transitional counseling

The 5 and 6 Year Plan is the New 4 Year PlanThe 5 and 6 Year Plan is the New 4 Year PlanCollege Planning and Transitional Guidance from 7th to 9th GradeCollege Planning and Transitional Guidance from 7th to 9th Grade

Stephen Torode7th - 9th Grade Guidance CounselorValley Christian Schools K-12San Jose, Ca.

Stephen Torode7th - 9th Grade Guidance CounselorValley Christian Schools K-12San Jose, Ca.

Guidance Staff StructureGuidance Staff Structure

One dedicated 7th - 9th grade Counselor

Three counselors handling grades 10-12 divided alphabetically

One Student Support Counselor

One dedicated 7th - 9th grade Counselor

Three counselors handling grades 10-12 divided alphabetically

One Student Support Counselor

Media Frenzy Media Frenzy Raised Tuition

Budget Cutbacks

A-G Requirements

Sooner

Tighter

Admissions

Policies

The PurposeThe PurposeThe PlanThe Plan

The PrizeThe Prize

Where are we going today?Where are we going today?

The PurposeThe Purpose

Parents comment: “If I had only known sooner.”Parents comment: “If I had only known sooner.”

Makes college counseling easierMakes college counseling easier

Students need to Students need to know sooner how know sooner how success in junior high success in junior high builds toward high builds toward high school and college school and college especially math and especially math and science.science.

The PlanThe Plan

Information GatheringInformation Gathering

Meeting with Junior High Math, Science, History, and English Departments and finding out what is working and what is not working.

What is being miscommunicated and how can we correct it?

Develop a plan to better prepare students for the transition from Jr. to Sr. High.

Developing documentation (Honors-level placement recommendation, math, science, and foreign language maps, 4-6 year plan)

Meeting with Junior High Math, Science, History, and English Departments and finding out what is working and what is not working.

What is being miscommunicated and how can we correct it?

Develop a plan to better prepare students for the transition from Jr. to Sr. High.

Developing documentation (Honors-level placement recommendation, math, science, and foreign language maps, 4-6 year plan)

Incoming Freshman Parent Night

(mid-April)

Incoming Freshman Parent Night

(mid-April)

Helping parents and students transition from 8th to 9th grade

Unique modified-block schedule

Class placement recommendations made

Helping parents and students transition from 8th to 9th grade

Unique modified-block schedule

Class placement recommendations made

Freshman F.A.S.T. TrackFreshman All Out Success Training

(Mentor Program)

Freshman F.A.S.T. TrackFreshman All Out Success Training

(Mentor Program)

Offered one week before school starts

Friendship-building activities

Presentations on high school life

Orientation information - campus tour, locker location etc.

Offered one week before school starts

Friendship-building activities

Presentations on high school life

Orientation information - campus tour, locker location etc.

Freshman Parent NightFreshman Parent Night

Reinforce 4-Year Plan

Facilitate hand-off to college counselors

Expectations for the next three years

Added services provided

Reinforce 4-Year Plan

Facilitate hand-off to college counselors

Expectations for the next three years

Added services provided

Plan EarlyPlan Early

many parents don’t realize that a college education builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier years. Your child should plan a high school course schedule early, in the sixth or seventh grade.

many parents don’t realize that a college education builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier years. Your child should plan a high school course schedule early, in the sixth or seventh grade.

Present Comprehensive PlansThey are not meant to produce

stress but to alleviate fears through early education

(4, 5 and 6 Year Plans)

Present Comprehensive PlansThey are not meant to produce

stress but to alleviate fears through early education

(4, 5 and 6 Year Plans)

6-Year Plan6-Year Plan

VC 6-Year Plan VC 6-Year Plan

Career AwarenessCareer Awareness

What are Your Gifts and/or Talents?

What are Your Gifts and/or Talents?

VC 6-Year Plan VC 6-Year Plan

Getting There from HereGetting There from Here

VC 6-Year Plan VC 6-Year Plan

The Formula for SuccessThe Formula for Success

The Parent +The Parent + The Student +The Student + The School =The School = SuccessSuccess

VC 6-Year Plan VC 6-Year Plan

Organizational SkillsOrganizational Skills

Daily Planner

File System

Grovesite

Add in Accountability

Daily Planner

File System

Grovesite

Add in Accountability

VC 6-Year Plan VC 6-Year Plan

Communication is KeyCommunication is Key

VC 6-Year Plan VC 6-Year Plan

5-Year Plan5-Year Plan

VC 5-Year PlanVC 5-Year Plan

VC 5-Year PlanVC 5-Year Plan

VC 5-Year PlanVC 5-Year Plan

VC 5-Year PlanVC 5-Year Plan

Difference in amount of homework from Jr. to Sr. HighDifference in amount of homework from Jr. to Sr. High

VC 5-Year PlanVC 5-Year Plan

Can’t save yourself as easily - extra credit/make up etc.

