According to teachers, connecting with students from another grade could be a great opportunity to increase certain life skills, but does it really work?

Every C day on the calendar the first 35 minutes of the day, seventh grade students share life experiences with teachers they don’t know, and other classmates. Teachers and some seventh graders argue that is a great experience for them to bond, but some students do not agree. 

“Our advisory lesson will address three major skill areas: School Successful Skills, Academic Planning/ Work Ethic Skills, interpersonal/life skills.” Carolina Zuluaga seventh grade counselor and Advisory program manager.

Advisory is held by one teacher and 15 students maximum each class. It lasts about 35 minutes every C day on middle school calendar. Different teachers argue this program is a great opportunity to connect with the students and to incorporate different life skills; but some seventh graders do not agree.

According to seventh grader Camila Salazar, “I think it is a waste of time, we just play games and do nothing for a while”  Some students, like Salazar, believe that advisory is a waste of their time and that they should be allowed to do homework instead of playing games. Others agree with the teachers and their statements.

“Advisory is really good because we learn things about other classmates that we did not knew before, we learn a lot and come close to the teachers” Seventh grader,Rosario Villegas.

Some of the students also see advisory as great opportunity for them to improve their skills in some areas and to have an adult to talk to and  trust other than their parents. As Carolina Zuluaga said “Advisory provides a safe place to talk about difficult issues, fears, curiosity, etc. Teens tend to push parents away, this provides an adult they can turn to; it forms a positive relationship with a mentor.” Students and teachers have different opinions about advisory and its purpose.

 “I understand why advisory was created but I don’t think it really works” Manuela Rueda, Seventh grade student.