Partnering with Parents to Support Academic Preparedness in St. Clair County

1. Partnering with Parents to Support Academic Preparedness in St. Clair County St. Clair County KnowHow2GO Michigan College Access Network Conference April 13, 2011 St. Clair County KnowHow2Go – Local College Access Network Creating a college-going culture in our community, in our schools, and with our families.

2. Our Mission Creating a college-going culture in our community, in our schools, and with our families.

4. St. Clair County KnowHow2Go – Local College Access Network Creating a college-going culture in our community, in our schools, and with our families. Leveraging resources to create a college-goingculture

5. St. Clair County KnowHow2Go – Local College Access Network Creating a college-going culture in our community, in our schools, and with our families. Our KH2GO Goals

6. Promoting KnowHow2GO

7. Affordable • Expert teachers • Free resources

8. Streamlining your preparation: Details about our ACT Prep sessions

9. ACT Prep Key Points

10. Learning from experts the nuances of specialized career and academic pursuits. • Ask An Expert topics: • Art/Music Options • Selective Colleges • College Sports • Essay Coaching

11. Sharing the story: Details about our Essay Coaching session

12. College Essay Writing

13. Streamlining your preparation: Details about our College Essay Writing session

14. “Write on the page, not in your head.” Debbie Merion

15. Why this Event is So Effective • Super-sized support: Parents, teachers and educators share an event to support students. • For super-sized anxiety:  College applications are stressful, writing can be as well. (“writer’s block”) • Writing style can be mysterious: “We are taught to write about what we know, not who we are.” • Students can support other students:  Lessening the need for secrecy, even though the goal of the essay is to be unique.

16. After the Teaching, the Excitement Begins • Powerful mini-coaching session:  After the teaching, students meet individually with adult professionals to brainstorm ideas, share drafts. • The early goal: At this tender, early stage of college essay writing, we help students understand and embrace strengths that will interest colleges.  • The final goal:  Apply, get accepted, and learn writing skills to be used in college and beyond.

17. Beyond a High School Essay: • The reader has never met you. • More about who you are than what you know. • Five-paragraph standard format is not required.

18. “Show Don’t Tell” Example 1 • I am confident. • I smile at people when I pass them in the hallways.

19. Characteristics of Sought-After Students • Growth potential or evidence • Enthusiastic (AKA passionate) • Talented • (shows) Initiative • (demonstrated) Leadership • Anagram to remember: GET In Lead • Growth and leadership in areas of interest

20. Access our kit: www.sccresa.orgKnowHow2GO tab College Survival Kit

21. Explore, Plan, ACT

22. Total ParticipationKH2Go Events

23. St. Clair County WorkKeys 2010 Statistics • 70% of current seniors earned a gold, silver or platinum WorkKeys certificate. • St. Clair TEC students prep with KeyTrain.

24. Measuring Results

26. What questions do you have?

27. Contacts Gale Simon, Higher Education Consultant St. Clair County KnowHow2GO simon.gale@sccresa.org 810-455-4230 Cathy Busdicker, Parent Liaison St. Clair County KnowHow2GO busdicker.cathy@sccresa.org 810-455-4014 Debbie Merion, Essay Coach debbiemerion@gmail.comessaycoaching.com