NACAC’s Step by Step Curriculum: Elementary and Middle School Crystal E. Newby, M.S. Assistant Director of Education and Training NACAC (VA)

Who I Am Crystal E. Newby Background in college admissions for 9 years (technically 12 years counting my time as a workstudy student). NACAC for three years. My parents started college, but didn’t finish due to marrying young. I can’t remember a time not knowing that I was going to college. It was always instilled in my from a very young age. I started the college search process later than I would have if I were to do it again today. I didn’t receive much guidance from my counselor at the time. I basically did it on my own with my mom. I only applied to three schools; one of them because my BFF went there and one because it was right in my hometown. The third school, where I ultimately ended up, I only visited after I was accepted. I applied because I liked what I saw in the view book and it was about an hour from home. Needless to say, it sounds like I did this whole thing backwards, but it worked out for me. I eventually got my master’s degree and am now looking into doctorate programs. You see, I have to speak it into existence and it keeps me accountable. I have two younger brothers who went on to college and received their master’s degrees as well. My mother even went back to school and completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 2009 and 2013 respectively. The reason why I say this is because everyone has a story and the students you are working with have their own story as well. It’s important to remember this when you’re talking with them about college and career. Everyone’s experiences are going to be different.

Step by Step Overview The Step by Step to College curriculum was a collaborative effort developed between NACAC and the Center for Student Opportunity. Step by Step offers detailed plans and activities to support middle and high school students in the college preparation and admission process. Workshops have been presented in middle and high schools, community-based organizations, independent counselor settings and various NACAC conferences.

College Enrollment Rates: Underrepresentation African-American, Latino and Native American students are still significantly underrepresented in college in general and in four-year colleges in particular. College Enrollment Rates: First-generation students – 59 percent Students with parent with a 4-year degree – 93 percent Rural students, despite better high school graduation rates, enroll in college at rates 6 percent lower than the national average and 8 percent lower than their metropolitan counterparts.

Step by Step Overview Step by Step: College Awareness and Planning for Families, Counselors and Communities 3 separate curriculums – middle school, early high school, and late high school Parent/Guardian Workshops Financial Aid Parent/ Guardian Workshops Spanish PowerPoints / Handouts are Available

Sequential program Step by Step Overview 45-60 minute student centered lesson plans Sequential program Middle School - grades 7 and 8 Early High School - grades 9, 10, and first semester grade 11 Late High School - second semester of grade 11 and grade 12

Middle School Curriculum Step by Step Overview Middle School Curriculum Challenge students to see college admission and attendance as a goal Help students assess their interests, strengths, and academic habits Explain concepts about college options and financial aid Provide a template for building a college preparatory curriculum Students start building a profile & support network to reach their college goals Each section of the guide has activities divided into session topics tailored to each audience. For the middle school section there are six sessions and each of those sessions has different activities to do with the students. I’ll tell you more about those activities shortly.

Icebreakers are more than just silly games! Getting to Know Them Icebreakers are more than just silly games! Activities Question Toss- Beach Ball Game But first, an icebreaker. This activity isn’t in the book, but it’s a great way for you to get to know your students and for them to get to know each other. So, you probably guessed that we’re going to play this game. I know you don’t want to hear me talk at you for an hour so let’s give it a whirl!

Question Toss-Beach Ball Game If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get? If you were an animal, what would you be and why? What is one goal you’d like to accomplish during your lifetime? When you were little, who was your favorite super hero and why? Who is your hero? (a parent, a celebrity, an influential person in one’s life) What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer? If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you? If you were an ice cream flavor, which one would you be and why? What’s your favorite cartoon character, and why? If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why Are you a morning or night person? What are your favorite hobbies? What are your pet peeves? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? The great thing about this activity is that you can modify the questions to tailor them to your students.

Middle School Activities Spread the Word and Make Connections Step by Step Overview Middle School Activities Spread the Word and Make Connections Session I : It’s All About Me! My Future Goals Middle School Bingo (pg. 9-10) My Interests (pg. 11-12) Career Exploration (pg. 13-14) As I mentioned earlier, each section is divided into sessions and the middle school portion has six of them. The first session topic for middle school students is: It’s all about me. My future goals. The purpose of this session is to have students examine what they want when they graduate from high school, how their current interests can relate to future careers, and how they can learn more about particular careers. By the end of this session, students will have: -shared thoughts about the future with peers who have similar interests. -learned how current interests can help them reach personal goals. -found more information about possible careers. What’s nice is that some of these activities can be modified for elementary students as well.

