Digital Commons Network^™

The Age-Less Citizen: Cultivating A Civically Engaged K-12 Community Through The Use Of Service Learning, Chelsia I. Douglas Mpa

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

The Age-less Citizen will analyze evidence-based civic education studies and explore proactive student engagement strategies to build an individualized nonpartisan action plan for each school represented. From sending election reminders home by a kindergartener, to including local school board meetings on school newsletter and calendars, attendees will take away practical tips and tools to restore faith in the younger generation's ability to improve our democracy.

Information Literacy: Facilitating Students’ Skills To Navigate Media Bias And Prejudice, Sheliah G. Durham, Noble E. Edmiston

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

The presenters will provide a brief overview of Information Literacy and the challenge of navigating media bias and propaganda. Hands on presentation will include sample lesson plans and step-by-step suggestions for facilitating students’ critical inquiry skills to evaluate sources and various forms of digital media as they navigate controversial issues.

A Trauma Responsive Approach To Fostering Resilience, Addressing Equity Issues And Improving Student Wellness And Academic Success, Mark Harrington, Joe Thompson, Kimberly Witeck

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

We’ll start with our school’s motto, “Family, Love, Respect,” which is posted in nearly every hallway, office and gathering place in our school. We attempt to provide each student with a strong sense of each. Although ours is an alternative high school, filled with stories of trauma, neglect and despair, our students are resilient! With that in mind we have created a number of programs to encourage resilience, provide a healthy path forward, decrease student discipline, and foster student success. All of these programs, and the stories we share detailing what our students have overcome show just how resilient young …

“Say Something” The Power Of Youth Protecting Themselves And Their Peers, Jim W. Wise, Carleen Wray, Annie Stephens, Erika Latines

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Say Something from the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation program teaches students and staff a three step process to protect themselves, their classmates and schools from harmful acts. The steps are Recognize the Signs, Act Immediately, Take It Seriously and Say Something to a Trusted Adult or through an Anonymous Reporting System. When students are empowered to Say Something they help create safer and healthier schools and communities.

Myth, Power, And Justice: The Danger Of A Single Story, Christen H. Clougherty

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

If we hear only a single story about a group, we risk a critical misunderstanding. In this session, learn to critically analyze assumptions of single stories and dominant narratives about community partners. Engage in hands-on activities to explore this issue as it relates to race, poverty, and social justice. Leave with classroom activities to take back to your classroom.

The Devil Is In Your Closet: 48 Square Feet Can Change Everything, Tracey G. Keim

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Using a "real" grocery list, cash money, and an unexpected situation, attendees put themselves in the shoes (or socks) of the children-at-risk and families who need support in a hands on, solution centered workshop. Workshop participants walk away with culturally relevant materials that will allow them to find funding for a 6'x8' corner of hope--at little or no cash cost. But that makes all the difference in the world.

Meeting The Needs Of Diverse Gifted Learners, Jackie H. Barone, Karen Gorman, Maranda Thornburg

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Our presentation shares best practices that we have utilized and found success with in regards to scheduling, coursework, and other activities to meet the needs of a wide-variety of gifted learners. Much of our work centers around meeting their social and emotional needs (beyond just utilizing accelerated math and reading content).

Choices And Consequences: A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste, Ian Elmore-Moore, Demecca Jones, Jalani Traxler, John Doyle, Jimez Alexander

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Choices and Consequences: A Mind is a Terrible thing to Waste, is designed for school and community leaders to learn about the human brain. According to Dr. Nirav Shah, a board certified neurosurgeon, “The brain is arguably the most important organ in the human body. It controls and coordinates actions and reactions, allows us to think and feel, and enables us to have memories and feelings – all the things that make us human”. Within our presentation we will highlight the benefits or incorporating brain based instructional practices into the modern classroom. We will display our innovative brain based curriculum …

Changing The Music: Understanding Educational Obstacles For Youth In Foster Care, Amie J. Stearns, Iyc

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Due to increased tendency of children in foster care placements to perform poorly in school and to become involved with the juvenile justice system, there is a dire need for school districts to improve support systems for this vulnerable student group. This presentation may be of most interest to conference attendees as it explores the specific barriers which may hinder educational success for youth in foster care.

Why Peer Intervention Is Viable, Cynthia L. Morton, Antoinette Dunstan, Candice Anderson, Monica Seeley

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Welcome to the "Age of Indifference". Unfortunately, our culture is so busy looking at our own problems and issues that we have systematically stopped caring about others. However, if our culture would embrace a system based on collaboration and compassion, we may lessen many social and psychological issues that impact youth today.

