Consultation Case

Coun 6573-901

ETSU

Summer 2017
Identifying Information: 15 year old, Michelle Newman is failing Algebra class. She is a “star”

basketball player for Knoxville Christian School where I am the coach, but she now is in

jeopardy of failing to meet the academic requirements hence putting her at risk of having to

suspend her participation in basketball until her academic requirements have been maintained.

Reason for Referral: I was contacted by the Mrs. Riggins, 10th grade Algebra teacher, who

requested I meet with her, Michelle, and Michelle’s parents to discuss Michelle grades and the

effects of her failing grades will have on her ability to continue to participate in basketball. I

have been Michelle’s basketball coach since she was a freshman.

Background Information: Michelle Newman is a sophomore at Knoxville Christian School.

She if failing her Alegbra class and if she doesn’t get her grade up to passing, she will not be

able to play basketball until the following nine weeks if her grade improves. She is considered to

be the basketball standout for KCS. She has already had college recruiters scouting her for a

potential college basketball scholarships. Michelle’s parents are very supportive of Michelle.

Both parents are very involved with Michelle’s basketball career. They however, are not as

involved with her academics. They do know she has to maintain a passing grade to continue to

participate in basketball. Michelle’s mother is more focused on the overall picture of Michelle,

she wants her to make good grades and continue playing basketball. Michelle’s father, however,

is very concerned about basketball. He has known to be aggressive to coaches and teachers

concerning Michelle. He and I had many discussions regarding Michelle’s basketball talent. He

would questions me on many things as her coach.

Problem Definition/Analysis

Michelle’s current grades in Algebra are :

Homework assignments: 49%

Quiz: 55%

Test: 62%

Michelle has not turned in five homework assignments, nor has she completed one quiz. She has

not taken the last test that was given because she had to leave early for a basketball game. I met

with Mrs. Riggins before our actual consultation with Michelle and her parents. Mrs. Riggins

states that if she continues at this rate, she will not be able to play basketball. She tells me that

she has approached Michelle concerning her grades and Michelle will tell her she will turn her
missing assignments in but as of right now she has not done this, nor has she made any effort to

take the test she has missed. Mrs. Riggins emailed Michelle’s mother, and her mother stated that

she will talk with Michelle and she will get everything turned in, but this has not happened. In

another email, Mrs. Riggins told Michelle’s mom that Michelle still has not turned any work in.

Michelle’s mom stated that Michelle told her she had it all turned in, and that she will talk with

her this evening and will respond back to her tomorrow. Mrs. Newman did not respond back to

Mrs. Riggins. I have requested a consultation for Michelle, Mrs. And Mrs. Newman, and Mrs.

Riggins to discuss Michelle’s algebra grades. Mrs. Riggins also states that Michelle doesn’t take

her grade seriously and feels that we aren’t serious about her not playing if her grade in Algebra

doesn’t improve. She states she comes to class and seems to zone out and sometimes even falls

asleep in class.

Intervention Plan: The consultation for Michelle, her parents, Mrs. Riggins, and myself about

her grades went well. I was the consultant in this meeting. I started the meeting by asking

Michelle a few questions. I asked if she knew why we were meeting. She stated she understood

why we were meeting, she stated she had a failing grade in Algebra and if she didn’t get her

grades up she could not play basketball. I agreed with her assessment as to why the consultation

had occurred. I then began telling Michelle what a great basketball player she was and how I

enjoy coaching her. I asked her about her future ambitions. She stated she wants to play college

basketball at UT Knoxville. She stated her father played basketball there and she wants to also. I

followed up by stating how proud her dad is of her, and how great it is that she is so close to her

parents. I mentioned how supportive her parents have always been and how they have attended

all her games. She smiled, it is obvious she has a good relationship with her parents. I also asked

her if she had siblings and if they were involved in any extracurricular activities. She stated she
had an older brother, who plays in the band. I asked what instrument her brother plays and if she

and her parents go to see her brother perform. She states she goes when she can, but her mom

tries to go quite often, as well as her dad, but she added, “but band isn’t really our thing.”

