WACAC, Share, Learn, Connect 2013

Working with the

Struggling Student/Late

Bloomer

Supporting 9th and 10 graders

What causes students to struggle?

Learning issues

Lack of motivation or interest

First generation students

Lack of knowledge of future options

Lack of self confidence

Few role models

Other factors

Key Areas for 9th and 10th graders

Motivation to do well in high school

Increasing knowledge

What college has to offer

Wide range of careers

College admission requirements

Availability of financial aid

Learning strategies

Building Motivation

Group activities

Hold in classes or advisories if possible

Follow up with:

Individual or group meetings

Encourage students to ask questions about the

activity

Debrief

Help them apply what they learned to their own

situation

Building Motivation

Career fair

Invite adults from a variety of professions

Set up as small panels of adults who rotate

through several classrooms or advisories

Use resources such as service clubs (Kiwanis,

Mason, etc), places of worship, business

associations, unions, etc.

Follow-up with lunchtime presentations by several

adults from the same career area – e.g. health,

technology, etc.

Building Motivation

Career assessments

Use as part of building for the fair or on their own

Online assessments available at

www.cacareerzone.org, Naviance and other

resources.

Students can continue career research throughout

the year, make class presentations on what they

learned and make displays

Building Motivation

Alumni panels

Invite alumni from your high school to speak to groups

of students on their college experience

Prep alums on areas to discuss – academics, social

life, how to prepare, support programs, dorm life,

financial aid, study abroad, difficulties they overcame

to get to college and succeed there

Set up several panels that can rotate through

classrooms or advisories so students can hear from a

variety of alums.

Prep high school students by brainstorming questions

to ask.

Building Motivation

Club for First Generation College Students

Start in 10th grade

Students share their concerns, get support

from each other

Guest speakers from admissions offices,

regional reps, parents, high school alumni

Fill out Common Application to build

understanding of what colleges are looking for

Review financial aid award letters

Building Motivation

Mentors

Difficulty of providing individual support with

large counseling case loads

Ask adults outside the high school or non-

teaching staff if they would mentor one

student.

Career fair speakers

Alumni

Parents

Provide training and place for them to meet

Building College Knowledge

College Tours

Group tours and info sessions at local colleges

Contact EOP at CSU campuses for support

Connect with alumni from your high school

Give students a graphic organizer to fill out on

the trip

Students keep notebook of all of their visits

Class debrief after the tour

Building College Knowledge

CSU Mentor Planner

Start at beginning of 10th grade

Students fill out their classes and grades at the beginning of each semester for the previous semester

Students keep track of their progress

Calculate GPA

Students meet with counselor or mentor to debrief and plan any needed follow-up

Pair with workshop on CSU and UC eligibility indexes

Building College Knowledge

SAT/ACT Prep

All 10th graders take PSAT and/or PLAN

Review their answers when scores are returned

Do the SAT question of the day at the beginning of a class. Rotate responsibility among the students to lead that section.

School-wide SAT word of the week – students make drawings, skits, etc. to learn the words. Post drawings around the school. Best skits at school-wide assemblies.

Building College Knowledge

College of the Week

Students rotate researching and presenting

information on one college

Post a College of the Week board in a public

place

Students from each classroom can take notes

on the board and present information to their

class, rotating responsibility.

Building College Knowledge

College of the Week

Board

Building College Knowledge

Invite 10th graders to attend a few college

representative visits in the fall

Learn about the wide variety of college options

Financial Aid

Show students sample financial aid packages

Explain the numerous sources of aid

Academic Support

Importance of early identification of students

9th grade study skills class

Teachers offer after school support

Evaluate students for IEP or 504 plans

Adaptive math program

After school tutoring center

Counseling Support

Early interaction with 1st generation students

and others who will need support

Counseling groups for targeted populations

Regular short check-ins with students in

danger of failing classes to develop strategies

Mentors – older students and adults

Facilitate make-up work for D&F grades

before 12th grade

Find the positive in each student

College Admissions for 11th & 12th Graders

Importance of active outreach

Reasons that these students may struggle

academically &/or with the admissions

process:

1st in their family to go to college

Working to their potential, earning “B’s” & “C’s”

Students with identified learning differences or

disabilities

Late bloomers—capable of more than

demonstrated

First generation college students

Facilitate visits to college campuses

Local + possible college sponsored programs

Encourage families to visit as well

Awareness of options available

Admissions (CSU index, accessible colleges)

Financial back-ups

Location alternatives

Making up D or F grades—options/financial help?

