College selection, application workflows, and financial aid navigation including FAFSA and scholarship acquisition. Builds skills in personal statement writing and career exploration to align post-secondary choices with long-term professional goals.
A game-inspired goal-setting activity designed for parent-teacher conferences, focusing on identifying student strengths and growth areas through a 'future quest' lens.
A project-based learning experience for high school seniors to bridge the gap between their 'Reality Check' lifestyle results and actual financial planning, featuring career research, tax calculations, and a 'Curveball' challenge.
A reflective 30-minute lesson where 8th-grade students consolidate their top executive functioning or social-emotional strategies, celebrate 20 weeks of growth, and create a sustainable plan for future self-reliance.
A 3-hour foundational session covering personal strengths, professional behavior, and basic application skills. Includes hands-on activities tailored for individual instruction and accessible learning.
Students will analyze the difference between external pressures (expectations from parents and peers) and internal motivations regarding their post-high school plans, using a nautical-themed video as a central metaphor.
A nautical-themed lesson where students use an ocean metaphor to visualize their post-secondary plans, identify their support systems, and research future resources.
A mental health and future-planning lesson that helps upper high school students navigate the anxiety of post-graduation life by reframing negative 'what-if' spirals into actionable inquiries using nautical metaphors.
A career exploration lesson for 11th and 12th graders focusing on the 'ocean of possibilities' after high school. Students analyze a video metaphor, define post-secondary options, and research various paths including trade schools, gap years, and the workforce.
This lesson helps 8th-grade students transition to high school by using backward design to plan their futures. Students participate in a 'Lifestyle Auction' to identify their values, watch a video on Maria's career planning strategy, and reverse-engineer career paths that align with their desired lifestyle and education goals.
Students prepare for academic counseling by performing a self-assessment and drafting a professional inquiry to initiate a conversation about their post-secondary pathways.
This lesson helps 9th and 10th-grade students explore four primary post-secondary pathways (College, Trade School, Military, and Direct Workforce) while debunking the myth that career choices at age 18 are permanent. Students engage with a video case study, perform a collaborative 'Research Sprint', and reflect on how flexibility in career planning reduces stress.
A parent workshop designed to help families navigate post-secondary planning conversations with empathy and curiosity rather than anxiety. Parents will analyze a student's perspective on future-planning stress and practice reframing 'the big question' into smaller, more meaningful inquiries about interests and values.
A career exploration lesson for 8th and 9th graders based on the 'Life with Maria' framework, focusing on identifying personal interests, skills, lifestyle preferences, and beliefs to create a future plan.
A lesson focused on helping high school students discover their 'Ikigai' by identifying the intersection of their passions, skills, the world's needs, and career potential. Based on Jay Shetty's workshop.
Students will use Jay Shetty's Quadrant of Success to audit their time and identify 'Potential' areas for growth. They will differentiate between current skills and the investment required to turn interests into passions.
Students will challenge the misconception that passion is defined only by specific hobbies/careers, reframing it as an 'environment' using the DISC personality model.
A career counseling lesson focused on the 80/10/10 rule for time management, helping students align their weekly schedules with their passions and strengths to achieve long-term professional fulfillment.
A comprehensive guide for college-bound 12th graders interested in biology and plant sciences, focusing on academic success and personal well-being.
A 2-hour intensive workshop where students discover their career interests via O*NET, distinguish between hard and soft skills, and learn how to develop and transfer their abilities to the workplace. Includes reading, role-playing, and hands-on worksheets.
A lesson designed to help students explore and document postsecondary education pathways in cartooning and digital art, focusing on program requirements and student support services.
A comprehensive Student Learning Target (SLT) package for 9th-grade counselors focusing on Louisiana's TOPS University and TOPS Tech graduation pathways, including assessment tools and professional documentation.
Focuses on exploring personal identity outside of the high school context and identifying core values that will guide decision-making in college.
A comprehensive career and postsecondary exploration lesson for elementary students, focusing on identifying diverse paths and gathering information about future goals.
A college-readiness lesson focused on identifying high-functioning anxiety and 'future-tripping' through the lens of the Circle of Control. Students analyze a Psych2Go video to understand catastrophizing and practice mindfulness to manage stress about life after graduation.
A 30-minute lesson designed for high school seniors preparing for the transition to college or the workforce, focusing on practical sleep strategies and self-advocacy.
A welcoming lesson for newcomer students to explore the diverse extracurricular opportunities at Warren Township High School District 121, provided in both English and Spanish with simplified language.