Implementing A 5th Quarter Program For At-Risk Student Athletes - "Getting Them To The 3e'S - Enrolled, Enlisted Or Employed!", Ahmand Tinker, William Silveri

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

The primary focus and design of the program is to have the student athlete who has participated in the school's athletic academic support program be prepared and equipped to enroll in college, enlist in the military, or be gainfully employed after high school; simply known as the 3E's.

Experience And Enjoy Therapeutic West African Drumming, Danny S. Daniels

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

This presentation is designed to introduce the benefits of a therapeutic West African drumming program to educators and mental health professionals. Participants will engage in a basic drumming class where they will experience the academic and socio-emotional benefits of drumming while practicing an African rhythm. How to relate American School Counselor Association (ASCA) standards as well as Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) and Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS) will be explained and demonstrated by the presentation facilitators.

Teaching The Value Of Work Through School And Community Integration, Sharon Singleton, Jason Bossart

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Bonnie Brae is a 100 year old residential treatment facility for youth at-risk. Recognizing a need to implement experiential learning into our school, we have effectively collaborated and partnered with numerous community non-profit organizations for work experience. Because of this integration, our boys are prepared to successfully transition from the residential environment knowing the importance of interpersonal skills and the value of work.

Using Computer Games To Motivate At-Risk Students To Studious Learners, Dawn M. White

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Motivation is the key factor in the academic success of students. Tapping into students’ interests keeps them engaged in learning. One major interest in all students is computer games. Learn about the numerous and free education games available on the Internet and how to use them to transform at–risk students into studious learners. Target Audience: elementary, middle and high school teachers, school counselors, & parents

"Hide And Seek": Positioning The Hidden Curriculum To Lead To Service, Equity, Expectations And Knowledge, Keith L. Brown

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

In this engaging hands-on presentation, Keith L. Brown, challenges the paradigm as it relates to the widely known and accepted idea of the “Hidden Curriculum,” which in essence refers to the unwritten, unofficial and often unintended lessons, values and perspectives that students of color in particular and many others in general learn in school. Using group collaboration and team building, Keith illustrates how the physical, mental, emotional and cultural make-up of individuals can be altered to close not only the “achievement gap” but the “ambition gap” as well. He also presents real life examples to further highlight why youth advocates …

When All Hope Is Gone, Trust Then Believe: “At Risk” Or “At Potential"?, Erica C. Pooler, Barbara Kirby-Bentley Dr.

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

The Cards of Life, when all hope is gone; trust then believe forces educators to view students differently. The notion that we can’t teach students until we truly begin to know them and they begin to trust us is challenged. The fact that our actions have to align with our words and meaningful conversations and relationships must be established in the classroom. At Risk or At Potential? Every school across the nation have students that struggle, academically, socially or behaviorally. There are a variety of reasons as to why? We can no longer ignore these students and pad the numbers …

Avoiding Juvenile Actions For Youth At Risk, Wanda L. Ward J. D.

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Targeted Audience: Classroom Teachers, School Administrators, Counselors, Social Workers, Behavior Specialists, & Juvenile Probation Officers (JPO)

Brief Description: In this session participants will learn strategies that build trust and mutual respect necessary to establish and maintain positive school and community participation for students who may be at risk of dropping out of school and being caught up in the juvenile court system. Participants will learn techniques that can be used immediately for improving student’s attitudes and behavior.

Making Content Sticky: What To Do When Students Don't Get It Or Can't Remember It, Joanne Billingsley

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Do your students struggle with the mountain of new vocabulary they need to master each year? Do you have difficulty getting students to speak, read, and write using academic language? Years of research confirms a direct link between word knowledge and academic success. However, stark gaps in vocabulary knowledge across ethnic groups and income levels still persist. This session will focus on neuroscience based strategies that are proven to accelerate the acquisition of core academic vocabulary and dramatically increasing student opportunities for listening, speaking and writing using academic language. Participants will leave with skills to transform vocabulary lessons into a …

Increasing African American And Latino Parental Involvement In School, Timothy Allen

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Parental involvement is one of the leading indicators of a student’s academic achievement. The lack of parental support often found within the African American and Latino communities has often contributed to suspensions, expulsions, and truancy. This interactive seminar will provide participants with useful strategies that can be used to increase the level of parental involvement and also help parents understand the importance of their role in their children’s academic success.

Count Yourself In:Encouraging Students To Take The 180-Day Challenge, Takeysha Ray, Curlandra Lightfoot-Smith

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

In this presentation, participants will focus on the importance of a holistic approach addressing chronic absenteeism in schools. Participants are provided with tools to take to their district and community helping bring awareness to regular, punctual school attendance. We will provide exciting, hands-on, interactive experiences on initiatives and creative strategies addressing truancy.