Can’t save yourself as easily - extra credit/make up etc.

4-Year Plan4-Year Plan

What do you think you’ll be doing What do you think you’ll be doing after graduation?after graduation?

What do you think you’ll be doing What do you think you’ll be doing after graduation?after graduation?

VC 4-Year PlanVC 4-Year Plan

≤ Going straight to work or the military full time?

≤ Attending a community college or a trade school for a year ortwo, then going to work?

≤ Taking General Education courses at a community college,then transferring to a 4-year institution?

≤ Enrolling straight into a 4-year college or university?

≤ Marriage & family?

≤ Honestly, I have no clue!!

≤ Going straight to work or the military full time?

≤ Attending a community college or a trade school for a year ortwo, then going to work?

≤ Taking General Education courses at a community college,then transferring to a 4-year institution?

≤ Enrolling straight into a 4-year college or university?

≤ Marriage & family?

≤ Honestly, I have no clue!!

VC 4-Year PlanVC 4-Year Plan

Here is one way to view your future after graduation

VC 4-Year PlanVC 4-Year Plan

VC 4-Year PlanVC 4-Year Plan

VC 4-Year PlanVC 4-Year Plan

VC 4-Year PlanVC 4-Year Plan

CSU and UC Preparation

Standard, Honors - AP, and Community College Tracks

Conservatory of the Arts

CSU and UC Preparation

Standard, Honors - AP, and Community College Tracks

Conservatory of the Arts

VC 4-Year PlanVC 4-Year Plan

Colleges Look for 3 Things FirstCalifornia Preparation

Colleges Look for 3 Things FirstCalifornia Preparation

Minimum Number of Required Classes (A-G Requirements)

GPA

SAT and/or ACT Scores

Minimum Number of Required Classes (A-G Requirements)

GPA

SAT and/or ACT Scores

VC 4-Year PlanVC 4-Year Plan

VC 4-Year PlanVC 4-Year Plan

Helicopter parents become allies!Helicopter parents become allies!

Bible requirement adds 7 classes to scheduleBible requirement adds 7 classes to schedule

Offer the Plans in Multiple Formats

Offer the Plans in Multiple Formats

Live meetings

Booklets

Webcasts - Elluminate

Podcasts

PDF or other document

Other Flash-Based Presentation (Slide Share)

Live meetings

Booklets

Webcasts - Elluminate

Podcasts

PDF or other document

Other Flash-Based Presentation (Slide Share)

Garage Band - Free-ware - Mac OS

Slideshare.net - Free-ware

Slideshare supported Slideshare supported formatsformats

Presentations: PowerPoint - ppt, pps, pot, pptx, potx, ppsx; OpenOffice - odp, pdf; Apple Keynote - key, zip or pdf.Documents & Spreadsheets: Microsoft Office - doc, docx, rtf, xls; OpenOffice - odt, ods, pdf; iWork Pages.For anything else, saving as pdf usually works.

Presentations: PowerPoint - ppt, pps, pot, pptx, potx, ppsx; OpenOffice - odp, pdf; Apple Keynote - key, zip or pdf.Documents & Spreadsheets: Microsoft Office - doc, docx, rtf, xls; OpenOffice - odt, ods, pdf; iWork Pages.For anything else, saving as pdf usually works.

Don’t be Afraid to Talk About Failure.

Don’t be Afraid to Talk About Failure.

Students need to know the direct consequences of their actions-image of closed doors

Preparation for “Remediating”

JUST DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

Students need to know the direct consequences of their actions-image of closed doors

Preparation for “Remediating”

JUST DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

Provide Group Counseling Sessions

Provide Group Counseling Sessions

Offer lunch-time sessions according to letter of the alphabet Offer lunch-time sessions according to letter of the alphabet

Mentoring GroupsMentoring Groups

Lead by Leadership students

Meet once per month

10 students per leader

Lead by Leadership students

Meet once per month

10 students per leader

Study Skills Seminar(Summer)

Study Skills Seminar(Summer)

Helping incoming 9th graders who struggle with organization, time-management and study skills. Students learn what learning style best suits them and focus on acquiring tools to improve performance on homework and and tests.