I asked her what she meant by “band isn’t really her thing.” She laughed and said, she just

doesn’t like it,” it’s kind of nerdy”. Her father smiled at her. Her mother stated that her son plays

the trumpet and does very well. No comment was made by the father. I also asked Michelle what

else she liked besides basketball, what were her other hobbies? She just paused for a moment

and stated that she didn’t know, and said she guessed movies and Dollywood. She stated she

really doesn’t hang out with too many people, she states she does a lot of stuff with her family. I

told her I thought that was great, family time is very important and Dollywood was fun! I then

proceeded to discuss why we were meeting, and asked her how she felt about Algebra. I asked if

she understood the material pretty good. I asked if she knew what her grades were for the class.

She didn’t and so I told everyone that Mrs. Riggins provided copies of her grades and what

assignments Michelle was missing. Michelle stated she knew she had an “F” in the class. I asked

her why she thought she had an “F” in the class. She said it was because she had missed so much

because of basketball. I asked Mrs. Riggins how many classes she had missed because of

basketball. Mrs. Riggins stated she had missed three classes so far because of basketball. I asked

Michelle if she met with Mrs. Riggins to get her work done that she had missed. She stated she

had not asked about her work. I asked if Mrs. Riggins had told her she had missed work. She

stated she didn’t remember her telling her anything about missed work. Mrs. Riggins chimed and

stated she had told her on two occasions about her work and how she would wait after school if

Michelle would like to meet with her to review and get caught up on her work. Michelle stated

that she couldn’t meet because of basketball. I stated that I didn’t mind for her meeting 30
minutes every afternoon, so she could get caught up. I stated I would rather her miss a little than

a whole season. Mr. Newman interrupted and stated that we really wouldn’t make her miss

playing if she didn’t complete the work. I stated how much I love coaching Michelle, but it is

school policy that an athlete has to maintain a passing grade in every class to play. Mr. Newman

stated that she has been so, so busy, she just needs time to complete the work. Mrs. Riggins

stated that she has given her time, but she won’t come to her class to finish the work, nor has she

turned in any of her homework. Mr. Newman stated that he was sure she had turned in some of

her homework. Mrs. Riggins stated she has not received any homework in three weeks. She

states she has a 57 in her class right now, but if she would turn in her late assignments and take

the quiz and test she is missing and pass that would definitely help her grade. I thought that was

very reasonable. Michelle just looked at her dad, but did not say anything, neither did her

parents. I asked Mrs. Riggins how Michelle was in class. Mrs. Riggins stated that Michelle will

come to class unprepared. She sits in the back with her basketball friends and at times they can

be disruptive. The other girls will do the work, though. I asked Michelle if she struggles with

Algebra, I stated it can be a difficult class to take. She states it is hard and when she doesn’t

know something she can just tune stuff out. She states sometimes she feel that Mrs. Riggins goes

too fast and she is embarrassed to ask anyone. I asked Mrs. Riggins how well the other girls that

are on the basketball team do in her class. She stated that Brittany does very well in her class. I

suggested to Michelle that Brittany be a peer tutor for her if Mrs. Riggins agreed. She stated that

would be ok as long as she and Michelle meet with her two times weekly and let her know how it

is going. Michelle asked if she had to turn in her late homework assignments, Mrs. Riggins

stated that she did and gave her to the following Monday to have everything in. Mr. Newman

thought she needed more time, but Mrs. Riggins and I thought that was reasonable, since she had
already given her plenty of times thus far. Mrs. Riggins also stated she would email Michelle’s

mom on Monday and let her know if she turned her work in and would also email her when she

took her quiz and test and let her know the grades. She gave her until the following Friday to

have the test and quiz done. I asked Mrs. Riggins if Brittany and Michelle could move closer to

the front to help with distractions. It was obvious by the look on Michelle’s face that she did not

like that, but really didn’t say anything. Mrs. Riggins thought that could be arranged and that she

would assign everyone a seat so as to not draw attention to Michelle and Brittany changing seats.