A comprehensive lesson designed for high school students to explore potential college majors and career paths using a structured research framework. Students will learn how to navigate professional databases and align their personal interests with academic and professional goals.
A comprehensive lesson for high school students with intellectual disabilities to explore and compare post-secondary education routes, focusing on personal preferences, support needs, and practical considerations like cost and location.
A first-meeting transition session designed to build rapport and gather information about a student's future goals for school, career, and independent living through a low-pressure, visual 'blueprint' theme.
Students synthesize their learning into a professional transition one-pager that summarizes their specific assistive technology needs and legal rights.
Practical troubleshooting for digital barriers, including identifying inaccessible files and finding technical workarounds or contact persons.
Students practice professional communication and self-advocacy by simulating requests for accommodations in college and workplace settings.
A deep dive into the legal frameworks of the ADA and Section 504 as they apply to digital accessibility in higher education and the workplace.
Students explore Dual Coding Theory and analyze their personal reading data to understand how eye-reading and ear-reading interact to improve comprehension and reduce fatigue.
Students finalize and present their 'Survival Guides,' explaining their strategies for maintaining low emotional vulnerability through physical health.
Students draft a comprehensive wellness plan for their first month away from home, identifying local resources and setting non-negotiable standards for sleep and illness management.
Students role-play scenarios involving social pressures that conflict with physical maintenance. They develop refusal skills and compromise strategies that protect their biological baseline.
Students create a budget that prioritizes the resources needed for the PLEASE skills, such as healthy food and medication, recognizing that cutting costs here leads to emotional costs later.
Students brainstorm the changes in structure they will face post-graduation and map how these changes threaten the PLEASE skills. They create a risk assessment for their first year of independence.
The sequence concludes with students building a multi-year funding strategy that accounts for application cycles, research phases, and diverse revenue streams. They create a master calendar integrating preparation time, deadlines, and announcement dates.
Students learn strategies for contacting program officers and potential faculty mentors to inquire about funding availability. The lesson covers email etiquette, elevator pitches, and how to ask about supplemental funding.
Students perform a rhetorical analysis of mission statements and profiles of previous award winners for top-tier fellowships. This reverse-engineering process helps students understand the implicit criteria and values of funding bodies.
This lesson moves beyond general search engines to utilize specialized databases (like pivot or Grants.gov) and professional society listings. Students conduct a 'deep dive' search to find high-value, low-competition opportunities specific to their discipline.
Students explore the hierarchy of graduate funding, distinguishing between internal assistantships, external portable fellowships, and specific research grants. They analyze the benefits and restrictions of each type to determine which best supports their academic trajectory.
Students synthesize their learning by creating a personal Advocacy Card or Profile. They practice formal disclosure of their processing needs for college or workplace environments.
Learners apply their advocacy skills in high-stakes scenarios with authority figures like bosses, doctors, or police. They use a fishbowl technique to observe and refine their approach to difficult conversations.
Students learn the 'Stop and Jot' strategy to create external memory anchors. They practice using single keywords to hold their place in a sequence of instructions.
Learners develop and practice professional scripts for interrupting and requesting information be broken down. The focus is on tone, timing, and professional communication in workplace and academic environments.
Students identify their personal 'tipping point' for auditory and visual information through memory games and limit tests. They explore the concept of cognitive overload and how it impacts their ability to follow complex instructions.
A 30-minute Social Emotional Learning lesson where 5th graders reflect on their growth and write letters to their future selves about using SEL skills in middle school.
A comprehensive lesson focused on self-reflection and personal branding. Students review their growth, identify their current strengths and skills, and learn to present themselves positively to achieve their future goals.
A comprehensive one-day lesson designed to guide high school seniors through the process of writing and formatting their Capstone Project paper for their online portfolios. The lesson focuses on structural integrity, professional digital formatting, and reflective writing techniques.
A comprehensive guide for high school juniors to master college test prep and scholarship searching using EBSCO PrepStep, incorporating active learning strategies.
Prepare for independence by developing a concrete post-secondary action plan and mastering essential life skills like budgeting and time management.
Demystify financial aid by exploring FAFSA, scholarships, grants, and loans to ensure higher education is financially accessible.
Master the college application process with strategic planning, effective storytelling in essays, and organizational tools to stay on track.
Explore various career paths and understand the differences between 2-year colleges, 4-year universities, and trade schools to make informed decisions.
Through structured peer review and 'ruthless editing' challenges, students finalize their fellowship narratives, focusing on impact and word count precision.
Students practice rhetorical flexibility by adapting their core narrative for different types of funders, from research-heavy agencies to community-focused foundations.
