Ramp-Up to ReadinessTM
Introduction
Choose Rigor
+ Gain Access+ Maintain Motivation+ Practice Persistence = READINESS
Brainstorm
• What did we discuss last year that has helped you begin to prepare for success in middle school, high school, and in college?
• What were some of the activities we did? What were some of the topics we discussed?
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Discuss
• Read through the ideas you’ve brainstormed.
• Work together to choose the 3 ideas that you think are most important for being college ready.
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Share
• Choose a representative from your group to share your top 3 ideas for what it takes to be ready for college.
• What ideas do you have in common?
Objectives
• Learn about the following:Ramp-Up to ReadinessTM
What it means to be college readyWhat it takes to be college readyHow you can start preparing now!
Review
• What is Ramp-Up to Readiness™?– A program to help
all students develop the knowledge, skills, and habits for success in postsecondary education (college).
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Review: Pillars of Readiness
• What are the 5 pillars of readiness?
Plan
Foundation: Belief that all students need to be prepared for postsecondary education
Goal: All students meet Ramp-Up
Standards
Pillars of ReadinessPillars of Readiness
Review: Pillars of Readiness
Plan
Foundation: Belief that all students need to be prepared for postsecondary education
Goal: All students meet Ramp-Up
Standards
Pillars of ReadinessPillars of Readiness
Academic Readiness
• Means graduating from high school ready to do first-year, credit-bearing college work.
• Some skills include:– Strong reading, writing, and
math skills– Analyzing and solving complex
problems– Critically evaluating claims– Asking and investigating important questions– Checking your work to make sure it’s correct
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Admissions Readiness
• Means meeting all of the requirements for admission into the college (2- yr or 4-yr) that you want to attend
• Skills:– Identifying the type of college that best fits
your personality, career and personal goals, and strengths
– Figuring out the requirements at the colleges you want to attend and coming up with a plan to meet them
– Applying to at least 3 colleges that are good matches for youMicrosoft, 2011
Career Readiness
Means understanding:• The relationship between education and
income and opportunity• Which types of jobs will:
– Need skilled workers in the future– Will pay enough to support a family and your
desired lifestyle– Be a good match for your interests and abilities.
Microsoft, 2011
Financial Readiness
• Means you are able to cover the cost of your 1st semester at college through savings, loans, work-study and financial aid
• To be financially ready, you need to: – Know how to budget– Know how families like yours pay for
college– Make a plan to pay for college– Apply for financial aid
Microsoft, 2011
Personal/Social Readiness
• Means you are ready for the personal and social challenges of college.
• Important skills include:– Setting educational goals – Monitoring progress toward achieving
your goals– Putting your best effort into your
schoolwork– Asking for help when you need it– Creating relationships with peers and adults that
support academic success
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This Year…
• Set SMART Goals• Learn about Personal Strengths• Explore Career Clusters and Colleges• Discuss overcoming obstacles• Learn more about academic skills needed for
college readiness• Work on financial planning for college• Complete the PREP and look at how your
personal readiness has changed
Why Start Now?
• The earlier the better! • Keep your options open and avoid missing out
on opportunities.– The more you do now to prepare, the more
options you’ll have when it comes time to choose the college you want to go to.
• Make sure you can get into the college you want to get into and are able to succeed there!
Why Start Now?• What you do now makes a difference
in how prepared you will be for college.
• The following all impact your college readiness:– Courses you take– Grades you earn– Test scores– Knowledge, skills, and habits you
develop now– Your Support Network– Savings and opportunities for financial
aidMicrosoft, 2011
Think-Pair-Share
• Why do you think it is important to start preparing for college now?
• What is one thing you can start doing now to prepare for college?
• Which area of college and career readiness (academic, admissions, career, financial, personal/social) do you think you need to work on the most right now?
Review
• In Ramp-Up to Readiness, we’ll work together to make sure you are:– Academically Ready– Admissions Ready– Career Ready– Financially Ready– Personally and Socially Ready for college!
• Preparing for college now will also ensure you develop the skills, knowledge, and habits you need to succeed in middle and high school.
Assignment
• Take the Postsecondary Plan and Readiness Rubric forms home and share them with your family!
• Explain what you learned about Ramp-Up to Readiness and what you will be doing this year to become college and career ready.
• Ask for their help in preparing for college!
References
• Microsoft Office Images. (2011). Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/