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GRADE: 11                             LESSON: 3

 

THEME: IMPROVING ACADEMICALLY

 

 

LESSON GOALS:           

 

  • Help students take stock of what they’ve accomplished and create Annual Academic Goal.
  • Introduce postsecondary milestones for this year and next.

 

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:     

 

  • How am I doing?
  • How can I do better?

 

MATERIALS NEEDED:

 

  • Academic Goal Worksheet
  • Postsecondary Milestones
  • Postsecondary Assessments
  • Current grade report

 

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES:  

 

  1. Discuss how classes are going. Your students are now upperclassmen and will soon be preparing for life after high school in earnest. How are they doing? Are they keeping up with their classes and with homework? How many are taking advanced or “gatekeeper” classes? Make sure students remember how to check their grades on PowerSchool and hand out current grade report. Make a note of students who seem to be struggling, as you may wish to refer them for more help.

 

  1. Review postsecondary milestones. You have discussed the postsecondary process many times and reviewed the assessment exams students will need to take. Distribute the Postsecondary Milestones and Postsecondary Assessments handouts and review the major milestones that will occur this year and next. Are students prepared? Are they making progress?

 

  1. Have students create Academic Goals. Distribute the Academic Goal Worksheet. Ask each student to complete the entire goal sheet.  When completed, students should take their Academic Goal Worksheet home and discuss with their parents.  Parents need to sign the goal sheet and students will then place them in portfolios.  Please remind students that they must present their Academic Goal Worksheet during their SLC at the end of the year.

 

STUDENT PRODUCTS:        

 

  • Academic Goal. Each student should complete and have parents sign Academic Goal Worksheet.

 

ACADEMIC GOAL WORKSHEET – Gr 11

 

 

 

 

Name: ________________________ Grade: _________   Advisor: ______________________

 

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE THIS YEAR?

 

You’re now an upperclassman. What do you want to achieve this year?

 

Junior year is important: this year you formally start the process of preparing for your postsecondary education. Whether you’re going to a four-year college, a community college, an apprenticeship, the military, or into the workforce, you’ll likely have to prove your skills.

 

As you prepare for the future, think of your academic goals for this year. Do you want to:

 

  • Get a certain GPA (say, 3.0)?
  • Pass all your classes?
  • Do all your homework?
  • Take postsecondary assessment exams (such as the SAT or the ASSET)?
  • Get into advanced or AP classes next year?
  • Learn another language?

 

What do you want to do? Please write at least one goal below for your academic achievements this year.

 

Remember that your goal should be “SMART,” that is:

 

·         Specific rather than general (Such as: “I want to get a 3.0 GPA this year”).

·         Measurable by what you will do during the year (by grades or test scores, for instance).

·         Achievable or realistic for high school.

·         Rewarding so that you will feel you’ve accomplished something.

·         Time-oriented and able to be finished by the end of the school year.

 

 

ACADEMIC GOAL:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

POSTSECONDARY MILESTONES

 

 

 

The postsecondary admissions process has already started. Whether you hope to attend a four-year university or a community or technical college, join the military, begin an apprenticeship, or go into the workforce, you will follow many of the same steps.

 

11th GRADE: RESEARCH YOUR OPTIONS

 

Begin taking required assessment exams

·         If you are planning on attending a four-year college, take the PSAT in fall of junior year.

·         If you are planning on attending a four-year college, take the SAT Reasoning Test for practice in spring of junior year. Also take AP tests for any AP classes you have taken. Consider taking SAT Subject Tests.

·         If you are planning on attending a community college, take the ASSET or COMPASS test in spring of junior year for practice.

·         If you are planning on joining the military after graduation, take the ASVAB in spring of junior year for practice.

 

Research colleges and programs

Use your junior year to research postsecondary programs. Try to visit several colleges or training sites if you can. Where would you like to attend? Here are some issues to consider:

 

  • Type of program. Do you need a two-year or four-year degree for your career goals? Do you want to pursue an apprenticeship? You might want to research community colleges, apprenticeships, and four-year universities to learn what different types of programs can offer.