Helping incoming 9th graders who struggle with organization, time-management and study skills. Students learn what learning style best suits them and focus on acquiring tools to improve performance on homework and and tests.

Essay and Grammar Seminar(Summer)

Essay and Grammar Seminar(Summer)

Helping incoming 9th graders who struggle with writing and grammarHelping incoming 9th graders who struggle with writing and grammar

Have a Plan for At-Risk StudentsHave a Plan for At-Risk Students

Assess special needs early

Accommodate the student

Dedicated counseling services

Game plan for students with extended illnesses

Assess special needs early

Accommodate the student

Dedicated counseling services

Game plan for students with extended illnesses

Highlands Ability Batterywww.highlandsco.com

Highlands Ability Batterywww.highlandsco.com

Counseling staff certified

expensive option

Counseling staff certified

expensive option

Incentive Program Incentive Program

Reward students for positive academic growth

GPA group awards/certificates (4.0 lunch with your counselor)

Enhance self esteem

Reward students for positive academic growth

GPA group awards/certificates (4.0 lunch with your counselor)

Enhance self esteem

Student to Student TutoringStudent to Student Tutoring

Establish list of high-end students and pair them with students who need help

Set up the relationship and monitor

Establish list of high-end students and pair them with students who need help

Set up the relationship and monitor

Career Counseling EarlyCareer Counseling Early

Earlier discussions about student’s interests, gifts, and talents

Bring it up often

Bring in guests

Career search in Naviance

Earlier discussions about student’s interests, gifts, and talents

Bring it up often

Bring in guests

Career search in Naviance

We are a FamilyWe are a Family

Foster a sense of belonging through clubs and activities

Social transition from Junior High to Senior High

Social counseling

Foster a sense of belonging through clubs and activities

Social transition from Junior High to Senior High

Social counseling

Don’t go it Alone Resources and Help for parents

Don’t go it Alone Resources and Help for parents

Naviance / Family Connection

College Board - Springboard

Blog for parents and student communication

Naviance / Family Connection

College Board - Springboard

Blog for parents and student communication

The PrizeThe Prize

Solid College Placement

Career Goals Met

Scholarship Opportunities

Maximize Talents

Solid College Placement

Career Goals Met

Scholarship Opportunities

Maximize Talents

Resources:Resources:

Financial Aid www.finaid.org

Education Statistics http://nces.ed.gov

America’s Career Resource Network: http://cte.ed.gov/acrn/Default.aspx

http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/index.html

For Students: http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/index.html

Financial Aid www.finaid.org

Education Statistics http://nces.ed.gov

America’s Career Resource Network: http://cte.ed.gov/acrn/Default.aspx

http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/index.html

For Students: http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/index.html

Creating Podcasts:http://www.learninginhand.com/podcasting/index.html

12 Tips for creating great presentations:http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/getworkdone/presentations.mspx

Council for Exceptional Children:http://www.cec.sped.org/am/template.cfm?section=Home

LD Online: http://www.ldonline.org/kidzone/ways_school.html

At Risk Youth: http://www.at-risk.com/

Creating Podcasts:http://www.learninginhand.com/podcasting/index.html

12 Tips for creating great presentations:http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/getworkdone/presentations.mspx

Council for Exceptional Children:http://www.cec.sped.org/am/template.cfm?section=Home

LD Online: http://www.ldonline.org/kidzone/ways_school.html

At Risk Youth: http://www.at-risk.com/

National Education Association:National Education Association:http://www.nea.org/home/index.html

College Board: College Board: http://www.collegeboard.com//

College Net: College Net: http://www.collegenet.com/elect/app/app

Peterson’s: Peterson’s: http://www.petersons.com//

Fastweb (Scholarships): Fastweb (Scholarships): http://www1.fastweb.com//

Princeton Review: Princeton Review: http://www.princetonreview.com//

Grade Book: Grade Book: http://www.gradebook.org/Guidance

Guidance Web Links: Guidance Web Links: http://home.comcast.net/~kenhartman/guidlinks.htm

College Search: College Search: http://www.uscollegesearch.org/blog/category/guidance-counselor-resources/

Resource List for Counselors:Resource List for Counselors:http://www.ed.state.nh.us/education/doe/organization/ahttp://www.ed.state.nh.us/education/doe/organization/adultlearning/Guidance/dultlearning/Guidance/InternetResourcesforSchoolCounselors.htmInternetResourcesforSchoolCounselors.htm

Slideshare: Slideshare: www.slideshare.netwww.slideshare.net