ROAD MAP THROUGH SENIOR YEAR

HOW TO DO SCHOOL: LESSON 12

Quick Reference
Abstract: Students warm up identifying with a quote related to their feelings and level of
confidence about senior year. In the mini lesson, students review a Senior Checklist
to support their understanding of senior year milestones. In the workshop, students
process their feelings about these milestones and offer each other encouragement
and support through a talking circle. To close, students write an encouraging message
to themselves.
CCSS: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1.C
SEL IL State Standards: Students Will Be Able To:
1B.4a. Set priorities in building on strengths and  Identify the important milestones of senior
identifying areas for improvement. year
1C.4a. Identify strategies to make use of  Assess their confidence in approaching senior
resources and overcome obstacles to achieve milestones to identify areas needed for
goals. support
Essential Question:
Am I on track to graduate and advance to college?
Materials: Preparation:
 Opposing Quotes 1 & 2 (1/class)  Post Opposing Quotes 1 & 2 on opposite sides
 Senior Checklist (1/student) of the room
 Red & Green Markers (1 of each/student)  Find an interesting looking object to use as a
 Talking Piece talking piece; something lightweight and
 Labels, size 1” x 2 5/8” (1/student) appealing for students to hold, such as a sea
shell, stuffed toy, stapler, etc.

Step-by-Step Procedures 42 Min

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Warm Up Opposing Quotes 7 Min
1) Explain: “In our last session, we analyzed our personal academic
performance and considered the behaviors that will be helpful and hurtful
to keeping ourselves on-track to graduate. While staying on-track
academically is very important during senior year, there are also many
milestones to prepare for our life after high school that are important to
plan for as well. Today, we will look at specific milestones we’ll encounter
during senior year. Some of the milestones are joyous occasions, like prom
and graduation, while others are more serious, such as college applications
and completing financial aid forms. To get us warmed up to think about
these milestones, consider the 2 quotes you see hanging on opposite sides
of the room and walk to the quote which represents your feelings about
senior year. Any questions?”
Facilitator’s Note: Check to make sure the class understands what these
quotes mean before they decide where to move, with one quote signifying the
importance of planning for the future, while the other signifies experiencing
life as it happens.
2) Invite each group to talk to each other for 2 minutes about why they
selected that quote and instruct each group to elect a spokesperson to
share the main points they discussed.
3) Invite students to sit down and explain: “I heard many different
perspectives in that activity. My hope is that you will come to see this class
as a place where you will be able to find the support to face the future and
all of it’s uncertainties to achieve your post-secondary plans with
excitement and confidence.”
Facilitator’s Note: For a non-movement option, have students raise their hand
to choose their quote and elect 1-2 students from each position to share.
Mini Senior Checklist 10 Min
Lesson 1) Distribute Senior Checklist and review with students, answering questions.
2) Distribute two markers to students (red and green) and explain: “Please
circle the items you are confident and excited about in green. Then, circle
the items you are feeling uncertain or fearful about in red. You may also
have items that fall somewhere in between green and red that you can just
leave without a circle. Any questions?”
Worksho Circle 20 Min
p 1) Explain: “Today we will be sitting in a circle. Our circle today will focus on
processing our hopes and fears for senior year. The goal for today is that
we begin to build relationships so that we can feel confident and supported
that we can face the milestones of senior year and be successful.”
2) Set the tone by asking students: “Why do we sit in a circle?”
Facilitator’s Note: Possible responses could include: Sitting in a circle helps us
to focus on and pay attention to one another. A circle is round and has no end;
our circle symbolizes the ways we are connected. Circles are rooted in
historical traditions; for centuries they have been a way for communities and
groups of people to come together and talk and solve problems.
3) To introduce the talking piece explain: “This is the talking piece. It’s
important to me because ______________. I will choose questions to

