by Jack Smolik (Posted on February 3, 2026 @ 3:39 p.m.)

Advisory is a great time for students to get work done. Kids can retake or make up tests, get homework done, and have a rest break throughout the day. Mrs. Taggart informed me about how advisory has been going and the difficulties along the way.

Character Lessons

This year in advisory, every Monday students have lessons. The lessons are created to teach students awareness about the real world. Mrs. Taggart said that the lessons are created by a company, but the wellness counselor, Mrs. Lucas, will tweak the lessons to make them better. Mrs. Taggart says, “It’s really a collaborative effort.” There are two topics that state law says Alamo Heights Junior School must cover every year. One of the lessons that is mandatory is suicide awareness. These lessons can be very beneficial to students.

Advisory – Pros and Cons

Does advisory have a positive or negative impact? Advisory can help students get work done and have a rest period throughout the day. According to Mrs. Taggart, she thinks that advisory has a positive impact. “I definitely think it’s positive, especially for our kiddos who ride the bus and who might require or want to go to tutoring—they can go during advisory.” Advisory can have negatives, too. Advisory can be hard to fit into students’ schedules. Advisory needs time dedicated to a study hall and advisory lessons. With lunch, electives, and an already packed academic schedule, it can be very hard. This shows how advisory can provide opportunities to students and help teachers but can be difficult to fit into the schedule when students already have enough on their plates.

Advisory Challenges

Advisory can have challenges as well. Mrs. Taggart said students can become off-task and not take things seriously. “It’s really meant to be a time for students to get their work done,” Taggart said. “It’s meant to be a silent study hall.” However, this can be conflicted when students want to go to another classroom or play games.

Conclusion

Advisory can be very helpful to students when it comes to getting homework and tests done, but it can also present challenges with schedules and students taking advisory seriously. Advisory is very helpful, with the lessons teaching students to have better morals and character. Advisory is good for getting work done, studying for a test, and having a break throughout the day.