THE COLLEGE PATH 1

Time toTeach

L E S S O N 1

This lesson is an introduction to The College Path course and class objectives. Students are introduced to the benefits of a college education, and calculate when they will go to, and graduate from college.Prior to instruction go to www.kidsblog.org (or any blog site of your choice) and start a College Path blog. At the conclusion of each lesson, assign the Blog or Debate topic (see Idea Wall.)

Workbook:This lesson corresponds to College Path Workbook Chapter 1.

Materials List:Computer/whiteboard display with internet access.

Webslides 1A-F (www.middleschoolguide.com)

Objectives:By the end of this lesson the student will be able to:

1. Define two college path vocabulary terms.2. List five benefits of a college education.3. Calculate the year(s) they will go to and graduate from college.

Gaining Attention: (5 mins)

Engage students in a discussion: Do you know someone who is in college? Perhaps a sibling, a cousin, a neighbor or a friend? Have they told you what it’s like to go to college? What do you know about college? (Allow a brief discussion.)

SLIDE 1A

College: What'sIn It For You?45-50 mins

Lesson 1 | College: What's In It For You?2

Welcome students to The College Path! Advise students of the course details:

• Classtimesandlocations.

• Materials:DistributeoneCollege Path Workbook to each student. This booklet contains the worksheets and other materials students need for this course. Students should bring their College Path Workbook and a pen or pencil to every class.

• Assessment:Assessmentisbasedonworksheet/exercisecompletion,participationinclassdiscussions,evidence of thought and serious reflection in their College Path Workbook, and Blog or Debate contribution.

Communicating the Objectives: (10 mins)

Course Objectives: The College Path course is an introduction to a topic important to every middle school student’s future: College! Inthisclass,studentswillexplorebasicaspectsofcollege:whatcollegeis,howastudent selects a college to go to, what it’s like to go to college, what students study at college, the benefits of a college education, preparing for college, and even college sports! The College Pathwillalsoexplorealternativeeducational opportunities available to students after high school, but the focus is on college. All middle school students should be on a college path, because that is the best way to prepare for any educational or career path choice after high school.

Why learn about college in middle school?

Comprehension. In middle school and high school, teachers and counselors talk a lot about college. They use words, and refer to concepts that students may not be familiar with. This course builds a familiarity with important college path terms and concepts. Each lesson begins with What Does That Mean? which is an introduction to college path vocabulary. By the end of this course, students will know the meaning of over eighty college path terms, and have a basic understanding of the college path, from middle school through college graduation and beyond.

Visualize and Connect!Manystudentsgothroughmiddleandhighschoolneverbelievingthatcollegeisan option for them. They think of college as something for other kids, or that college holds nothing of value for them.Maybetheydon’tthinkthey’resmartenough;maybenooneintheirfamilyhasevergonetocollege.Inanyevent, they have no vision of themselves as a future college student. They give up on college before they know anything about it! This course enables students to create a vision of themselves as future college students, and make a personal connection with the goal of becoming a college graduate.

Lesson One’s Objectives: By the end of Lesson One, students will be able to define two college path terms, describe the benefits of a college education, and calculate the years they will start, and graduate from college. Let's get on the college path!

THE COLLEGE PATH 3

Presentation of Content: (20 mins)

What Does That Mean? SLIDE 1B

College and university are words used to describe an institution of higher education (a school). There are some differences between the meanings of “college” and “university,” but for this course, the terms are used interchangeably.

Any formal education after high school is referred to as postsecondary(post=after;secondary=highschool)education. College is a form of postsecondary education.

What are the benefits of a college education? SLIDE 1C

In most states, it is required by law that students go to school until they are 18 years old. Any form of postsecondary education, including college, is voluntary. A traditional college education is for a four year term, beginningrightafterhighschool.Millionsofstudents(voluntarily!)gotocollegeeveryyear.Why?What'sinitfor them? Let’s look at the benefits of a college education:

• Show Me the Money! In 2008, young adults with a college degree earned 53 percent more than young high school graduates, and 96 percent more than young adults who did not earn a high school diploma at all. Over a lifetime, a college graduate will earn over twice as much as a worker with only a high school diploma.* If you like money and a comfortable lifestyle, want to travel, go to awesome concerts, live in a good neighborhood, or simply want a better life, a college education is essential. Get on the college path!

