8TH GRADE: EXPLORE
August |
OBJECTIVE 1:
Now is the time to set goals and develop a plan to accomplish them. ACTION 1: Why College? "Is College Worth It?" OBJECTIVE 2: Parental education on the college prep process is an essential component of a student's ability to accomplish the guide posts along the way to becoming "college ready." ACTION 2: Dr. Carlin's College Prep for Parents |
September |
OBJECTIVE 1:
Organization is essential to academic success. Make sure that your daily and weekly homework deadlines are organized into an easily accessible format. ACTION 1: Weekly Action Plan |
October |
OBJECTIVE 1:
Have a discussion with your parents about college and identify the steps required to reach that goal. ACTION 1: Student/Parent Meeting Guide |
November |
OBJECTIVE 1:
Participate in a community service project or volunteer with an organization that serves a mission that interests you. These experiences will also be valuable when developing your college applications and may provide networking opportunities that could lead to summer employment, job shadowing, or references. ACTION 1: Volunteering: How Helping Others Helps You |
December |
OBJECTIVE 1:
Ask for advice from people who graduated from college. What tips do they have on getting into and being successful in college? ACTION 1: College Graduate Interview |
January |
OBJECTIVE 1:
Standardized tests such as the ACT and SAT are timed tests. Practice taking timed math tests. ACTION 1: Practice Timed Math Tests |
February |
OBJECTIVE 1:
Find out what college is all about by talking to a current college student that you know. Ask them about the steps they took when applying for college. ACTION 1: College Student Interview |
March |
OBJECTIVE 1:
Research careers in growing markets and take an inventory of the positions available in your fields of interest. ACTION 1: World-of-Work |
April |
OBJECTIVE 1:
Schedule challenging classes for freshman year to be on the ʺcollege readiness" track. Select advanced core subject area classes and foreign language courses. ACTION 1: "High School Classes Colleges Look For" "Advice on Selecting High School Courses" |
May |
OBJECTIVE 1:
Learn about what types of extra-curricular activities are available at the high school level. Find out how to become involved in a club or on a team for next year. ACTION 1: "Extra-Curriculars Matter" |
June |
OBJECTIVE 1:
Obtain summer employment and/or volunteer. Experiences such as this will be a valuable part of your college application. You may also choose to participate in summer learning programs offered in your area. ACTION 1: "Summer Learning Programs: What, Why, and How" |
July |
OBJECTIVE 1:
Don't forget to read during the summer months to maintain and increase your reading fluency, time, and comprehension. ACTION 1: Reading Comprehension Quizzes |