help students traverse the myriad of requirements and processes they face, even the
highest and most valid goals may go unrealized.
ACTIVITIES:
Middle school students need help in understanding how intermediate goals can help them
achieve their long-term goals. The student will begin to set specific educational goals
that must be achieved to succeed in high school and eventually in college.
2. Discuss the importance of their present performance in school and how their past
performance has affected their present placement in class (without getting too
personal).
4. After the discussion, distribute the handouts, “How to Create Position Statements”
and the “Position Statement” template to students. Explain that in groups of four or
five, they will work together to develop a position statement that answers why
success in high school is important in today’s world. (Students can present their group
papers to the class or to their peers in an assembly or on the morning
announcements.)
5. Invite your middle school guidance counselor to discuss course offerings and tests in
high school, or you might invite the high school counselor to visit to preview what
courses will be required in high school and how important courses like Algebra, lab
sciences, and world cultures are. (Success in these areas often divides the collegebound from the non-college-bound.)
6. After students hear the guidance counselor, give each student a copy of the handout
“College Prep Courses.” Explain that this list of courses was developed by college
admissions officials to let students know what colleges require. Working in their
groups, have each group define the subject area and discuss why they think colleges
require the number of years of study in the various subject areas. (This can also be
done in a jigsaw fashion if time is an issue. Each group can be given one subject area
to discuss and report out to the class. )
PROTEAM DREAMQUEST CURRICULUM
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MODULE 7:
3. Discuss the idea that many young people do not do their best in school. Have the
ProTeamers brainstorm to develop a list of reasons students might give for not doing
their best in school. Be sure to include peer pressure (i.e. not appearing smart
because it is not cool) in the discussion.
I Can Plan for a Successful Future
1. Ask students to develop a list of the things they must do to be successful in school.
This would include daily study of material covered in class, doing homework,
completing projects, participating in class discussions and activities, making good
grades on classroom tests, and doing well on tests like statewide assessments, Exit
Exam, PSAT, and SAT or ACT.