1. Oh, The Places You’ll Go… 8 th Grade Individual Planning Conference

2. Conferencing Putting it all together to form a future Student Interest s Student Interest s Student Strengths Student Strengths Student Potential Student Potential Student Dreams Student Dreams

3. What is conferencing? Conferencing is a process that involves activities planned and directed by school counselors that assist students in planning, monitoring, and managing their own learning, as well as their personal and career development. Conferencing is a process that involves activities planned and directed by school counselors that assist students in planning, monitoring, and managing their own learning, as well as their personal and career development.

4. 8 th Grade Conference Focus Strengthen communication between students, parents, and school counselors Strengthen communication between students, parents, and school counselors Explore academic and career development Explore academic and career development Gain insight into students’ personal/social growth Gain insight into students’ personal/social growth

5. 8 th Grade Conference Topics Student Goals & Dreams Student Goals & Dreams (Academic, Personal/Social, Career) (Academic, Personal/Social, Career) Personal and Social Development Personal and Social Development (Strengths, Hobbies, Interests) (Strengths, Hobbies, Interests) Personal Inventories Personal Inventories (Multiple Intelligences, Organizational/Thinking Styles, Personality Style) (Multiple Intelligences, Organizational/Thinking Styles, Personality Style) Overview of High School Overview of High School (Co-curricular/Athletic Activities) (Co-curricular/Athletic Activities) Wisconsin Covenant Program Wisconsin Covenant Program Career Exploration, Assessment and Planning Career Exploration, Assessment and Planning High School Graduation Requirements High School Graduation Requirements (Transcripts) (Transcripts)

6. 8 th Grade Individual Planning Conferences  What and why? A 30-45 minute individual meeting between student, parent and counselor to discuss future dreams, goals, and career plans. A 30-45 minute individual meeting between student, parent and counselor to discuss future dreams, goals, and career plans. Build a positive dialogue between school and parents. Build a positive dialogue between school and parents. Share information about students’ strengths, interests, abilities and potential. Share information about students’ strengths, interests, abilities and potential. Assist students and parents to manage the educational and career planning process. Assist students and parents to manage the educational and career planning process. Identify, plan and evaluate educational and career goals. Identify, plan and evaluate educational and career goals. Assist students to transition to the next phase of their lives. Assist students to transition to the next phase of their lives.

7. 8 th Grade Individual Planning Conferences  When? Conferences are held during the school day. Conferences are held during the school day. 8 th Grade Conferences will run October-December. 8 th Grade Conferences will run October-December.  Where? The counselor’s office in a private, non-interrupted setting. The counselor’s office in a private, non-interrupted setting.  Who? Student, parent, guardian or any significant adult and counselor. Student, parent, guardian or any significant adult and counselor.

8. What are the benefits? Students take responsibility for their future Students take responsibility for their future Students and parents share their thoughts and feelings Students and parents share their thoughts and feelings Parents feel more informed and involved Parents feel more informed and involved Students and parents are motivated to be involved earlier in post-secondary planning Students and parents are motivated to be involved earlier in post-secondary planning Student apprehension about school and future goals is reduced Student apprehension about school and future goals is reduced A connection is developed between school, parents, and students to ensure academic success A connection is developed between school, parents, and students to ensure academic success

9. The Student’s Role  Identify current and long range goals.  Describe strengths, personal resources, abilities, and self- estimates.  Identify needs and challenges.  List extracurricular experiences.  Develop an individual learning plan.

10. The Parent’s Role  Express career expectations for their child.  Help identify their child’s strengths and challenges.  Brainstorm ways which they can help with educational/career planning.  Communicate questions and concerns.

11. The School Counselor’s Role  Review the student’s performance, abilities, aptitude, interests, and goals.  Help identify student’s strengths/challenges.  Share knowledge and available resources.  Facilitate communication and the planning process.

12. Begin the Dream… Communication is key Prepare for a changing world A continuous process A continuous process Create a positive future

13. Oh, The Places You’ll Go… Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away! Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away! You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. *Taken from Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss. 1990 Random House, Inc. New York