This lesson focuses on creating logical flow between a student's past trajectory, current research, and future career goals, ensuring a cohesive and persuasive argument for funding.
Using reflective writing and guided exercises like the 'Six-Word Memoir,' students identify pivotal moments and anchor stories that humanize their academic profile.
Students analyze prompts from major fellowship applications to identify explicit and implicit requirements, learning to map their responses to specific review criteria like 'Intellectual Merit' and 'Broader Impacts.'
In this culminating workshop, students take raw, unformatted text and transform it into a submission-ready academic paper (APA/MLA style) using only keyboard commands.
Students learn to access the application menu or ribbon (using Alt keys in Windows or Help search in Mac) to execute complex commands that do not have standard hotkeys.
This lesson covers applying character formatting (Bold, Italic) and paragraph alignment via shortcuts. Students also learn to apply Styles (Headings) to ensure document accessibility and structure.
Building on movement, students practice selecting text blocks efficiently (Shift + modifiers). They combine selection with cut, copy, and paste commands to restructure arguments and paragraphs fluidly.
Students learn to move the cursor by character, word, and paragraph using modifier keys (Ctrl/Option). This lesson emphasizes the difference between visual scanning and structural navigation within a text block.
A structured workshop session where students use a rubric to provide and receive constructive feedback on their essay drafts.
Students practice adapting a core personal story to address various scholarship prompts, learning the art of the 'pivot.'
A 45-minute workshop for parents focusing on student anxiety regarding life after high school. Parents explore the 'Ocean of Possibility' metaphor, reflect on their own experiences, and practice supportive communication strategies.
A presentation and tracking guide for Arlington High School students to find, execute, and record summer community service hours.
A comprehensive 2-day lesson exploring diverse post-secondary pathways for high school students with learning disabilities, focusing on self-advocacy, comparison of options, and personal fit.
A professional set of documentation tools for school counselors to track sessions, analyze trends, and report impact.
A cumulative review of all topics followed by the post-test to measure student learning and growth.
Investigating Psychology and Business Administration majors, comparing entry-level roles with those requiring a Master's degree.
Focusing on the strategic differences between Early Action and Early Decision, including the binding nature of ED.
Introduction to the course, establishing goals, and administering the pre-test to gauge baseline knowledge of the college application process.
A comprehensive assessment pair designed to measure high school students' growth in college application knowledge, financial aid literacy, and admissions terminology.
A comprehensive guide for students to understand the TELPAS and TSIA2 assessments, focusing on their purpose, format, and importance for college and career readiness.
Students synthesize their knowledge to create a personalized 'FAFSA Readiness Kit.' They identify specific documents they need to gather, outline conversations with guardians, and map out critical deadlines for federal, state, and institutional aid.
Students learn to locate and interpret the specific lines on IRS Form 1040 that are required for FAFSA reporting. The lesson explains the 'prior-prior year' tax rule and the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, practicing data transfer from sample tax forms to a mock FAFSA worksheet.
Students navigate the complex rules regarding dependency status to determine if they need to provide parental information. Through a series of hypothetical scenarios involving divorce, remarriage, legal guardianship, and homelessness, students apply FAFSA guidelines to determine the correct 'contributor' for their application.
Students learn the function and security requirements of the FSA ID, which serves as the legal digital signature for the FAFSA. The lesson covers the process of creating an account for both the student and the parent/contributor, emphasizing data security and password management.
Students investigate the different types of financial aid available through the FAFSA, including Pell Grants, subsidized versus unsubsidized loans, and work-study programs. They analyze sample financial aid award letters to understand how FAFSA data translates into real-world dollars.
Students synthesize their research and goals into a comprehensive post-graduation action plan and celebrate their progress as a group.
Students develop professional assets like resumes and practice interview skills to prepare for the workforce or internship opportunities.
Students explore financial aid options, including FAFSA/CADAA, grants, and scholarships, to build a sustainable plan for funding their education.
A culminating mock interview experience followed by instruction on professional follow-up etiquette and managing outcomes.
Focuses on managing unexpected or abstract questions by demonstrating visible reasoning and intellectual poise.
Students master the STAR method to answer behavioral questions and develop a strategic 'story bank' of professional experiences.
A mastery-focused session on technical compliance, formatting, and the final quality assurance checks required before submission.
Students craft and refine a compelling 90-second summary of their research impact, practicing delivery for diverse audiences.
Students analyze different fellowship interview styles—panel, one-on-one, and social—and decode the underlying expectations of selection committees.
An audit of the student's digital footprint to ensure professional alignment across platforms like LinkedIn and ResearchGate.
