The best way to prepare a student for college is starting at
the beginning of their education. Too
many school systems wait until high school to start a college conversation. During
the early years students are like sponges that are waiting to absorb
knowledge. Students who inspired to read and compute
math in a fun way while they are in elementary school thrive as they move from
elementary school to middle school and from middle school to high school. Parents should be included in the college
conversation. Schools can help parents
to understand what they can be doing in their homes for example no television
in the students room. The parent can set
a limited television viewing time during the week. Instead parents should encourage their child
to read and read with them. The school
that is preparing students for college must have a parent partnership.
Students not only need to memorize words at their K12
schools they need to have conversations where words are used at a higher volume.
This is beneficial especially during the early years when students are learning
math and science terms and words.
Teachers and parents should talk about college regularly to raise the
student’s expectation that they can attend college. A teacher spends the
majority of time with the students during the day. Every teacher who is teaching at an
elementary school, middle school and high school should have the banner of the
college they attended outside of their room.
You will be amazed how many student conversations can result from having
a banner outside of your door. The
students may not even be in the teacher’s class the banner is creating a
college going culture. The catalyst for
a student to attend college is the teacher’s inspiration. It is the fact that
everyone that comes in contact with them talks about college. Tell your students that they are special and
that you are expecting great things from them.
Here are a few tips:
1. Measure and
calculate everything so that your student develops good math skills
2. Read for an hour and a half every day
3. Respond to
questions that your students ask to help them to develop a vocabulary
4. Take your student
on cultural trips on the weekend
5. Find reasons to be
on a college campus for a play, sporting event or presentation
6. Plan a college visit every K12 year
7. Get a college
mentor for your student’s class
8. Use the common
application to apply to college
9. Teach you students to manage their time early. It has
great benefits
10. There are over
6000 colleges there is one for your student
Helping children to believe in themselves is half of the
battle in terms of encouraging them to attend college. They may be the first person I their family
to attend college and they feel overwhelmed.
You should reassure them of what they can accomplish. Teachers can talk about people who are living
today who’ve graduated from college too.
A lot of students need to see living examples of college graduates. You can invite them to your classroom to talk
about their career experiences. You can
work with your students to create questions that they can ask to your
speaker. Sometimes that quite student
who never makes a noise will have a question.
You never know the profession that I child will pursue. The television and other media should not be
the only way that students are able to identify a career. Every student has
great potential. Find creative ways to
involve them in the learning process and they will have a thirst for knowledge
and college. Dr Stephen Jones is a college preparation expert, author,
consultant and educator. He recently
released the Ultimate College Preparation Kit at http://www.studyskills2u.weebly.com/books.html
. You can reach him at stephenjoness@rcn.com
or 610-842-3843.