About the Course

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About the Blog

The Making Connections Blog is a place where mentors, teachers, counselors and volunteers who work with kids can come together to find support, resources and information that they can use to help them be even better at their jobs. It is a place to find answers, explore solutions, make connections, and share ideas, experiences, challenges and knowledge, all with the intent of finding more and better ways to build the kinds of relationships that help keep kids in school.

Testimonials

"I signed up for this course because it sounded informative, helpful, and useful in my job. I never thought that I would be down-loading so many materials to use with students and to share with staff. Just last week our Hispanic Outreach Worker emailed to request resources to better serve our Latino families. I invited her to come on down and visit with me! I have also shared resources from this course with other district counselors. They have been most appreciative. I have even gained a few new lesson plans and some new strategies on how we can work towards having an even better impact on our students. Overall, this course helped me see just how much our community, our school, really does offer our students and their families. I can't wait for the summer break, but I also can't wait for the fall!" L. Pfister, Hillsboro School District

Making Connections: Strong Relationships Help Keep Kids in School

An innovative online learning tool designed to build strong, positive, lasting relationships with kids at-risk of dropping out. Some of the content contained in this course is adapted from work developed by Donna Beegle, Ed.D.

For mentors, educators, counselors and volunteers
Information, strategies, resources and a network of support

Benefits to your organization:

Help staff and volunteers become more effective at what they already do
Supplement existing training
Help recruit, train and maintain volunteers
Reduce volunteer turnover

Benefits to volunteers

Education designed to help volunteers be more successful (College credit available)
Flexible design and scheduling makes this course easy to use
Ongoing access to information and resources that mentors, teachers and counselors can use everyday
Skills, strategies, tips and activities that help to create and sustain strong relationships with kids
An expanded online community where users can share ideas, ask questions and participate in conversations with other mentors and teachers.
Recognition and support
Increased Cultural Competence and awareness
Strong community connections

3 Ways to Make Connections

There are 3 ways to take this online course