Middle School Bingo While Middle School students need to think about individual goals and plans, their peers can help them along the way. Middle School Bingo is a great icebreaker to encourage engagement amongst the students. You play it the same way you play bingo. Have the students circulate to find other students who match the interests on the card. They then write the name down of that person in the square. The first person to get bingo, wins. You can certainly incorporate a prize if you’d wish. You can also have the students do it again until one person fills the entire card. This is just an example, but again, you can modify the bingo squares as you wish. You can replicate/modify this for elementary school students as well.

My Interests Getting students to think about careers and goals is important, but just as important is having them consider what interests them and how these interests could connect to careers. Thinking about why students like certain classes and activities can help them learn more about themselves. Again, you can modify these questions for elementary school students too.

Career Exploration Now that students have had a chance to think about what they like and how their interests could lead them to a future path, they should be encouraged to think about specific careers they would like to learn more about careers where they could make a name for themselves. 1. Have students work in pairs—preferably with a “common interest buddy” from the Bingo Game. 2. Each partner should “interview” the other using the questions on the “Career Exploration Sheet.” 3. Have students design business cards based on the career they think would be most interesting (a really fun activity) 4. Encourage students to think of people they know who are working in career fields that interest them and ask them some important questions: • What did you dream about doing when you were in middle school or high school? • How did you decide on this career? • How much education did you need career? • What is the best thing about your career and what would you change?

Middle School Activities Spread the Word and Make Connections Step by Step Overview Middle School Activities Spread the Word and Make Connections Session II : Should I Go to College? College Knowledge (pg.15-20) Know, Want, Learn (pg. 21-22) This brings us to session 2: Should I Go to College? The purpose of this session is to have students explore what their ideas of college are, whether they want to go to college, and how college could make a difference in their lives. Now that students have had a chance in Session I to look at long term career goals, they can learn more about how college can help them reach those goals. This is also a good time to help them understand that college is affordable. By the end of this session, students will have: -a clear image of what a college is. -learned that many careers require a college degree. -a better understanding of how they can benefit from and attain a college degree.

College Knowledge Students at this age may have some ideas about college based on people they know, what they’ve seen on TV or the Internet, or what they read. This is a good time to talk about their impressions of college and what they think college can do to help them in a future career. 1. Give each student the survey and ask them to answer the questions in a few words. 2. Then, talk about your answers as a group. 3. After the discussion, hand out the “Earning Power” sheet with the graph that shows how education pays.

Know, Want, Learn Now that students have some idea of the value of college, they should be encouraged to explore how to research colleges in which they might be interested. 1. Have each student list a few schools to research and distribute the chart. 2. Provide guidebooks and viewbooks or refer students to college websites. 3. Have the students fill in the chart for two-three schools.

Middle School Curriculum Step by Step Overview Middle School Curriculum Additional Sessions Session 3: There is a College for Everyone! Session 4: How Do I Get to College? (Part 1) Session 5: How Do I Get to College? (Part 2) Session 6: Parent/Guardian Workshop These are the additional sessions in the middle school portion. There is a College for Everyone-The purpose of this session is to affirm students’ belief that college is attainable. Activities are designed to help students understand that there exists a vast array of college possibilities for all students and that students are responsible for identifying their own college options. In this session, students are encouraged to begin thinking about what they value and what they may look for in a college. Students are exposed to some of the resources available for college research. By the end of this session, students: -understand that the college experience is very different from the middle or high school experience. -gain an understanding of different types of colleges and the different experiences and opportunities offered. -have been introduced to some of the resources available for getting to know about colleges. -begin to explore the kind(s) of colleges which might be a “fit.” -have been introduced to web-based resources for researching college information. How Do I Get to College (Part 1)-Entering high school will bring many changes and more independence which means that students should be prepared to make some of their own decisions about what courses to take, how committed they will be to doing well and how to become involved in extracurricular activities. All of those decisions will ultimately have an impact on when, where and whether they will go to college. To make the most of their high school careers, students should have an idea of where their strengths and weaknesses lie and what they can do to enhance their strengths and improve their weaknesses. By the end of this session students will have: -developed a curriculum plan for high school. -discussed study skills and different academic expectations of high school. - discussed preparation for standardized testing. -examined factors colleges are looking for in potential applicants. How Do I Get to College (Part 2)-In the previous session, students spent time looking at their learning styles, extracurricular possibilities and course planning for high school, so now it is time for them to gain a clearer understanding of how colleges ultimately look at them as applicants. It is also important for them to understand the role that finances play in their ability to attend college. By the end of this session, students have: -been introduced to the main factors that colleges are seeking in an applicant. -gained insight into some of the fundamentals of paying for college. - pulled together the information from this session and the previous ones by playing “Step to the Top of Your Class.” -Completed an evaluation of the workshop. Parent/Guardian Workshop-This portion is designed to: • To demonstrate the importance of families in student achievement and success. • To provide methods of collaboration between families and schools that foster self-esteem, motivation, and academic achievement. The message is: Parents and guardians should have ongoing, direct involvement in the education of their children. In far too many instances, however, they leave that responsibility to the schools. Consider that students spend a far greater amount of time in the home, the neighborhood and the community than they spend in the classroom. Students spend half (180 days) their days in school and half (180 days) out of school. Schools require that the student be in class for only six to seven hours; three-fourths of each school day is spent out of school. By influencing a student’s out-of-school time, parents can have a positive impact on their child’s experience in school.

