Practical Approaches to Early School Dropout Prevention

The prevention of early school leaving is a common challenge to all European Educational Systems. Teachers need more skills and competences, also strong motivation in understanding and dealing with pupils at risk of early school leaving. They have to be able to identify with the necessary apprehension the appearance of the risk factors leading to the early school leaving and to apply the necessary initiatives to deal the problem.
Our course is designed in order to give an effective answer to the above mentioned needs of the teachers, and to provide them with the necessary and efficient skills and tools to prevent students’ dropout and early school leaving.
Objectives:
To develop greater competence in:
• Provide participants with an overview of recent research on the causes and risk factors associated with early school dropout;
• Continuously communicate and promote dropout prevention efforts on a district-wide basis;
• Develop and sustain a mentoring program;
• Better inform students about the impact of dropping out;
• Improve communication and public relations;
• Improve parental engagement;
• Ensure high quality teaching in every classroom;
• Provide necessary and appropriate support and intervention in early learning to ensure proficiency at or above grade level;
• Build trust and positive relationships between parents, schools, and district leaders;
• To meet the personal needs of each student;
• To elevate the importance of great teachers and learning;
• To make improvement of public education a moral imperative of every citizen and stakeholder;
• To accelerate innovation and transform school to meet Global 21 demands;
• Create a community forum to inform the public about the dropout problem;
• Use 21st century technology tools to interact with parents and the broader community about the dropout issues;
• Encourage increased parent involvement in dropout prevention initiatives;
• Adopting a “prevention is better than cure” approach to the problem;
• Identifying factors that contribute to a student's dropping out;
• Research on early warning indicators;
• School-level early warning systems;
• Step-by-step instructions for how schools can calculate indicators and identify which students are on track to graduate and which are most likely to drop out while there is still time to intervene and prevent dropouts;
• District-level early warning systems: Information for districts regarding the development of district-wide early warning systems that begin with a local analysis of graduation and dropout patterns in the district;
• States' roles in supporting the development and use of early warning systems;
• Learning about and Applying Teaching Methods that enhance Teacher Effectiveness and help to prevent the early school leaving.
Methodology:
The term dropout refers to those who do not finish basic school and who do not get a leaving certificate from basic school and to young people who drop out from the educational system after basic school. The aim of the course is to create a methodology model that has been designed to be preventive. Thus it should offer help much earlier than when a young person is in danger of dropping out of school or the educational system. Dropping out of school is a very complex phenomenon. This model is only one part of and one approach to the early prevention of school dropouts, which requires the collaboration of many sectors. Participants will use different methods in course activities. As a professional follow-up teachers will try to prevent school dropouts by improving young people’s self-esteem by giving them much positive feedback, being interested in their wellbeing and also discussing feelings with them, and by helping them to succeed. Motivating the young people and discussing about the importance of schooling are also very much part of the prevention of school dropouts. The core methods will include using articulacy and handicrafts, as well as adventure activities. With the young people going to basic school, important methods are support in subjects where the young person has difficulties, preparation for exams and practical training. With those who have already finished basic school and should be moving to the next level, the important methods are to find a suitable study place, support and help when applying for a study place and practical training. The collaboration with parents is considered to be very important.
The methodological approach includes:
• Lecture Method;
• Reading Information Method;
• Audio-Visual Presentation;
• Demonstration;
• Observation;
• Interviewing;
• Brainstorming;
• Mental Imagery;
• Synthesis;
• Small Group Discussions;
• Problem-Solving Activities;
• Buzz Sessions;
• Role-Playing;
• Simulations.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The course fee required is fixed at 70 EUR per course day and depends on the duration of the course, chosen by the participants: 5, 7 or 10 days course. We don't require "package price"(course fee +accommodation+meals) like some other course providers, as usually this type of price is much higher than the real expenses. Furthermore, in the case of "package price" participants are restricted regarding their accommodation preferences.

The participants will have an option to choose their own accommodation regarding their budget and other preferences. We shall advise them and assist in any possible manner in order to find the best option.

I am always at your disposal for any further information.

Kindest Regards,
Kina Dimitrova
kina_dimitrova@hotmail.com