Joining a new advisee group where everyone already knows one another can be a challenge. Joining as a new, remote advisee can make it even more challenging, both for the advisee as well as for the advisor, in terms of ensuring that the advisee feels connected.
This year, eighth-grade advisor and Latin teacher Sam Cassidy has three new additions to her advisee group, two of whom are in-person and one of whom is online. Ms. Cassidy said it was more difficult to include her new remote advisee eighth-grader Clara Drag. “Just because of the nature of being online,” Ms. Cassidy said. “Playing online games really helps.” Having one-on-one check-ins has also made it easier for Ms. Cassidy to get to know her remote advisee.
Although being added to an advisee group was not new to Clara, who was in an advisee group at her former school, she said it was strange to be added to the advisee group because everyone already knew each other. She said that she didn’t feel less included because she was online. “But it’s very different,” Clara noted. “I do not feel as connected to the group.” Clara made it very clear that she enjoys the advisee group that she is in because everyone is really nice.
Eighth-grader Jack Neikrie, one of the other new advisees who was added to Ms. Cassidy’s group, is not remote but agreed with everything Clara said and added that going from public to private school can be an added challenge when transitioning to being in a new advising group.
Clara offered some advice for someone joining a new advisee group, especially if joining remotely. “Just put yourself out there and talk more about yourself,” she said, “and let them get to know you.”