*(Source: IES National Center for Education Statistics)

• Who's the Boss?Mostjobsinthebestpayingindustriesrequire a college education. Without it, it isveryhardtocompetewithotherapplicants.Thebetterpaying(andmoreinteresting)jobsgotocollegegraduates. Without a college education, you are far more likely to be stuck in low level, low paying jobs. Workingadeadendjobyearafteryear,watchingcollegegraduatesclimbthecareerladderaheadofyou,isnotanenjoyableprospecttofaceforalifetime.Getonthecollegepath!

• Unemployment s*cks! College educated people have lower rates of joblessness than those with only a high school diploma. In 2008, the unemployment rate for high school graduates (without a college education) was 10%. The unemployment rate for college graduates was half that. Big difference! A college education is one of the best ways to protect yourself against unemployment. It's no guarantee that you won't lose yourjoboneday,butit'sproventhatemployeeswithoutacollegeeducationlosetheirsfirst,andthatcollegegraduatesfindnewjobssooner.Getonthecollegepath!

• College is chill! Here's something you won't hear much about from teachers and counselors: College is fun! It's also hard work, but in college you will meet lifelong friends, go to exciting sports events, study interesting subjects and maybe even travel overseas. Just ask anyone you know who went to college. You will hear plenty of happy memories. Have you ever heard anyone say “Gee, I wish I never went to college!”? Get on the college path!

Lesson 1 | College: What's In It For You?4

• America needs you! SLIDE 1D

Read this quote aloud:

“I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four year school, vocational training or an apprenticeship. But, whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma.”

President Barack Obama Address to Joint Session of Congress Feb. 24, 2009

The president knows that educated people are innovators and inventors, and that America must have a college educated workforce to compete in the world economy. It needs educated citizens for other reasonstoo.Educatedcitizensarebetterabletoprocessthecomplexinformationthatfacesthemeveryday. They make informed political decisions. They make better economic choices. College is important, not justbecauseofacareerandmoney,butbecauseoftheofthe economic and political strength that educated people bring to a society. Get on the college path!

When will you go to college? When will you graduate? (5 mins)

Starting college may seem like a long way off, but time passes quickly. When will you start college? When will you graduate? (Direct students to page 8 of their College Path Workbook. Review the worksheet. Guide students through the activity or assign as homework.)

Step 1 What grade are you in now? _____ = A

Step 2 12 - A = B B = _____

Step 3 What year will it be when your (academic) school year ends? (ie. 2011? 2012?) _____ = C

Step 4 B + C = _______________ ANSWER: You will go to college in _______________!

Step 5 Bonus: Add 4 years to your answer to find your College Graduation Year!

Example:

Step 1 What grade are you in now? 8 = A

Step 2 12 - A = 4 B = 4

Step 3 What year will it be when your (academic) school year ends? 2011 = C

Step 4 B (4) + C (2011) = 2015 You will go to college in 2015!

Step 5 2015 + 4 = 2019 Congratulations! You are a member of the College Class of 2019!

THE COLLEGE PATH 5

Point it Out: SLIDE 1E (1 min)

The quality of your life as an adult is directly linked to the education you get after high school. Everyone needsmorethanahighschooleducation.Money,careeradvancement,greaterjobsecurity,fun,friends,andastrongernation,arejustafewofthebenefitsofacollegeeducation.Getonthecollegepath!

Activities and Assignments: • Completepages6and7intheCollegePathWorkbook–Terms&Concepts (5 mins)

• Completepage8intheCollegePathWorkbook –WhenWillYouGotoCollege?(10mins)

• Optional:LettertoParentonpage5oftheCollegePathWorkbook SLIDE 1F (5 mins)

• AssignBlog or Debate topic (see Idea Wall.)