I then directed my attention to Michelle. I stated that I had talked with her teachers from last

semester. They all did not have any issues with Michelle and her grades were descent. I asked

Michelle if she ever feels overloaded with school and a busy basketball season. She looked at her

dad, and stated that she is tired when she gets home, but not too bad. I asked her what she did

when she is at home after practice or games. She states she may watch tv or she and her dad will

play basketball until supper. She states after supper she gets ready for bed. I asked how much

time she spends on social media and how I noticed that she has looked at her phone three times

since the meeting had started. She states she looks at it when she goes to bed. I recommended to

her parents that she take her access to social media after supper so she can rest better. I also

suggested that she and her dad spend 15 minutes every day talking positively about their day,

school, work, anything but basketball. Mr. Newman rolled his eyes a little but didn’t have any

response. I also suggested that Mr. and Mrs. Newman set a place and time that is conducive to

learning for Michelle to work on her Algebra. I also suggested that she find a website like Kahn

Academy that can help her get a better grasp at her assignments. I also suggested that Michelle

work on Algebra during RTI. Everyone has RTI at the same time, so that would give her a great
opportunity to get additional help from Mrs. Riggins Mrs. Riggins stated that would be fine that

several students see her during RTI.

All parties agreed to everything. The last recommendation I had was for Mrs. Riggins, Michelle,

and her parents meet until the rest of the nine weeks are completed. They could meet each week

for four weeks. I will attend as needed and at the request of teacher, parents or students.

I ended by telling Michelle that we all have things we are willing to do to help her get caught up,

but ultimately it is all up to Michelle to do what she should be doing. I stated how great

basketball is but she is here to learn and prepare for her future and without passing grades, her

future may not be what she wants especially in basketball. I stated she is constantly learning new

things in basketball and she could do the same in Algebra, with the same dedication and hard

work she has in basketball. She smiled and said ok. Her parents were ok with all the

recommendations.

Michelle’s plan of action to improve grade in Algebra:

1. Peer tutoring with another basketball player

2. Parents set a time and place for optimal learning and take away technology at a certain

time, so there won’t be any distractions and student can be more rested.

3. Student will meet with Algebra teacher during RTI and after school for 30 minutes.

4. Student will have late homework complete by the following Monday and the quiz and

test completed by the following Friday.

5. Teacher will maintain open communication through email with parents about grades and

assignments turned in at the appropriate time.

 6. Student and peer tutor will move closer to teacher for better concentration and fewer

distractions.

7. Student and father will spend 15 minutes daily in positive communication about anything

other than basketball.

8. Weekly meeting with teacher, parents, and student for the next four weeks to monitor

progress and continue good communication. Coach Cox will attend when requested.

9. Student will find websites such as Kahn Academy that will help her to gain a better

understanding of Algebra and give her some practice questions to help her for class.

Plan Evaluations/outcomes: After two weeks, Michelle’s grades were improving. Mrs. Riggins

and Michelle’s parents were communicating better. Michelle did like having Brittany as her peer

tutor. Michelle went for tutoring during RTI, but was constantly reminded about not coming to

practice until after tutoring with Mrs. Riggins. Michelle’s parents did have a schedule for her to

work on Algebra, but after her grades improved, this recommendation wasn’t fully utilized nor

was the no technology approach after a certain time. Michelle ended up with a “D” for the nine

weeks. She continues to slack off in her work and doesn’t hesitate to state that she does not enjoy

Algebra. Michelle stated she really didn’t use the websites very much but learned a lot from

Brittany.
 Reference:

Dinkmeyer, Don C., Carlson, J., and Michel, R. E., (2016). Consultation: creating school-based

interventions. (4th ed). Philadelphia, PA: Brunner-Routledge.