Closing-the-Gap Lesson Plan

School Counselor: Classroom Teachers and Post-Secondary Institution Representatives

Date: 10/10/17
Activity: Post-Secondary Presentations
Grade(s): 8th Grade

ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors (Domain/Standard):

Mindset Standards:
M 2. Self-confidence in ability to succeed.
M 4. Understanding that postsecondary education and life-long learning are necessary for long-
term career success.

Behavior Standards:

B-LS 7. Identify long- and short-term academic, career and social/ emotional goals

Learning Objective(s) (aligns with Competency):

1. Students will understand that there are pathways for them to get to college.
2. Students will be able to identify a post-secondary goal
3. Students will be able to identify the steps needed to reach their post-secondary goals
4. Students will be able to identify resources they can turn to to help them reach their post-
secondary goals.

Materials:
Paper
Access to presentation materials and software.
Procedure:
1. This program will span 3-4 days throughout the school year.
2. On each of these days, eighth-grade students will have a shortened schedule,
and have the last hour of the school day devoted to a presentation by
representatives from a post-secondary institution, including four-year universities,
community/city colleges, and vocational schools. The presentations will be
focused upon developing the students interest in post-secondary educational
options, and their understanding of the steps to take to get there.
3. At the end of each session, students will be asked to write down three things they
learned about the presenting institution and hand this in to their classroom
teacher.
4. Information given by these institutions will be provided to parents/guardians in
the STA newsletter and on the STA Facebook page.
Plan for Evaluation:

Process Data will be measured by noting the attendance records, and by utilizing the exit slip
activities from each session.

Perception Data will be measured by utilizing survey data and exit slips.

Outcome Data will be measured utilizing long-term records gathered by STA and area high-
schools.

Data Collection:

Process Data: At least 80% of eighth-grade students at STA will attend post-secondary
education sessions.

Perception Data:
At least 80% of STA teachers will indicate that students understand what it will take for them to
attend college, and at least 80% of attending students will indicate an understanding of each
post-secondary option.

Outcome Data:
There will be at least a 5% increase in STA students pursuing post-secondary education.

Follow Up: Teachers will continue to discuss post-secondary goals with students periodically
throughout the school year.