 

  • Area of study. What do you want to study? Does the program offer a “major” in that subject area? How good is its reputation? What other credentials – such as an apprenticeship or research opportunities – will you need?

 

  • Location. Do you want to be close to home or far away? Do you want to live in a big city, small town, or rural area?

 

  • Job opportunities. What can you learn about your chances to work part-time – or find an internship or apprenticeship – while you’re in school? How will you find a job after you graduate?

 

  • Your chances. Based on your grades and test scores, what are your chances of being admitted?

 

  • Cost. Don’t let cost discourage you. But do consider what tuition, books, room and board, and other expenses will total each year. Research financial aid and scholarship opportunities. Use the FAFSA 4caster to predict the financial aid you could receive: www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov.  

 

POSTSECONDARY MILESTONES, CONTINUED

 

12th GRADE: TAKE ACTION

 

FALL: Take required assessment exams

You will want to take the SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject Tests, ASSET, COMPASS, and/or ASVAB junior or senior year. You may also want to take the ACT test. Take AP tests next spring.

 

FALL: Apply to postsecondary programs

Guidance counselors recommend applying to six to eight postsecondary programs. You might want to consider a mix of community and four-year colleges, depending on your educational needs and goals. For four-year colleges, you’ll need to decide whether to apply for “Early Admission” (you’ll be notified by mid-December but may be locked in to a choice) or “Regular Admission” (you’ll be notified by next April). For each application, you’ll need:

 

  • Application Fee. These fees vary. They may be waived if you need help.

 

  • Recommendations. You’ll probably need several recommendations (usually three) from teachers or other adults who know you.

 

  • Essays. You’ll have to write one or two essays on subjects chosen by the college to introduce yourself.

 

  • Information about extracurricular activities. Colleges will want to know what you’ve done outside of school.

 

  • Transcripts and test scores. Your transcripts will be sent by your high school. Assessment exam scores will be sent by the administrator of the exam (generally, College Board or ACT organization, depending on the exam). You’ll have to request that these be sent to each college.

 

  • FAFSA. If you want financial aid, your family will need to complete a FAFSA form and request that it be sent to each college.

 

SPRING: Make your decision!

If you go through the normal application process, you should know by April whether you’ve been admitted or not. You can then decide which college to attend. Please note that community and technical colleges often have shorter application processes.

 

SPRING: Finish the school year in style!

Some students think that once they’ve been admitted to college they can stop working. But that’s not true. If your grades drop suddenly or you don’t complete all the work needed to graduate (particularly your culminating project) you could jeopardize your status at college. Make sure you finish the year with strong grades and a good attitude.

 

 

 

POSTSECONDARY ASSESSMENTS

 

 

 

 

No matter what you want to do with your future, you’re going to have to take at least one assessment test (and likely many more than one!) during the next several years. Here’s a list of the major assessment exams you’ll be taking between now and graduation.

 

TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL

 

Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL)

·         Washington State students in the class of 2008 or beyond must meet standard on the Reading and Writing WASL exams to graduate.

·         The WASL is administered at your high school during the school day in the spring of 10th grade.

·         The WASL includes a mixture of multiple choice and essay questions.

·         You may retake any or all sections of the WASL if you do not meet standard.

·         For more information: www.k12.wa.us/assessment/WASL.   

 

TO ATTEND A COMMUNITY OR TECHNICAL COLLEGE

 

ASSET Placement Exam

·         The ASSET program is a series of short placement tests developed by ACT. The tests assess your abilities and will help your college determine where to place you.

·         ASSET has three tests of basic skills in writing, reading, and numerical reasoning, plus more advanced tests in Algebra and Geometry. You can also complete the Educational Planning Form, to give your college more information about your educational needs and goals.

·         Many high schools have students take the ASSET test during junior year to determine what courses they should take to prepare for college. The ASSET test may be used by your college to determine whether you need to take pre-college (remedial) classes before you can begin college.

·         For more information: www.act.org/asset.   

 

COMPASS Exam

·         The COMPASS System, also developed by ACT, is another assessment exam that will evaluate your abilities and help your college determine where to place you. If you are planning to attend community or technical college, you will likely need to take either the ASSET or the COMPASS exam before you are admitted.

