Advisory Periods Cultivate Connection & Community at Saturday Classes

In NYC, we’re piloting an exciting new part of Saturday classes: advisory periods!

Students research summer STEM programs in advisory

On Saturdays this fall, our NYC Program Team began offering 45-minute blocks for BEAM high schoolers in between morning and afternoon classes. Since BEAM’s high school students already receive 3 hours of advanced math instruction every Saturday, these advisory blocks are meant to provide the necessary enrichment that falls outside of advanced math: enrichment that centers on STEM access, exploration, and community.

Advisory periods are the perfect opportunity for students to explore their own goals and areas of interest, whether that’s acing an upcoming test, applying to internships, exploring a possible STEM career, or simply getting through the academic year. At the same time, they can use these periods to connect with BEAM staff members and hang out with their BEAM friends, building a positive, lasting community that they can take with them wherever they go. 

Shane Coleman, Manager of NYC Year-Round Programs, emphasizes that these periods are part of a holistic approach to student enrichment. “It’s a great time to have conversations with students about themselves, who they think they are, and who they want to be.” 

More students conduct summer program research — advisory provides opportunities for students to pursue their STEM goals

During advisory periods, students can select among several options, including “Navigating the Academic Battlefield” for assistance with homework, tests, and building academic success; “Mindfulness, Making, and Math” to learn techniques to create a healthy mental space while pursuing a STEM pathway; “Beyond the Classroom” for a focus on college, career, the trades, and community work; and “11th Grade Advisory” for high school juniors looking for SAT and college admissions support. Advisory topics are based entirely on student requests.

Advisory blocks are still in their pilot phase — as we carry out our new vision for high school programs over the next few years, we will continue to iterate on this concept. But the purpose will stay the same: providing students with dedicated time to focus on themselves and their academic, professional, or personal goals, all while building a support system and an incredible, math-y community.

Forty-five minutes every Saturday might not seem like much, but in fact, each student could spend up to 900 minutes in advisory over the course of a year! And while Shane doesn’t know what advisory will look like in the future, he says, “We want to be where the students are. We will still offer mathematical enrichment and a sense of belonging — whatever that looks like going forward.”

Students try solving a mathematical puzzle provided by our corporate partner Jane Street during advisory

Students collaborate to solve Jane Street’s puzzle. Advisory is a great time to build community with other BEAM students!