Individual attention throughout application

process—follow up!

Focus on Financial Aid—availability & process

Students working at potential

Evaluate—do they have support at home to

complete admissions process?

Realistic options—reality check +

reassurance

Interests and aptitudes

4 year college options & aspirations

Community college/transfer

Career/technical

Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

Students with identified learning

differences/disabilities

Evaluate—do they have support at home to

complete admissions process?

Realistic options—reality check +

reassurance

What types of learning/living/social

environments will support their success?

Facilitate their exploration of programs to

meet their needs

Advise re: disclosure of their learning needs

to colleges

Late Bloomers

Evaluate—do they have support at home to

complete admissions process?

Realistic options—reassurance especially

important

Explore reasons for lack of performance or

engagement

Hands-on learners?

Adolescent immaturity/rebellion?

Lack of structure/support/educational focus at

home?

Lack of knowledge about importance of college?

Late Bloomers, cont.

Approaches to consider:

Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?

Reality of career path w/o education after high

school

Importance of demonstrating ability (achievement

vs. potential)

“What you do now matters.”

Make up D & F grades in core subjects

Never too late to turn around a GPA

Keeping options open vs. making a commitment

Different paths to success

How to engage students who do

not take initiative in process

Individual meetings if possible—making

contact junior year is essential.

Use of other resources to reach out

individually to students:

Teacher mentors

Resource specialists

Other staff

Alumni

Community programs

Engaging students, cont.

Oversee application process

Provide essential information on process

Provide structure & opportunity to work on

applications

Provide timeline & reminders

Mandatory group meetings if possible—use

subject area classes or advisory periods

breakdown application process

peer to peer assistance

provide incentives

Engaging students, cont.

Other ways to reach students Before & after school & lunchtime sessions—

encouraging attendance

Use of alumni—

role models

Assistance

Messengers: “If I knew then what I know now.”

Use of other resources to facilitate group meetings

(teachers/staff/community, etc.)

Encouragement!!!

What are student’s strengths

Recognize

Validate

Use for advisement

Identify and break down goals

Where do you want to go?

What do you need to do now to make progress?

Follow up/Check-in

Career exploration as encouragement

College: The New You

We believe in their potential

We believe they are capable

They can “reinvent” themselves if they

choose to

Which Students Succeed in

College?

Those who have developed academic

independence

Those who have developed personal

independence

Those who have developed their own voice

and can advocate for themselves

Students Who ….

Those who are resourceful-can figure ways to

get around a problem

Those who are resilient-know how to recover

from failure

Those who take advantage of resources on

campus

Resources for All Students

Tutoring or Learning Centers

Career Counseling Centers

Health Centers

Writing Centers

Math Labs

Peer Mentoring programs

Academic advising

Accessible colleges

Colleges with good support, good sense of

community (a sampling…) 1. Cal Lutheran

2. Curry College

3. Notre Dame De Namur

4. Whittier

5. St. Martin’s (WA)

6. Southern Oregon

7. Western Oregon

8. Boise State

9. U Montana

10. Hofstra University

More Colleges

1. Montana State (Bozeman)

2. Lynn University

3. U of Arizona

4. Carroll College (MT)

5. Regis U (CO)

6. Lasalle U (PA)

7. Roger Williams U

8. Fairleigh Dickinson U

9. Seton Hall

10. Eckerd College

11. Linfield College

12. U Redlands

A Few More

1. U Tampa (Fla)

2. Drew University

3. Salve Regina

4. Mitchell College (CT)

5. Colorado Mesa U

6. Western State Colorado U

7. Marshall U (W. VA)

What if a 4-Year College is Not

Realistic Now?

Community Colleges: www.cccco.edu

“Find a Community College”

1. Search by Area

2. Search by Address

3. Search by Program

Transition/Independent Living

Options Berkshire Center, Lee, MA

www.berkshirecenter.org

College Internship Program (specifically for students with Asperger Syndrome & Nonverbal Learning Disabilities)

www.collegeinternshipprogram.com

College Living Experience, Monterey, CA

www.CLEinc.net

CollegeExcel, Bend, Oregon

www.Collegeexcel.com

Thank you for listening

And Now Questions