Middle School Curriculum Step by Step Overview Middle School Curriculum Wrapping it all up The Great Sorting Game (pgs. 290-300) Putting it all together Step to the Top of Your Class (pgs. 58-70) Use discretion with group, age, ability and environment with activities The Great Sorting Game or the GPA game as we like to call it, is a crowd favorite when we do this presentation so we’re going to do it for you today. In the middle school section it’s called “Step to the Top of Your Class.” The idea is the same with some variation. This activity serves as the final wrap-up of the curriculum, combining many of the issues discussed into a game that illustrates a number of the factors that colleges consider when making decisions about applicants. The students should be able to see that they have some control over the way colleges view them. This particular activity may be a little more difficult to replicate for elementary school students, but you can certainly give it a try!

College Costs and Financial Aid Step by Step Overview College Costs and Financial Aid Understanding Financial Aid Handout : Paying for college is a family affair (pgs. 280-288) Includes a Quick Guide to Financial Aid Terms and Understanding your Financial Aid Award Letter Using the FAFSA4Caster Provides early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid (pg.283) Parent Guardian Workshop Calendar of College and Financial Aid Events (pg. 319) How Much Will College Cost? (pg. 320) Given the changes with PPY or Early FAFSA, this section will be updated shortly. A lot of the information is relevant and you can certainly edit any worksheets to reflect changes.

Current Uses of the Step-by-Step High School Counselors For College Tours / College Fairs : College Visit Checklist & Sample Interview Questions (pgs. 239 - 244 and pgs. 265 - 266) Teacher Recommendation Forms and Activities For students to give to their teachers. (pgs. 259– 264) “Career and College Planning” for Juniors used SBS curriculum for all juniors. Taught by teachers during home room. After – School Workshops : Uses SBS - Late High School for after-school workshops with juniors 1 asking week for 6 weeks with juniors.

Current Uses of the Step-by-Step College Admissions Representatives From an admissions office perspective It is a great resource for working with groups of middle school and early & late high school students. As A Presenter It is a good way to orient oneself on how to target themes & messages to this age group. Also, group activities add an interactive element. Activities Used Beach ball, Great Sorting Game, Bingo

Current Uses of the Step-by-Step Affiliate State Organizations, Community Based Organizations & Independent Consultants College Admission Workshops –for underserved students Use at AVID Workshops Nationwide Family Night Programs –at libraries, schools & churches Emergency Housing Family Centers – do evening programs for students and parents Work with Community Group –use parent materials to help parents become more comfortable advocating for their children

Early Awareness Resource List NACAC - Step-by-Step www.nacacnet.org/steps NACAC – Knowledge Center www.nacacnet.org/research/KnowledgeCenter College Video Tours http://www.youniversitytv.com/ Center for Student Opportunity www.csopportunity.org Big Future by The College Board www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org KnowHow2GO www.knowhow2go.org

Early Awareness Resource List College For Every Student www.collegefes.org College: Making It Happen www.certicc.org/collegemakingit.aspx Counselor Zone www.collegezone.com/counselorzone/265.htm ECMC Foundation – The College Place www.ecmcfoundation.org Get Ready for College (MN) www.getreadyforcollege.org Illinois Resource for undocumented students http://www.iacac.org/undocumented/

Questions?