Teach the freshmen how to do lead. The biggest mistake senior advisors make is to do everything for the freshmen rather than teaching the freshmen how to do it. You have one semester to teach them how to get things done.
When there is a canned food drive at Thanksgiving or the Christmas collection seniors will tend to take control and tell the freshmen what they need to bring in. This is natural, easy and generous of senior advisors. But it will not teach them how to lead and how to get things done for themselves when you leave at the end of your first semester in December.
It will take longer and it is more work to teach them but that is what they need. When these kind of things come up you need to explain to them that they need to take the lead and make it happen. You are urged you to ask for volunteers to head the various efforts, from collecting goods to intramurals.
After a volunteer has been chosen to head an acitivtiy, you need to help him to lead effectively. The tendency is to talk to the class and continuously remind them to "bring in canned goods" or "sell those raffle tickets." Teach them creative ways to get things done.
- Our guys are good guys who are busy and they forget. So askt hem to write a reminder in their planner, or create a phoen chain or make copies of small reminders they can put in their pocket.
- Write totals on the board: number of canned collected or number of guys who sold their raffle tickets. Set a goal for the class.
- Compete with another homeroom
- Come up with other strategies and let me know about them so I can add them to this list.
Leadership positions freshmen can also be given:
- Individuals or co-chairs heading each various drive or collection. Other individuals heading intramuralu each intramural activity.
- Name a "pubicity chair" for the homeroom. Explain to the freshmen the job of Student Council's Publicity Chair, then ask who would want to do this important job for the homeroom. This person could a volunteer or you can ask. This job can last a week, a month or quarter. Let different people have the role if there are those who want to do this.
Put the specifics on the board:
- Keeping a weekly calendar on the board that highlights events and opportunities for freshmen.
- Keeping the bulletin board outsdie of the classroom clean, neat and up to date.
- A person who takes attandance in case the teacher is late or absent from homeroom.
Key is to teach them leadership by giving them responsibility and letting them lead. You be there for advice, to help, to ecncourage and warn, but not to do. They may fail, but you have to let them. Then help them learn.