Preventing early school leaving

SUMMARY

To prevent early school leaving schools need to develop a systemic approach that includes simultaneous activities on multiple levels: work with teachers and counselling service, work with parents and work with pupils. “Dropping out” is linked to the feeling of being powerless, of senselessness and extreme lack of motivation. The engine that helps to increase motivation and find the meaning is fuelled by relevant stimuli in a safe and significant relationship.

Part of the course is devoted to building relational competence, which is the glue of preventing early school leaving. The second part of the course we will devote to the participatory learning methods with the purpose of greater inclusion of students who are in the risk of leaving the school.

We will use various working methods to foster growth of course participants: Lecturing, working in pairs / groups, role play, discussion, expert consultations and examples from practice.

PROGRAMME DAY-BY-DAY

DAY 1
Introductory meeting, explanation of practical arrangements, presentation of timetable, information about course venue.

DAY 2
Relational competence is the glue of preventing early school leaving
Theory of Three Participants
Relational values
Straightforward and inverted imitation/cooperation
Existential needs
Self-awareness

DAY 3
Relational competence
Relational competence – the ’craft’
The professional dialogue
Beginning the dialogue
The professional dialogue
How to establish the contact?
Dialogue progression
Attitudes and approaches
Team work

DAY 4
Phases of conversation and practising
visualisation, mindfulness, mentalisation, empathy, being and doing
Handbook of tools for preventing early school leaving
Study visit and half day excursion

DAY 5
Communicating effectively with parents
Facts about effective communication with parents
Common mistakes and hurdles in communicating with parents
Avoiding hurdles and mistakes we often make in our communication with parents
How to correct mistakes in future communication
Techniques of active listening and constructive feedback
Techniques of effective questioning
Supporting parents to set goals and prepare an action plan
Empowering parents to build independence and responsibility in their children

DAY 6
Participatory learning methods
A motivating way to host learning and create learning communities
Circle practice: The Circle, or council, is an ancient form of meeting that has gathered humans in respectful conversations for thousands of years
Appreciative inquiry: Appreciative Inquiry is a strategy for intentional change that identifies the best of ‘what is’ to pursue dreams and possibilities of ‘what could be.’ AI is a cooperative search for strengths, what is known, what is right
World Café: The World Café is a method for creating a collaborative learning conversation around questions that matter by innovating instruction in the classroom

DAY 7
​Key learning points, action plan, conclusion, farewell