It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child. It is challenging to understand what that means and just what we need to do to be part of the village. Research indicates that Mini-interventions, short conversations that focus on a single student, are proven methods of reducing the chance of a student dropping out of school.

If you see a child during school hours outside of school or know a child that is struggling at school, you may want to engage them in a mini-intervention, a conversation meant to get them back to school. What that conversation really says is, here is an adult that cares about you, it is important for you to go to school.

The following sets of question were given to us by Dr. Copple, an expert in designing programs that increase graduation rates. He states that these simple, short question when directed at a child, with compassion for their answers, are proven to cause changes in behavior that lead to success in school.

These questions focus on attendance issues and building relationships with students. When people of authority and respect ask questions about a student’s behavior/attitude it challenges the student to reform their actions and can often modify their choices.

Please feel welcome to review these questions and use them! Become a citizen of the village that is raising that child. Become the citizen who shows that child that someone cares.


For ease of use, KGBSD has these cards in laminated form! Call the Office of the Superintendent, 247-2109, and request some. Or stop in and get them.



Doctors

1. How are you doing in school?
2. What is your favorite subject?
3. Who is your favorite teacher and why?
4. How is you attendance and are you staying home often because of illness of boredom?
5. What is your long-term goal and what do you hope to do after school?
Employers

1. What is your favorite subject?
2. What do you consider to be your strongest skill?
a. Writing
b. Speaking
c. Reading
d. Art
3. What do you want to be doing 10 years from now?
4. What do you think it will take to reach that goal?
Clergy

1. How is school going for you these days?
2. Who is your favorite teacher?
3. What do you want to do after school or when you graduate?
4. What do you consider to be your strongest gifts or talents?
5. Anything we can do to help you with school?
Parents

1. What do you want to do after you graduate?
2. Who is your favorite teacher?
3. What is your favorite subject?
4. If you could change something about school what would it be?
5. What can we do to help make school a success for you?
Citizens

1. Is school out today?
2. How come you are not in school today?
3. Do your parents know you are here?
4. Do you need a ride back to school?
5. What is your name?