Lesson Plan

School Counselor: Isabel Salgado

Lesson Plan Title: Knowing About Safety, Target, Reach Schools

X Single Classroom Lesson

□ Unit of Classroom Lessons: Lesson _____ of _____
□ Small-Group Session Lessons: Lesson _____ of _____
Target Audience: 11th graders

Evidence Base:

⬜
X Best Practice

⬜ Action Research
(commonly used and believed to be of high quality)
(individual investigates own practice to improve content/delivery)

⬜ Evidence-Based
Research-Informed (a review of research provides foundation for content/delivery)
(highest level of evidence, results published in peer-reviewed journal)

ASCA Student Standards Targeted: Student Learning Objectives:

Identify 1–2 student standards relevant for this For each of the selected student standards, write or
targeted group and goal: select 1–2 learning objectives
(Best practice = select one)
M&B# Mindsets & Behaviors Statement Student Learning Objectives

B-SS 1. Effective oral and written Student(s) will:

communication skills and listening Identify the differences between the three types
skills of schools and organize each school in the
correct category.

Materials:
PowerPoint, pre/post survey, categorizing schools worksheet, and google Chromebook’s cart

Describe how you will:

Introduce Lesson Students will complete a Pre-Survey, illustrating if they have background
Topic/Focus: knowledge of what it means to be “safety/target/reach school.” Students
will be made aware that there is no right or wrong answer; it is just to
see where they are.

Updated, June 2021

 Then students will be asked to raise their hand if they would like to share
with the class what they know or what they think a safety/target/reach
school is.

Communicate the “By the end of today’s lesson, you will be able to identify the differences
Lesson Objective: between a safe/target/reach school and organize each school in the
correct category reflecting on your test results, grades, GPA, and SAT
scores. To help you do this, I will define what these schools mean, show
you where you can find the requirements from each school, and help you
start organizing your own schools into the three categories.”

Teach Content: Start the presentation which defines safety/target/reach schools in an

appropriate student-friendly definition.
Followed by using two charts [located in the PowerPoint] that show
students where they should visualize themselves to search for schools;
charts will be looked at briefly. Students should not be discouraged by
the charts and should be aware of this.
Model a school to locate the school's requirements (e.g. GPA/Sat score).
Then model using a false GPA and false SAT score to see if the school will
fit in the safety/target/reach school category. Ask students where they
might think the school will fall based on the fake GPA and SAT score.
Hand out the ‘categorizing schools worksheet’ and Chromebook for
students to do their own research. Students will be encouraged to find at
least one school per category.

Practice Content: Students can work independently or in partners if they feel comfortable
sharing their GPA/SAT scores to complete their categorizing schools
worksheet.
Note: Highly recommended if they practice with their own academic
performance.

Summarize/Close: In the remaining 5-10 minutes, recap what was learned. Students will
raise their hands about what they learned: a safety school, a target
school, and a reach school are.
Then students are welcome to share a school they found that falls under
the three categories without sharing their academic achievement.
Pass the post-survey to see if students understood the differences
between safety/target/reach schools.
Encourage students to visit school counselors for more help, to look over
their list, or if they are still confused.

Updated, June 2021

Data Collection Plan – For multiple lessons in a unit, complete this section only once for the unit.
Participation Data Plan: 
Anticipated number 100 in junior English classes of approximately 25 students in each
of students:
Planned length of 50 minutes (one class period)
lesson(s):
ASCA Student Standards Data Plan:
For each lesson/unit/small group, school counselors will administer pre-/post-assessment aligned with the selected
ASCA Student Standards and student learning objectives.
Pre-/Post-Assessment items are:
1. Pre/Post survey which is attached below in this lesson plan
Outcome Data Plan: (choose one and describe specific data point to compare)
Examples:
Achievement: School counselor will compare reading levels of students before and after delivery of lesson.
Attendance: School counselor will compare number of absences last year to this year.
Discipline: School counselor will compare total number of disciplinary reports for peer-on-peer conflict first quarter
with second quarter
X Achievement (describe):

Answers from the pre-survey and post-survey will be analyzed to see if students comprehend
the differences between safety/target/reach schools. This would be seen through the answers
from the post-survey if students could answer correctly on matching the school with the
definition. Furthermore, students in the post-survey have an additional question to name one
school from each category. Since students will keep their ‘categorizing schools worksheet,’
school counselors will see the schools each student wrote down and notice if it does reflect well
with their academic performance.

According to Bryan et al. (2015), when school counselors support students, there is a higher
chance students will apply to colleges. In addition, when students have the opportunity to see
their school counselors, they are more likely to apply to college because of the resources school
counselors provide to students (Bryan et al., 2015). Support can be through the college search,
enrollment process, and guidance through the college application.

⬜ Attendance (describe):
⬜ Discipline (describe):
Follow-Up Plans
Explain your plan for students who missed the lesson.

Updated, June 2021

Students who missed the lesson will meet as a small group to discuss the differences of a
safety/target/reach school. As well as completing the worksheet on their own time.

Explain your plan for students who did not demonstrate mastery on the pre-/post-assessment of
student standards (M&B)/student learning objectives.

For students who did not demonstrate mastery on the post-survey, school counselors will meet
with the student individually to correctly complete the worksheet reflecting on the student's
academic performance. Students will meet individually rather than in small groups because the
school counselor and student will be able to take a closer look at GPA, class grades, and SAT
scores.

Updated, June 2021

Name:_________________________________________ Date:_________________________

Safety, Target, Reach

Pre-Survey

Directions: Match each word in the left column with its definition in the right.

1. Safety a. GPA/SAT scores match admission requirements. Admission is

______________m-likely

2. Target b. GPA/SAT scores are lower than admission requirements.

_______________Admission is less likely. Other application materials need to be strong.

3. Reach c. GPA/SAT scores exceed admission requirements. Admission is

________________nearly guaranteed

True or False

4. I know where to find the requirements for a school _______

5. I currently know what my GPA is _______

6. I currently know what my SAT score is _______

7. I know where to find my SAT score _______

Updated, June 2021

Name:_________________________________________ Date:_________________________

Safety, Target, Reach

Post-Survey

Directions: Match each word in the left column with its definition in the right.

1. Safety a. GPA/SAT scores match admission requirements. Admission is

______________ likely

2. Target b. GPA/SAT scores are lower than admission requirements.

_______________Admission is less likely. Other application materials need to be strong.

3. Reach c. GPA/SAT scores exceed admission requirements. Admission is

________________nearly guaranteed

True or False

4. I know where to find the requirements for a school _______

5. I currently know what my GPA is _______

6. I currently know what my SAT score is ______

7. I know where to find my SAT score ______

8. From the time we had in class, please write down one safety, one target, and one reach
school you found.

Safety school __________________________________

Target school __________________________________

Reach school __________________________________

Updated, June 2021