Elementary Schools - Project Cornerstone

Engaging Teachers and School Staff as Asset BuildersAll school staff – teachers, administrators, and counselors as well as yard supervisors, coaches, bus drivers, custodians,clerical support staff, librarians – have the power to build developmental assets in children and youth. Asset building is anatural fit for any adult in the field of education. Project Cornerstone’s training with all school staff focuses on specificways in which they have the opportunity to build assets with their students every day.1. Introduction to Asset Building – This presentation introduces participants to Search Institute’s DevelopmentalAsset Framework and their research. The power of assets to prevent children and youth from engaging in riskybehavior as well as the promotion of thriving behaviors is detailed in addition to showing the impact on academicachievement and social/emotional health. The presentation also shares how Project Cornerstone utilizes thedevelopmental asset model to support school efforts to infuse asset-building into its culture. The overview isapproximately 30 minutes and works well during a regular teacher meeting.2. Building Assets in Your School Community – This presentation details the four primary areas that assets arebuilt in school communities and how they support the Common Core Standards. These include, but are not limitedto 1) positive relationship building, 2) an emotionally safe school environment, 3) programs offered at the schoolsite and 4) day-to-day strength-based practice of teachers and other adults on campus. This training includesexperiential based learning activities as well as direct presentation materials. Staff will have a tool-box of assetbuilding ideas by the end of the training which they can utilize with students immediately. This session is 60-90minutes, and can be combined with the Introduction to Asset Building for staff development days.3. Building Assets on the Playground – Unsupervised time on an elementary school playground is “primetime” fornegative behaviors to surface between students. Whether serious peer abuse/bullying behavior between studentsor a single student behaving in inappropriate ways, it is the leading time in any school day for discipline problemsto erupt. This training gives noon duty teachers and parent volunteers new strategies to approach this period in theday from an asset-building perspective rather than the more traditional “yard police”. The training is 60 minutes andis appropriate for any adult with the responsibility of supervising students during their free time.4. Parent Engagement Programs: Overview – This short (15–30 minute) informational training focuses on thetwo Project Cornerstone parent engagement programs that involve parents reading children’s literature andteaching a short lesson in the classroom each month. These short presentations can be woven easily into aregular staff meeting and are usually done by the coordinators of the specific program either ABC or Los Dichos.5. School Climate: “What We Permit, We Promote” – Wherever it happens, bullying behavior is hurtful andcan have a dramatic negative impact on student success in school. Project Cornerstone offers a staff developmentopportunity in this critical area for all credentialed and classified staff, as well as volunteers. Training is between60 and 90 minutes.6. Action Planning – Whether on a school-wide basis or grade level teams, action planning can be facilitated withschool staff choosing a number of the assets they would like to focus on for the school year. Staff might choose tofocus on assets which have shown to improve school climate or academic achievement, or perhaps look at “serviceto others” as a strategy to build multiple assets. These strategies are mapped with the 21 st Century Learning Skillsto ensure alignment with school-site and district priorities. This session is approximately 60 minutesTo schedule any of the above trainings for staff development or consultation, contactLinda Silvius at linda@projectcornerstone.orgIf interested in Parent Engagement Programs, contact the following:ABC Program Coordinator, Lori Maitski at lori@projectcornerstone.orgLos Dichos Program Coordinator, Brenda Serna at brenda@projectcornerstone.org