• Read:StudentsreadthenextchapterinTheCollegePathWorkbookaspreparationforthenextlesson.

Lesson 1 | College: What's In It For You?6

Letter to Parent

Dear Parent or Caregiver,

Today I participated in my College Path class.

One of the best ways I can get on the college path is to have a vision of myself as a future college student.

Knowing college path terms will help me understand the information I receive from teachers and counselors about college. Today I learned:

Term Meaningcollege/university Institution of higher education—a school .

For The College Path course “college” and “university” mean the same thing.

postsecondary after high school

I learned that there are many benefits to getting a college education:

1. College graduates make much more money than high school graduates.

2. College graduates get better jobs, and have more opportunities for career advancement.

3. College graduates have lower unemployment rates.

4. College is fun .

5. My country needs me to get a good education.When I go to college, I will be a member of the Class of _______!

Thank you for all you do for me every day.

Sincerely,

________________________________

COLLEGE PATH

WORKBOOK

THE COLLEGE PATH 7

IDEA WALL

Watch a college theme movie.

Recommended:

Rudy (1993)

Listen to the music ofGet Ready! My Education (2006)

www.minnesota.hsra.org

Make a Facebook page for your College Path Class:www.facebook.com

Create a College

Path Word Wall. Put

President Obama's

quote in the center.

Following each

lesson, add the

terms from What

Does That Mean? to

the Word Wall.

Blog or Debate…Go to www.kidblog.org. Start a College Path class blog. Following each lesson, add a post. Students must log in once a week and comment on the post. Lesson 1: In your opinion, what is the most important benefit of a college education?

A good read to share with parents and teachers:

What Good is a College Education Anyway? The Value

of a College Education by Katharine Hansen, Ph.D

http://www.quintcareers.com/college_education_value.html

Lesson 1 | College: What's In It For You?8

ANSWER KEY LESSON 1 TERMS & CONCEPTS

1. “College” or “university”: a. mean the same thing in The College Path course b. refers to a school of higher education c. is a form of postsecondary education d. all of the above

2. A traditional college term is for ___ years. a. 10 b. 4 c. 2 d. 1 3. Typically, a student starts college: a. as soon as they turn 18 b. following graduation from middle school c. following graduation from high school d. when he or she successfully completes this College Path course

4. The benefits of a college education include: a. Better pay and significantly more earnings over a lifetime b. Increasedjobsecurity&careeropportunities c. Friends, adventure and fun! d. All of the above.

5. “Postsecondary” means: a. after college b. after middle school c. after second grade d. after high school

6. In 2008, a college graduate made ______% more money than someone with only a high school diploma. a. 53 b. 100 c. 20 d. 13

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WORKBOOK

THE COLLEGE PATH 9

7. The U.S. needs well-educated, college graduates in order to: a. compete in the world economy b. maintain a strong, innovative workforce c. maintain a society that makes informed political and economic decisions d. all of the above

True or False:

________ 8. All middle school students should be on a college path. Preparing for college is the best way to prepare for any postsecondary educational opportunity.

________ 9. In the U.S., postsecondary education is required for all people over the age of 18.

Do the Math:

10. Angela graduated from college. She is making $50,000 per year. Her friend Dinesh didn’t think a college education was important, and never went to college. Based on U.S. 2008 statistics, how much more money doesAngelamakeperyearthanDinesh?$____________.Bonus:Overthenext20years,approximatelyhow much more money will Angela make than Dinesh? $ ______________.

26,500530,000.00

True

False

LESSON 1 TERMS & CONCEPTS ANSWER KEY

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WORKBOOK

Lesson 1 | College: What's In It For You?10

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COLLEGE PATH WORKBOOK LESSON 1 WORKSHEET

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WORKBOOK

THE COLLEGE PATH 11

NOTES

Lesson 1 | College: What's In It For You?12

NOTES