students lives be better as a result of what happened during this lesson?): Self-Evaluation (How did I do?): Implementation Procedures (How did the session work?):

Updated: 12/2/2012

Date: Group Members Present: Facilitators (2), Students ( )

Session: _2__

Intended Session Goals: Brief Summary of Session Content: Student Learning (How will students lives be better as a result of what happened during this lesson?): Self-Evaluation (How did I do?): Implementation Procedures (How did the session work?):

Updated: 12/2/2012

Date: Group Members Present: Facilitators (2), Students ( )

Session: _3__

Intended Session Goals: Brief Summary of Session Content: Student Learning (How will students lives be better as a result of what happened during this lesson?): Self-Evaluation (How did I do?): Implementation Procedures (How did the session work?):

Updated: 12/2/2012

Date: Group Members Present: Facilitators (2), Students ( )

Session: _4__

Intended Session Goals: Brief Summary of Session Content: Student Learning (How will students lives be better as a result of what happened during this lesson?): Self-Evaluation (How did I do?): Implementation Procedures (How did the session work?):

Updated: 12/2/2012

Date: Group Members Present: Facilitators (2), Students ( )

Session: _5__

Intended Session Goals: Brief Summary of Session Content: Student Learning (How will students lives be better as a result of what happened during this lesson?): Self-Evaluation (How did I do?): Implementation Procedures (How did the session work?):

Updated: 12/2/2012

Date: Group Members Present: Facilitators (2), Students ( )

Session: _6__

Intended Session Goals: Brief Summary of Session Content: Student Learning (How will students lives be better as a result of what happened during this lesson?): Self-Evaluation (How did I do?): Implementation Procedures (How did the session work?):

Updated: 12/2/2012

Date: Group Members Present: Facilitators (2), Students ( )

Session: _7__

Intended Session Goals: Brief Summary of Session Content: Student Learning (How will students lives be better as a result of what happened during this lesson?): Self-Evaluation (How did I do?): Implementation Procedures (How did the session work?):

Updated: 12/2/2012

Date: Group Members Present: Facilitators (2), Students ( )

Session: _8__

Intended Session Goals: Brief Summary of Session Content: Student Learning (How will students lives be better as a result of what happened during this lesson?): Self-Evaluation (How did I do?): Implementation Procedures (How did the session work?):

Updated: 12/2/2012