190 likes | 299 Views
Eyes on the Prize: Transitioning to High School. Revised 9/2013. Agenda. Who I Am. Take out a sheet of paper and do a little self-reflection on who you were as a middle school student. Come up with three academic and three personal qualities.
E N D
Eyes on the Prize: Transitioning to High School Revised 9/2013
Who I Am • Take out a sheet of paper and do a little self-reflection on who you were as a middle school student. Come up with three academic and three personal qualities. • Example: Liked social studies, not always getting my homework in on time, hated math. • Was shy, hanging out with friends from band, tried to be nice to everyone and didn’t gossip a lot.
Who I Want to Be • On that same sheet of paper, think about who you want to be in high school. Come up with three academic and three personal qualities. • Example: I want to push myself. To me, this means getting better grades and having a college plan. I’d like to stay involved in band, and I’d like to run for student government.
Who I Want to Be • Group discussion • What changes do you want to make in your life now that you’re a freshman? • What does it take to become a successful high school student? • What goals do you think you need to set in order to become a successful high school student?
Preparing for College: HS Graduation Requirements • Earn high school credit • 2.0 GPA • Pass state tests or approved alternatives to those tests • Complete a Culminating Project • Complete a High School and Beyond Plan
Preparing for College: College Credit NOW! • Advanced placement (AP) courses • College Level Examination Program (CLEP) • Tech Prep • Running Start
Roadmap to College • What are you good at? • What are you interested in? • How does this connect with college? • How can an adult mentor help you get to college?
Roadmap to College: Advice from Seniors • “Stay in class. Go to every class.” • “Throughout high school I really challenged myself with taking the hardest classes. When I wanted to go to a [certain] college, I wanted to have what it takes to get there.” • “AP classes will probably help you with college.” • “When you come to school every day, you come to learn new stuff.”
Roadmap to College Freshman Year • Academic • Classes: English 9, World History, PE, Spanish 1, Biology, Algebra II • Ask Mr. Jamison to be my college mentor • Try to get above a 3.5 GPA • Personal • Join after-school literary magazine club • Begin volunteering at Orion House for my community service requirement Sophomore Year • Academic • Classes: English 10, Honors European History, Spanish 2 Honors, Geometry, Photography, PE • Try to get above a 3.5 GPA • Take PSAT or PLAN in fall • Personal • Join editorial staff of literary magazine • Continue volunteering at Orion House • Start after-school job at nursing home
Roadmap to College Junior Year • Academic • Classes: AP English Literature, Physics, Precalculus, Spanish 3 Honors, AP US History, Photography 2 • Try to get above a 3.5 GPA • Take AP English Literature and AP US History exams • Take ACT or SAT in spring • Personal • Editor-in-chief of literary magazine • Continue volunteering at Orion House • Continue after-school job • Attend college fair in spring • Make big list of colleges to consider applying to • Begin volunteering at Orion House for my community service requirement Senior Year • Academic • Classes: AP English Composition, Chemistry, Calculus, Spanish 4 Honors, AP Government and Politics, Photography 3 • Keep my high GPA • Take ACT or SAT in fall • Apply to 3-5 colleges • Personal • Editor-in-chief of literary magazine • Continue volunteering at Orion House • Continue after-school job • Apply for scholarships • File the FAFSA • Decide where to go!
Roadmap to College: What Parents Can Do • Encourage your child to think and plan ahead. Plan out the next four years – in terms of the courses your child will take, activities s/he wants to participate in, and when s/he will take standardized tests. • Be a “homework coach.” Reinforce that practice makes perfect. • Help kids practice communicating with their teachers. • Set rules and guidelines for “homework time.” • Talk to your kids about their college plans. • Guide your child in finding an adult mentor. This could be a teacher, family friend, religious leader, or coach. • Find an after-school or summer program for your child.
Final Message • High school is a clean slate. You have the opportunity to improve yourself in both academic and personal ways. • There are a lot of things you’ll have to do to get to college. Keep your eyes on the prize. Start setting goals and getting ready! • You can do it!