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College and Career College and Career Preparation
for Middle Schoolers
Melanie Ward and Larissa CarrMercy Education Project
Detroit, MI
Mercy Education ProjectMercy Education Project• Founded in 1992 by Sisters of Mercy• Adult basic education and GED preparation for
womenf h l i f i l d• One‐on‐one after‐school tutoring for girls and
summer program (Emerging Leaders)I S th t D t it di l • In Southwest Detroit – very diverse, large Hispanic population, many homes where English is ot oke o it ithi o itnot spoken, community within a community
Emerging LeadersEmerging Leaders• Began in July 2009• Girls who just finished grades 6‐8• Must live or go to school in Southwest Detroit
i i (d i )• Current capacity is 35 (due to transportation)• Covers college and career awareness, leadership, and teambuildingand teambuilding
WhyWhy• Many programs are geared toward elementary
students• Middle schoolers need a place of their own
t i ll d d• 1st generation college students ‐ need to understand concept of college BEFORE high schoolF l d l ith i S th t D t it• Few role models with careers in Southwest Detroit
• Serving low income families so important to o ide doo to doo t o t tio d e lprovide door to door transportation and meals
Who ‐ ParticipantsWho Participants• Advertise with colorful brochure at local
schools/community events• Use contacts/make contacts at local schools
((social workers, counselors, curriculum coach, principals)S ff b k i l i b d • Staff breaks girls into two groups based on age/maturity
Who StaffWho ‐ Staff• College students or recent grads
i i h fl d• Diversity that reflects your students. Seek bilingual staff if necessaryAl t ff th th • Always overstaff rather than understaff! We have 2 group leaders with each group (16‐18 students) at all with each group (16 18 students) at all times
Who StaffWho ‐ Staff• Staff training in youth development or youth
programming.programming.• Crucial for staff to be independent problem
solvers but know when to get help when necessary
• Extremely important that staff shares values of your organization and has the right of your organization and has the right personality to deal with middle schoolers all day!
Wh C it P t hiWho – Community Partnerships• On site: Gives students and staff a “break”
from each other Art/drama/poetry/music from each other‐ Art/drama/poetry/music groups
• Off site (field trips): Gives students a chance i h h b lkito experience what you have been talking
about ‐ Local colleges and universities (small, large, public, private), museums, recreation
l f lcenters, places of employment. • Critical that partners (especially businesses)
make it interactive and relevant to middle schoolers!
WhereWhere• Critical to have daily programming on a college campus• Makes college familiar and not so scaryg y• Walking from building to building is a foreign concept to them!• Takes them out of their comfort zone• Allows students to be able to say “I did that already. College isn’t so bad!”College isn t so bad!
Field TripsField Trips
Oakland University
Field TripsField Trips
University of Michigan‐Dearborn
Field TripsField Trips
US District Court
Field TripsField Trips
Women owned businesses in downtown Northville
Field TripsField Trips
Woman’s Life Insurance Society
Field TripsField Trips
DTE Energy River Rouge plant
Field TripsField Trips
Henry Ford Museum
Field TripsField Trips
Swimming
WhatWhat• Themed (i.e. Driving, Role Models)• Must be developmentally appropriate –1st year: “Seven Habits for Highly Effective Teens” was too esoteric for middle schoolers and we lost their attention• Include lots of hands on activities (art projects skits icebreakers • Include lots of hands on activities (art projects, skits, icebreakers, and name games) and time for socializing• Make it relevant• Find materials but adjust them to make them work for your students. Even retype if necessary!• Don’t reinvent the wheel. Recycle good ideas in different Don t reinvent the wheel. Recycle good ideas in different contexts!
WhatWhat• Monday ‐ planning day (day off for students)• Tuesday and Wednesday – at UDMTuesday and Wednesday at UDM• Thursdays and Fridays – field trips• Provide structure and routine.
•UDM days: arrive at 8:30, breakfast, outside icebreaker, morning activities, lunch at 12, outside icebreaker, afternoon activities, snack at 3, leave at 3:30
WhatWhat• Family buy‐in
• Orientation – sign all release forms, go over Orientation sign all release forms, go over code of conduct and expectations• Parent Calendar• Provide parents with cell phone numbers (pay as you go phones for summer only).
• Constant communication with parents • Final presentations and lunch on last day
Parent Calendar
College ActivitiesCollege Activities
College “Speed Dating”: Girls were each assigned a college and d ifi i b h ll d i lianswered specific questions about that college doing an online
search. They then shared their college with each other in a speed dating format.
College ActivitiesCollege Activities
College Terms Bingo
College ActivitiesCollege Activities
Making a road map of their future!
College ActivitiesCollege Activities
Giant crossword puzzle of college terms
College ActivitiesCollege Activities
“Step Up” game: Each student received a list of academic achievements They stepped up Step Up game: Each student received a list of academic achievements. They stepped up when their achievement (studied hard, earned a 20 on their ACT, received an associate’s degree, received a bachelor’s degree, etc) was called. Allowed students to truly comprehend the different opportunities that may be available to them with a better education.
Career ActivitiesCareer Activities
“Fortune tellers” with skills/interests and related careers
Career ActivitiesCareer Activities
Career Day – Students interviewed women from a wide variety of careers. Used our Career Day Students interviewed women from a wide variety of careers. Used our contacts (school year volunteers, previous field trip hosts). Some then became school year volunteers the next school year!
Career ActivitiesCareer Activities
Career Day
Career ActivitiesCareer Activities
Career charades (the above is a vet with a rabbit!)
Career ActivitiesCareer Activities
Online career interest surveys
Leadership ActivitiesLeadership Activities
Skits – good attitude vs. bad attitude
Leadership ActivitiesLeadership Activities
Sidewalk chalk positive affirmationsSidewalk chalk – positive affirmations
Leadership ActivitiesLeadership Activities
Ropes course
Leadership ActivitiesLeadership Activities
Community Service – Kids Against Hunger
Leadership ActivitiesLeadership Activities
Community Service – painting over graffiti in their community
Leadership ActivitiesLeadership Activities
Community Service – Helping in the craft room at St. Patrick’s Senior Center
Teambuilding ActivitiesTeambuilding Activities
Team Olympics (field day like activities)
Teambuilding ActivitiesTeambuilding Activities
Which team can build the tallest tower out of paper?
Teambuilding ActivitiesTeambuilding Activities
Which team can build the tallest tower out of marshmallows and spaghetti?
Teambuilding ActivitiesTeambuilding Activities
Blanket games: Can your whole team stay on the blanket but flip it over? Also, hold the blanket up, have a student stand on each side,
whomever says the others’ name first “wins” that person for their team
Teambuilding ActivitiesTeambuilding Activities
Working in teams to prepare their final presentations about what they learned during the summer
How ‐ FundingHow Funding• Staffing – Volunteer agencies, internships,
credit based field workcredit based field work• College and career field trips are free!• Use your contacts for free speakers• Use your contacts for free speakers• Donation letters to local businesses• Adopt a field trip/Adopt a lunch• Adopt‐a‐field trip/Adopt‐a‐lunch
