PREPPING FOR

COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES

10TH GRADE GUIDANCE NIGHT

10TH TO 11TH GRADE “LEAP”Options for AP and honors course open up in 11th grade

•Social studies, English, world language, math, science, electives

•Possible for students to have 6 AP/honors courses in one year

Immediate urge from students (not necessarily parents) is to take them all!

•We (counseling staff) want you to have talking points with your students

Focus for tonight will be to provide a framework for choosing classes wisely

•Parent perspective, student perspective, and general thoughts

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHAT ARE YOUR

INTERESTS?• STEM field - Explore the

advanced math and science options

• Humanities - Explore social studies, language, and literature options

WHAT ARE YOUR COMMITMENTS?

• Cupertino High School - athletics, clubs, performing arts, marching band, dance team, student government

• Outside of Cupertino High school - sat classes, faith based, scouting, internships, jobs, athletics, performing arts, cultural, tutoring, college counseling, caring for siblings

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS?

• Colleges and universities differ on how much credit they grant for passing AP class

• You may still have to take the same class in college

• Research the profile for students at your college of choice

• Sometimes requirements vary by major

Sample course load:

COMPARING HOMEWORK DEMANDS:COLLEGE PREP, HONORS & AP COURSES

• Taking honors and AP level implies students possess a strong interest and commitment to mastery in the subject

• Honors & AP courses are much more accelerated and require a lot of independent work and outside study each day

Course Subject College Prep Honors Advanced Prep

English 30 mins 45 mins 60 mins

History 20 mins 20 mins 60 mins

Math 30-60 mins 60 mins 60 mins

Science 30 mins 30-75 mins 60-90 mins

World Lang 10-20 mins 20-40 mins 20-40 mins

Elective 15-70 mins *15-70 mins *15-90 mins

PARENTS - WHAT SHOULD I ASK? • Take the parent hat off for a bit, and answer these questions

• What are my students’ academic strengths? Where do they struggle?

• Do they excel in one area, or do i want them to achieve in that subject?

• Does my student handle his/her free time well? Better question, how much You Tube and Netflix does my student watch?

• How much stress/anxiety in your household this year? Can I imagine my student adding 2-3 more advanced courses to their load?

• Can i be firm about my student not over-extending themselves?

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AP/HONORS COURSES

•Increase in workload and time commitment to studying the material

•Demands intellectual engagement- depth of understanding vs memorization

•Pace is quick, quick, quick, with frequent assessments

•New wrinkle (starting in Fall 2019), students must purchase non-refundable AP exam in fall semester (less time to change mind)

FEATURES OF AP STUDENTSACADEMIC

CHARACTERISTICS• INDEPENDENT LEARNER • WILLING TO ASK FOR HELP (USE ALL

RESOURCES)• ABLE TO STUDY CONSISTENTLY EVERY

NIGHT-EVEN WHEN ZERO HOMEWORK ASSIGNED

• GENERALLY CURIOUS ABOUT THE CLASS

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS

• ABLE TO PERSEVERE• LEARN FROM MISTAKES• MATURITY• SELF ADVOCACY• MANAGE ACADEMICS, ACTIVITIES,

FAMILY, FUN

TIME MANAGEMENT& STUDY SKILL TIPS FOR STUDENTS

MAP OUT GOALS & SCHEDULE FOR YOUR WEEK Before the school week begins, record goals and

priorities:

• NEED TO GET DONE• What are your most pressing assignments,

upcoming exams, tasks at home?

• WOULD LIKE TO GET DONE• What you would like to get started that is not

due this week

• WANT TO GET DONE• Activities you enjoy, recharging time

NEXT, SET A SCHEDULE (TIME FRAME) TO ACCOMPLISH GOALS

• More likely to complete goals without becoming overwhelmed if you create a plan

BREAK BIG TASKS INTO SMALLER STEPS

• On heavy homework nights or when there's an especially hefty assignment to tackle, break up the work into manageable chunks.

• Create a path of how the task will get accomplished

• The big task becomes a set of less intimidating small steps

• A checklist can be used for the smaller tasks to show progress/accomplishment

PREP YOUR WORKSPACE FOR SUCCESS • Designate a distraction free area in your home

to study/do homework

• Keep it free from clutter – HW area only

• Turn off the TV, silence notifications on your phone apps - low music ok if helpful

• Try to have a set dinner time during the week for consistency in routine

• Have healthy snacks and water if hungry - promotes brain function, fights fatigue, regulates mood

TO CRAM OR NOT TO CRAM• “Binge & purge” learning does not produce durable learning

• Cramming is stressful & ineffective.

• “Last-minute stress can lead to anxiety that blocks our ability to readily understand and recall information.” - Dietzel

• Spaced repetition is key to learning

• Increases knowledge by 50%; retention up to 2 years

• Study in increments of 20 minutes a day for a week before exams

TAKE BRAIN BREAKS• Refreshes thinking and helps students

discover another solution to a problem

• Allows time to see a situation through a different lens

• Refocus our neural circuitry/activity in the prefrontal cortex, where problem solving and emotional regulation occur

• Helps to incubate and process new information.

• Reduces burn-out/frustration

FEELING STUCK? When having trouble with a particular question or section:

• Move on and come back to it later• Refer back to your notes, study

examples/charts/graphs in book, or access web resources

• Ask for help• Ask your instructor during tutorial• Ask a classmate• Visit the Student Center for Success after

school (M-Th)

GET PLENTY OF SLEEP• Critical for mental & physical development

•Recommended 8-10 hours of uninterrupted sleep

• Better memory & concentration

• More alert/ready to learn

• Better mood, less mood swings

• Better at regulating stress & anxiety

• Reduced dependency on unhealthy energy stimulants

Thank You & Good Night