Running Head: FRIENDSHIP NEEDS ASSESSMENT Assignment 6 Written Procedures Plan Friendship Needs Assessment Michaela Avila Breanna Herring Katie Rowell J.J. Smith University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1 FRIENDSHIP NEEDS ASSESSMENT 2 Introduction Developing friendships can be a difficult and stressful task for some individuals, especially for children adapting to a new school environment. The following needs assessment is intended for students ages 5-8 to identify specific friendship needs. Recognizing the importance of mutual friendships throughout the early stages of development, we believe that friendships are beneficial in supporting academic and emotional wellbeing. Research conducted by Laursen, Bukowski, Aunola, and Nurmi (2007) suggests that young children who possess mutual friendships establish a “buffer” to adverse experiences. Specifically, children who maintain such friendships are less likely to experience internalizing and/or externalizing behaviors, social isolation, and the development of lower self-concepts. With these positive findings, it is important for elementary school counselors to address friendship needs during the early childhood years. This needs assessment will include five items about friendship. These items are: 1. I know how to make friends. 2. I know how to start playing with friends. 3. I know how to play fair with friends. 4. I know how to share with friends. 5. I know how to listen to my friends. These five items are developmentally age appropriate. As a result of our experience thus far in elementary schools, younger students appear to have more difficulty sustaining attention; therefore, a limited number of items will be used. The rating scale used for this needs-assessment will include three different ClipArt faces; one green happy face, one yellow unsure face, and one red sad face (see Appendix). The faces FRIENDSHIP NEEDS ASSESSMENT 3 are a simple representation of how the students feel about each statement. Visual rating scales are developmentally appropriate and establish the accuracy of young children’s responses. Additionally, this needs-assessment will be provided in both English and Spanish to accommodate our schools’ populations. Needs Assessment Plans Cameron Park Elementary School At Cameron Park Elementary, this needs assessment will be distributed to all second grade classes. A friendship needs assessment will help identify the specific needs of the current second grade class. The needs identified will help guide the friendship group that is run during the spring semester. Instruments used to complete this needs assessment will include an adequate number of colored paper copies of the developed needs assessment and pencils. Copies of the needs assessment will be colored to help distinguish differences amongst ClipArt faces and to help students respond appropriately. To begin the needs assessment process, I will email all second grade teachers to set up an appropriate time to visit their classrooms. An attached google doc will be sent to teachers to assist signing up for a desired time slot. A three day time span will be available for scheduling. After hearing back from all teachers, I will prepare the appropriate number of colored paper copies and set them aside for the appropriate days. Once visiting the classrooms I will introduce the needs assessment and explain its purpose. Before moving on, I will make sure that any students that need accommodations are receiving them. I will ensure students of their confidentiality and explain the importance of responding accurately so I can assist those who might need the extra support. Before beginning I will prompt each student to put his or her name FRIENDSHIP NEEDS ASSESSMENT 4 on the needs assessment. I then will explain the ClipArt faces and what each represents. I will let the students know that I will be reading each statement and that they are to circle how they feel about each one. Before moving on I will ask if anyone needs clarification. At the end of the assessment, I will prompt students to turn over their papers. I will then collect each of the needs assessment while ensuring all students’ confidentiality. McDougle Elementary School With the lack of additional time for classroom interference, this needs assessment will be provided to all Kindergarteners at McDougle Elementary School during the previously scheduled counseling block. This assessment will provide data for individual counseling of students who show difficulty in the area of friendship. Prior to administering the needs assessment, copies will be made in both English and Spanish for student accommodation. Once the assessment is provided to students, I will explain the assessment procedures. Such explanation will include the purpose of the assessment, their right to confidentiality and clarification for each ClipArt face. I will then read aloud each item in English to the classroom and check for understanding. If non-speaking English students are present, accommodations will then be provided. Following the completion of the needs assessment all copies will be collected and students will be reminded of their confidentiality. This needs assessment will be completed through the utilization of provided paper and pencil. Additionally, this needs assessment will be for the use of only the Student Support Services team. Furthermore, students will be reminded of respect to their peers, hoping they will not glimpse at the assessments surrounding them. FRIENDSHIP NEEDS ASSESSMENT 5 Pittsboro Elementary School For the friendship needs assessment, I will be sampling all first and second grade students. These are the two grade levels that my supervisor and I are currently working with in regards to classroom guidance and small groups. Our classroom guidance lessons are about peer interactions and problem solving with peers, making this assessment relevant for this population. The assessment will be beneficial in identifying any particular skills that need to be addressed. This assessment will be a paper and pencil assessment. There will be sufficient copies made for all first and second grade classrooms. Also, assessments will be provided in English and Spanish to accommodate all students’ needs. Prior to delivering the assessment I will be in touch via e-mail with all first and second grade teachers. This is to ensure that teachers are aware of the upcoming assessment and to provide the opportunity for them to ask questions regarding the assessment. I will let them know that it should take no longer than 10 minutes to distribute, complete, and collect. In my e-mail I will ask teachers to reply with a time and day that works best for me to come into the classroom. After e-mailing all the teachers I will make sufficient copies for every student to complete it. Once in the classroom I will give a brief explanation of the assessment along with the purpose and give students a chance to ask any questions. I will explain that the assessment is confidential and that no one else will see the results except for myself. I will then distribute the assessment to each student and announce that in order to better ensure confidentiality they should flip the paper over face down on their desk after completion. Prior to them answering the questions I will explain the response scale and provide clarification of each ClipArt face. I will then walk them through each statement and also check for understanding after reading each one. FRIENDSHIP NEEDS ASSESSMENT 6 After every student has completed the assessment I will come by and collect them also reminding them again of confidentiality. New Hope Elementary School This needs assessment will be distributed to all five Kindergarten classes at New Hope Elementary School. My supervisor and I will be conducting friendship lessons in Kindergarten within the upcoming weeks; thus, this assessment will be a way for us to identify the specific friendship needs of the students. My supervisor and I will adapt our lessons to focus on these needs, and then possibly follow-up with the students who identify more of a need for friendship lessons than others. The instruments that will be used for the friendship needs assessment will include enough Spanish and English colored copies to accommodate all classrooms. Additionally, the students will use pencils to complete the needs-assessment. My supervisor and I will contact all Kindergarten teachers via email or phone to set up a time to come into their classrooms to distribute the needs assessments. All teachers will be informed that the distribution of the assessment will take no longer than ten minutes. After the times have been scheduled, I will prepare our materials by printing out the correct amount of Spanish and English copies for each classroom. Upon entering the classrooms, I will explain to the students the purpose of the assessment, how to fill it out, and clarification of each ClipArt face. I will be sure to include a confidentiality statement and ensure the students that my supervisor and I will be the only individuals to use this assessment. Once the assessments have been handed out, I will read each item to the class and explain that they should circle whichever face describes how they feel about the item in question. I will provide accommodations (i.e. an ESL teacher) for any students who do not understand the questions as I read them aloud. After FRIENDSHIP NEEDS ASSESSMENT 7 the students have finished the assessment, I will collect the papers and thank them for their time, ensuring them of their confidentiality. FRIENDSHIP NEEDS ASSESSMENT 8 References Laursen, B., Bukowski, W. M., Aunola, K., & Nurmi, J. E. (2007). Friendship moderates prospective associations between social isolation and adjustment problems in young children. Child Development. 78(4), 1395-1404. FRIENDSHIP NEEDS ASSESSMENT 9 Appendix Friendship Needs Assessment I know how to make friends. I know how to start playing with friends. I know how to play fair with friends. I know how to share with friends. I know how to listen to my friends. *Spanish assessments are in the process of being translated.
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