·         COMPASS includes up to seven possible scores in three areas: one each in Writing Skills and Reading and up to five in Mathematics (Pre-Algebra, Algebra, College Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry).

·         COMPASS also includes the ACT ESL Placement Test for English as a Second Language students.

·         For more information: www.act.org/compass.

 

POSTSECONDARY ASSESSMENTS

 

TO ATTEND A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE

 

Preliminary SAT (PSAT)

  • Students take the PSAT to prepare for the SAT and to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s scholarship programs.
  • Students typically take the PSAT in the fall of junior year; many practice in sophomore year.
  • The PSAT tests on critical reading skills, math program-solving skills, and writing skills.
  • For more information: www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html.

 

PLAN

  • Students take the PLAN to prepare for the ACT.
  • The exam covers English, math, reading and science.
  • Students generally take the PLAN during sophomore year.
  • For more information: www.act.org/plan.

 

SAT Reasoning Test

·         The SAT is the most widely used admissions test for colleges and universities. It is a 3-hour, 45-minute exam that measures the critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills students need for college.

·         Many students take the SAT twice: in junior year to practice, and then in the fall of senior year.

·         The SAT is offered several times each year; check with your school counselor for times.

·         For more information: www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about.html.  

 

SAT Subject Tests

  • SAT Subject Tests are offered in many different subjects, including English, History, Mathematics, Science (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), and Languages (Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Korean, Japanese).
  • Colleges use the Subject Tests for admission or for placement after you’re admitted.
  • Most students take the Subject Tests late in junior year or early in senior year.
  • For more information: www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about/SATII.html.  

 

ACT (formerly the American College Test)

·         The ACT assesses students’ knowledge in English, mathematics, reading, and science. The ACT also offers an optional Writing Test.

·         Students may take the ACT as an alternative to the SAT – or may take both tests.

·         Students usually take the ACT late in junior year or early in senior year.

·         For more information: www.actstudent.org/index.html.  

 

Advanced Placement Exams (AP)

·         Students who have taken Advanced Placement (AP) classes in high school can take the AP class in that subject. Scoring well can result in college placement and credit.

·         The College Board offers 37 different AP tests in 22 subject areas.

·         Students usually take the AP test at the end of the year in which they’ve taken an AP course; interested students should tell their AP teacher by March of that year.

·         For more information: www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html.  

POSTSECONDARY ASSESSMENTS

 

TO ATTEND A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE, Continued

 

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

·         CLEP exams can help you earn college credit for work you’ve completed during high school or on the job.

·         CLEP exams are available in the following categories (with many sub-categories available in each): Composition and Literature; Foreign Languages; History and Social Sciences: Science and Mathematics; and Business. Each exam is 90 minutes long.

·         For more information: www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html.  

 

 

TO BEGIN AN APPRENTICESHIP

 

Apprenticeship Program Standards

·         Many apprenticeships will require that you meet certain basic academic standards. For instance, you may be required to earn a 3 or 4 on the 10th grade Math WASL.

·         Some apprenticeships have additional standards that you must meet to secure an apprenticeship.

·         For more information: www.lni.wa.gov/TradesLicensing/Apprenticeship/Programs/Standards.

 

 

TO JOIN THE MILITARY

 

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

  • The ASVAB was developed by the Department of Defense to assess new recruits’ abilities and help place them in positions. It is the most widely used assessment test in the world.
  • The ASVAB includes eight test areas: General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information, Auto and Shop Information, and Mechanical Comprehension.
  • Students typically take the ASVAB in their junior or senior year.
  • For more information: www.asvabprogram.com.

 

Air Force ROTC – Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT)

  • Students who decide to attend a four-year college may join the Army, Navy, or Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) to train to become a military officer after college graduation. ROTC program availability varies by college and will provide a full or partial scholarship to college in return for a certain number of years of military service after college.
  • The Army and Navy ROTC require certain score levels on the SAT and/or ACT.
  • The Air Force ROTC requires the AFOQT to measure student aptitudes and select students into specific training programs such as pilot or navigator training.
  • For more information: www.afrotc.com/admissions/qualifyingTest.php.