Westmoor ‘Coaches’ Help Students Improve, 10 Minutes A Day

NORTHBROOK, IL — A social-emotional intervention program called, "Check-In, Check-Out," has been a big hit the last few years at Westmoor School, according to Northbrook District 28.

Melina Leber, a social worker, explains it is a research-based program that ties into the larger SEL program in the school. While about 80 percent of the student population is successful with SEL lessons and supports provided by the classroom teacher, according to the district, the CICO program helps students who need just a little more support.

The school launched the program two years ago and currently has about 15 coaches and 18 students in the program. Any adult in the building can participate. After a brief training, each adult is assigned a student, with whom they meet at the beginning and end of the day. It is usually a short meeting of about five minutes.

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The district said in those quick meetings, the coach reviews the day’s goals and subject areas tailored to each student’s needs, such as starting on task as soon as the teacher asks, waiting to be called on before blurting out a response, or being open-minded and receptive to new ideas.

The teacher confers with the student after each "subject" area throughout the day and awards points for the positives they saw and occasional "Wows" for emphasis.

“The goal is for the student to enhance their overall social-emotional side to improve academic performance,” said Allie Rubenstein, a fourth-grade teacher and CICO coach.

At the end of the day, the coaches check out with the students and collect the goal sheet, which is tabulated in a database to track each student’s progress. The coaches talk about the positives and students can share anything else on their mind, according to the district.

“We want the students to see the positives that the teachers saw. It’s about building a child’s self-confidence and their ability to self-monitor,” Leber said.

Data shows the program is working. Last year, 8 out of 10 students in the program "graduated" from the program without additional interventions. CICO works in alignment with the other SEL programs offered in the school and will adapt to address any student’s specific needs.

“This program is as successful as it is because of the work staff put in daily for the students they mentor or coach,” Principal Mary Sturgill said.