MST FIU Role Play

Summary

The video follows a family therapy session, where Maria, a teenager, and her parents express concerns about her school performance and behavior. With the guidance of a therapist and school staff, they discuss the challenges Maria faces, such as feeling isolated and struggling with schoolwork in English. The session emphasizes the importance of family communication, setting goals, and collaborating with the school. Through practical steps like attendance agreements, progress reports, and extracurricular opportunities, they aim to help Maria succeed academically while strengthening family bonds and support.

Takeaways

• 😀 The therapist encourages family collaboration and communication to improve Maria's academic performance and emotional well-being.
• 😀 Maria feels unsupported at home and isolated, leading to struggles with her academic performance.
• 😀 Family members express concern about balancing work schedules and their ability to support Maria’s education.
• 😀 The therapist suggests using 'I' statements in family conversations to avoid blame and improve understanding.
• 😀 There is a focus on establishing clear agreements, such as attendance and progress reports, to monitor Maria's academic progress.
• 😀 The school’s guidance counselor emphasizes the importance of school attendance and participation in class to ensure Maria’s future success.
• 😀 Maria’s parents are encouraged to provide a better balance of time and attention to support her needs.
• 😀 Maria expresses frustration about her school environment and feels neglected in her learning experience due to language barriers.
• 😀 The therapist and school staff suggest extracurricular activities, like volunteering in a healthcare setting, to help Maria connect with positive peers and explore potential career paths.
• 😀 There is a focus on bilingual educational support, offering both Spanish and English classes to help Maria with language difficulties.
• 😀 The importance of continuous communication between the school, parents, and Maria is emphasized to ensure academic and personal growth.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the family therapy session?

The primary focus of the family therapy session is to address Maria's academic struggles, her feelings of isolation, and the communication issues within her family, while also discussing strategies for improving her school performance and emotional well-being.

Why is Maria feeling isolated, and how does it affect her school performance?

Maria feels isolated because she comes home from school to an empty house, with her parents working long hours. This lack of support contributes to her academic difficulties, as she struggles with English and doesn't have anyone to help with her homework.

What is the therapist's recommendation to improve communication within the family?

The therapist recommends that family members use 'I' statements when communicating their feelings, to avoid blame and foster understanding. This technique helps reduce defensiveness and encourages more productive conversations.

What role does the school play in Maria’s improvement plan?

The school plays a critical role by monitoring Maria's attendance, behavior, and academic progress. The guidance counselor proposes regular progress reports and offers tutoring, while suggesting extracurricular activities, like health-related volunteer programs, to engage Maria and improve her social environment.

How do Maria’s parents feel about the situation, and what are their concerns?

Maria's parents are concerned about her behavior and lack of academic progress. They express frustration about their inability to provide support due to their work schedules and feel disappointed by Maria's actions, such as hanging out with the wrong crowd.

What agreement does the school want Maria and her parents to sign?

The school asks Maria and her parents to sign an attendance agreement, which states that Maria will attend school regularly and her parents will ensure her attendance. The goal is to improve her school participation and support her academic success.

How does the school plan to help Maria improve her language skills?

The school plans to provide bilingual classes and offer after-school tutoring to help Maria with English, addressing her language barrier. The school aims to make her proficient in English while also supporting her in her native language.

What extracurricular activity is suggested for Maria, and how does it connect to her career interests?

The school suggests Maria join a volunteer program at local hospitals through a club that focuses on health sciences. This activity aligns with Maria’s interest in becoming a nurse and provides her exposure to the healthcare field while allowing her to work with students who share similar interests.

How will Maria’s progress be tracked and communicated between school and home?

Maria’s progress will be tracked through weekly progress reports completed by her teachers. These reports will cover her attendance, effort, conduct, and performance. Copies will be sent home to her parents so they can stay updated on her progress.

What future steps are planned to support Maria's academic and career goals?

In addition to improving her attendance and academic performance, Maria will explore magnet programs in health sciences and pre-nursing. The school will also support her through volunteering opportunities and provide resources to help her pursue a career in healthcare.