Activity 23

Developing a Multi-Year Course of Study

What Students Do

In Activity 22, students wrote a college goal statement. Activity 23 has them talk to their guidance counselor about graduation requirements and those required by their college of choice. Based on the student's goal, the counselor and student develop or refine a written multi-year plan that is to be discussed in future IEP meetings and used as a basis for course selection.

Planning

Make sure that the goal statements are well written with accurate information. Ask your students to practice talking about their educational and career goals. In addition to their written goal statement, some might find it useful to use drawings and/or notes to remember the details. Obtain blank copies of your school's four year course planner to share with your students before the meeting. If your school does not use such a planner, one can be easily be constructed with a standard sheet of paper formatted with a landscape table with 3 or 4 columns (years) and 2 rows (semesters). Each cell contains required courses printed out and lines for elective courses.

Introducing the Activity

Before individual meetings, invite a counselor into class to explain what the counseling office does, the services available, and how to schedule time with a counselor or use the resources. Ask the students to share some of their occupational interests and college plans then have the counselor give general responses about the type of courses needed and the pre-college testing required.