Freshman Transition Initiative

The George Washington Universityrdedmond@gwu.edu

www.freshman transition.org

How do we help ALL How do we help ALL students recognize the students recognize the

value of education?value of education?

The key to impacting students:

How do we help ALL students view their

futures?

What can we do?What can we do?

Freshman Transition Freshman Transition Initiative:Initiative:

- systemic change (10 steps)- systemic change (10 steps)- course for ALL students- course for ALL students

- culminates in a 10-year plan- culminates in a 10-year plan

Standards-driven Freshman Transition courses:

• Reduce dropout rates (high school and college)

• Create meaningful pathways• Increase matriculation into

post-secondary programs• Increase recruitment and retention

into technical programs• Provide skills to successfully

navigate life and work transitions

A 10-Year Plan provides the vision that helps students:• Create a personalized plan/pathway,

based on information and study...• Stay in high school, graduate...• Enter and COMPLETE post-secondary

education and/or training... • Make timely and successful transitions

into an economically self-sufficient adulthood.

Motivational CycleMotivational CycleWhen a student sees personal benefit in the task – such as

developing their 10-year plan for their ideal future…

Skill Level Skill Level IncreasesIncreases

Self-esteem Self-esteem IncreasesIncreases

Motivation Motivation IncreasesIncreases

Student Student ExperiencesExperiences

SuccessSuccess

Comprehension Comprehension IncreasesIncreases

Dan BlakeCareer Development Specialist

Sonoma County Office of Education

“Why do we have to know this?” “You expect kids to choose a career in

middle school?”Sonoma County Middle School Career

Exploration Program

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“Why do we have to know this?”

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Sixth-through-ninth-grade children have demonstrated very little understanding of how school

relates to the real world and seem to have little to no awareness of the

skills and knowledge needed for success in the future.

(Johnson, 2000)

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When surveyed, the majority of high school dropouts say

they began to “disconnect” in middle school or earlier. (Castellano et al., 2002)

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“You expect kids to choose

a career in middle school?”

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Middle school is an age-appropriate time to ask students to think about their career ambitions.

This does NOT mean forcing students to make career choices, but creating activities that allow

them to research and gather information on specific careers.

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Young people have high ambitions, expecting to be highly educated

and have professional careers, yet research has found that many do

not develop coherent plans for achieving their goals.

(Hughes & Merchur Karp, 2004)

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Sex-role stereotypes, particularly about gender-

appropriate occupations are formed early.

(Guss & Adams, 1998)

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Guidance activities directed at junior high school students had the largest effect sizes, indicating that

guidance efforts may be most effective with pre-teenage (rather

than high school or college) students.

(Hughes & Merchur Karp, 2004)

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Current efforts…

Too frequently, career preparation for middle grade students

consists of a single, brief unit once a year. Ideally, career education and development should be infused into the

curriculum.

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The most effective career development programs are systemic—developmental,

accessible to all learners, and embedded in the curriculum as part of the whole process of educating a child for the larger thing called life.(Maddy-Bernstein & Dare, 1997)

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Sonoma County Middle School

Career Exploration

Program

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Program OverviewHistoryGoals &

ObjectivesOrganizational

StructureFunding

Key Curriculum, Resources & Activities

Planning & Implementation

Challenges & Barriers

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Without willing & motivated learners, all our best reform efforts will be

in vain.

Dr. Patrick J. HollandPrincipal, School of Law & BusinessCrawford High School Educational

ComplexSan Diego USD

“Best to Go By Plan Than Chance” What’s In It For Me as a Student?

Relevancy and Relationship

9th Grade Readiness

• High Rate of Failure – Demographics?• Poor Attendance• Disruptive Behavior • Limited Study Skills• Low High School Expectations • Critical Thinking• Realistic Outlook – NFL, Rock Star• Apathy• Hard Work

Integration of Ten Year Plan

• Within English - All Students - All 4 Years• Flexible – Can and Needs to be Updated• Part of LAB Senior Exhibition Project• Values Parent Input • Empowers Student – What Will I Be?• Serve as a Bridge for 9th Grade Entrance• Moves With Students• Personal Touch – Doc Talk – Transcripts,

CST

10 Year Plan Topics

• Income – earning gap – dropout vs. graduates

• Lifestyle – employment and education

• Opportunity – education/training and job growth – open doors

References – Noted on 10 Year Plan Topics Slide• Income and Lifestyle: “ From No Child Left Behind to Every

Child a Graduate – The Case for a National Response” , Alliance for Excellent Education, Aug. 2008

• Lifestyle and Opportunity: “ From No Child Left Behind to Every Child a Graduate – The Case for a National Response” , A Framework for Action to Improve Secondary Schools” , Alliance for Excellent Education, Aug.2008

• Note on Job Growth Opportunity and AA Degree: ” From Remarks by President Obama at White House Summit on Community Colleges, The White House Office of the Press Secretary, Oct. 5, 2010

Visitwww.freshmantransition.org

for a copy of the Course Standards for Freshman

Transition Classes an other resources.

A presentation by

George Washington University’sFreshman Transition Initiative

For more information, contactFor more information, contact

Rebecca Dedmond, Ph.D.Rebecca Dedmond, Ph.D.The George Washington The George Washington

UniversityUniversityrdedmond@gwu.edu