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 ask.    The talking piece will be passed around, and whoever has the talking
piece may speak.    The talking piece is important because it helps us listen
and speak to each other without interruption.    Each question or time the
talking piece is passed around the circle is referred to as a ‘round’.    You can
‘pass’ if you do not want to speak during a round.    As facilitator, I am the
only person who may speak when I don’t have the talking piece. Are there
any questions?”
4) Opening Ritual: To get students warmed up for participation in the circle,
explain: “On the checklist you just circled, choose one of your green items
and one of your red items that you would most like to share out during
circle today.”
5) Round 1: Ask the following question and pass the talking piece: “What is
one item on your checklist that you circled in green, meaning that you are
feeling confident about it?”
6) Round 2: Ask the following question and pass the talking piece: “What is
one item on your checklist that you circled in red, meaning that you are
feeling uncertain and possibly even fearful about it?”
7) Round 3: Ask the following question and pass the talking piece: “What type
of support do you most need to be successful as you encounter these senior
year milestones?”
8) Round 4: Ask the following question and pass the talking piece: “What is
one action step you will take this week to address an item on your
checklist?”
9) Round 5: Ask the following question and pass the talking piece: “What good
wishes, blessings, or words of encouragement can you offer to our
classroom community as we embark on our journey through senior year?”
Facilitator’s Note If you have a large class or short periods, you may want to
extend this circle into a second session to give students enough time to
process. This circle may be particularly suited to a community building day.
Closing Billboards 5 Min
1) Instruct students to remain in the circle, distribute one label to each
student and explain: “While you continue through senior year, it will be
important to continually encourage yourself to keep planning and working
toward your goals. Think about the wishes, blessings, and words of
encouragement that we just shared in circle and write a favorite on this
label. When finished, stick this label on your checklist to serve as a
reminder of the message you want to keep with you.”

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 OPPOSING QUOTE 1

“We do not get to choose how we start out in life. We

do not get to choose the day we are born or the family
we are born into, what we are named at birth, what
country we are born in, and we do not get to choose our
ancestry. All these things are predetermined by a higher
power. By the time you are old enough to start making
decisions for yourself, a lot of things in your life are
already in place. It’s important, therefore, that you focus
on the future, the only thing that you can change.”
--Idowu Koyenikan

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 OPPOSING QUOTE 2

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes.

Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality
be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever
way they like.”
-- Lao Tzu

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Name: ___________________________ Date: ____________
SENIOR CHECKLIST
Directions: Read through the college planning calendar below. Check off any of the tasks you have already
completed. Put a question mark in the box next to any tasks that you are unsure or have questions about.

September- November
 Narrow your choices to the top colleges in which you are most interested.
 Contact admissions offices to schedule campus visits.
 If not already begun, start your search for private scholarships.
 SAT and ACT registration deadline for fall dates (September-November)
 Apply for admissions to the colleges in which you are most interested and arrange
for a campus visit.
 Obtain financial aid information from those schools; make sure it explains available
aid, application procedures and deadline dates.
 Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to get in line for financial aid starting October 1 st.
 Continue your search for private scholarships.
 Attend college fairs and financial aid information nights. Check with your counselor for details.
 SAT and ACT registration deadline for December test date(s)

December/January
 Continue applying for admission to the colleges in which you are most interested and arrange for a campus visit.
 If not already begun, start your search for private scholarships -- you're running late!
 Attend college fairs and financial aid information nights.
 If not already done, obtain the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from your high school counselor or financial
aid office(s).
 Collect family W-2s and initiate completion of federal tax returns used to complete financial aid.
 January—ACT Registration deadline for February test date

February/March
 If not already done, obtain the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from your high school counselor or financial
aid office(s).
 If not already done, collect family W-2s and complete federal tax returns used to complete financial aid applications.
 Check to see if any of your potential colleges have financial aid application deadlines for these months.
 Promptly respond to any requests for information from college admissions and financial aid offices.
 February—SAT registration deadline for March test date
 March – ACT registration deadline for April test date

April/May
 Make your final decision on college attendance, and notify the appropriate admission office (if not done already).
 Notify those other schools to which you applied for admission and financial aid that you don't plan to attend.
 Promptly respond to any request for information from admission and financial aid offices at your first choice school
 Check to see if your school has its financial aid application deadline these months.
 Create a budget for post-secondary employment and/or college life.
 April—SAT registration deadline for May test date
 May—SAT and ACT registration deadline for June test date

June/July/August
 Make sure final high school transcripts are sent to the college you plan to attend.
 Promptly respond to requests for information from the college admission and financial aid office at prospective schools.
 Call admissions office to verify all information is complete.
 Attend orientation whenever offered.
 Finalize your budget for the academic year.

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