Students workshop their academic CVs to highlight funding-specific achievements and optimize for the '30-second scan' used by reviewers.
Focuses on the professional etiquette and strategic preparation needed to secure high-impact letters of recommendation through comprehensive recommender packets.
Students learn to apply project management principles to application cycles, creating a robust digital tracking system to manage deadlines and requirements.
A 30-minute Social-Emotional Learning lesson where 5th-grade students reflect on their growth and write a letter to their future selves about using SEL skills in middle school.
A comprehensive set of tools designed to help college students deconstruct a large research paper into manageable phases with a focus on time management and meeting deadlines.
This lesson introduces high school juniors to their Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP), focusing on self-assessment, graduation requirements, and setting foundational goals for their penultimate high school year.
Students practice prioritizing easy questions and budgeting time to build momentum and reduce stress during exams.
This lesson introduces students to the ACT WorkKeys assessment, highlighting its significance in career readiness and the benefits of earning a National Career Readiness Certificate.
A comprehensive career and life planning lesson for high school students to explore post-secondary options, align their values with career paths, and create an actionable life blueprint.
A reflective journey for high school students to discover their unique strengths and passions, mapping them to future academic and career pathways.
General administrative and overview resources for the High School Blueprint curriculum, including parent communications and promotional materials.
Setting personal goals for freshman year and celebrating the completion of the group.
Developing coping strategies for increased stress and learning when to ask for help.
Exploring extracurricular activities, clubs, and finding community outside the classroom.
Understanding GPA, credits, graduation requirements, and study habits.
Navigating new social circles, lunchroom dynamics, and maintaining healthy friendships.
A comprehensive guide for adults navigating the Massachusetts teacher licensure process, covering pathways, MTEL requirements, and the ELAR application system.
A culminating project where students map out their own potential paths based on their personal interests and career goals.
Exploring trade schools, apprenticeships, certifications, and military service as viable and rewarding post-secondary paths.
A deep dive into 2-year and 4-year collegiate options, including public vs. private institutions and the types of degrees available.
An introductory lesson defining post-secondary education and exploring why it is important to start thinking about future goals in middle school.
Materials to visualize and implement the Quarter 4 bulletin board themed 'Launching Your Legacy'. Focuses on job retention, alumni success, post-graduation resources, and continuous professional growth.
Resources for teachers to effectively manage, maintain, and utilize the quarterly bulletin boards as instructional tools.
Materials to visualize and implement the Quarter 3 bulletin board themed 'Preparing for Life After TRC'. Focuses on workplace expectations, transition planning, and life skills for independence.
Materials to visualize and implement the Quarter 2 bulletin board themed 'Building Skills That Lead to Jobs'. Focuses on soft skills, professional communication, and stress management.
A comprehensive set of materials to visualize and implement the Quarter 1 bulletin board themed 'Getting Grounded at TRC'. Includes a layout blueprint and individual printable components for the board's four main focus areas.
A realistic and empowering lesson designed for high school seniors facing economic anxiety. It provides strategic insights into job market trends, alternative career paths, and financial agency in a challenging economy.
A first-year seminar lesson designed to help undergraduate students audit their degree plans and identify opportunities to accelerate their education through CLEP exams, saving both time and money.
Students reflect on 'desirable difficulty' and evaluate their study efficiency, refining their schedules based on metacognitive insights.
A high-intensity study session simulation where students rotate through different subjects to model the cognitive effort of interleaved recall.
Students use backward design to schedule spaced review intervals for future exams, directly addressing executive functioning and time management.
Students audit their current academic load to identify subjects compatible with interleaved spaced repetition and learn to group similar but distinct topics.
A comprehensive lesson where students calculate and analyze the Return on Investment (ROI) for various college degrees and career paths, comparing tuition costs and starting salaries.
A college-prep lesson for 11th-12th graders focused on the financial impact of the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). Students research university credit transfer policies and calculate potential savings to understand the return on investment (ROI) of alternative credit pathways.
Students analyze common scholarship application components and begin creating a 'brag sheet' of their high school accomplishments.
Students build a personalized organization system to track scholarship deadlines, requirements, and application statuses.
Students learn to identify red flags in scholarship offers and develop critical thinking skills to avoid financial aid scams.
Students practice using digital scholarship databases and search engines, focusing on filtering for opportunities available to underclassmen.
Students distinguish between different types of financial aid—loans, grants, work-study, and scholarships—and analyze the long-term impact of debt versus free money.
Students build a personal scholarship tracking system to organize deadlines, requirements, and application statuses.
