Ichabod Crane Central School District

Welcome to the Guidance & Counseling Department

Seminar Overview

                                                                             Freshman Seminar
                                                             

                                                                    Fall 2011

                                                Guidance & Counseling Department
                                      HS Counselors: Mrs. Evans, Ms. DeAloe, & Ms. Donohue

                                            Facilitator: Mrs. P Barlow, Teaching Assistant                         

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Location:                        Ichabod Crane High School, Room 213

E-mail Address:           pbarlow@ichabodcrane.org

Voicemail:                     (518) 758-7577 Extension # 4213

Web Page:                   www.ichabodcrane.org
                                       Freshman Seminar

Class Duration:          September 2011-January 2012

Class Semester:        One 42 minute period every other day
                                       20 weeks
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A. Description

This course encompasses activities and learning experiences, which fall outside the bounds of a traditional academic course. Lessons are planned to help students identify personal qualities, match interests with career goals, create a resume, understand workplace rights/responsibilities, practice effective communication, witness group dynamics when working towards a common goal, bullying and other social & emotional skills. Guest speakers may present on subjects such as career opportunities, violence prevention, depression, and course selections.

B. Organization

The course is based on a research-based 9th grade guidance curriculum called the Roads to Success program. It is geared towards helping students build a foundation by setting short-term high school goals and long term career decisions. Topics are chosen by the guidance and counseling department and presented by the facilitator. The program is meant to encourage students to reach their full potential by providing educational tools useful for high school success.

C. Course Objectives

1.To see what respect looks like, classroom responsibilities and successful teamwork and how behavior effects learning environment.
2. To create a visual of past interests and future aspirations and use this information to investigate possible career choices.
3. To review and practice study skills such as organization, following directions, note taking methods and test taking strategies.
4. To create a resume and understand its purpose and uses and save to each students "h-drive".
5. To complete a career interest inventory, research two career choices, and understand the training and education necessary.
6.To have the ability to complete working papers, job applications and to be familiar with workplace rights and responsibilities.
7.To provide students with a community service opportunity.

D. Course Topics

This course will cover the following topics:
1.Respect, Responsibility, & Teamwork
2.Finding common & exploring past interests
3.Bullying
4.Growing Intelligence
5.Community Service
6.Study Skills
7.Resume Writing
8.Career Interest Inventories
9.Jobs for Teens
10.Workplace Rights/Responsibilities
11.Values: The relationship between cost of living and location
12.Guest Speakers


E. Text & Required Supplies

This course is designed to complete each lesson in class. Students will be given a folder to collect daily work. Resumes and interest inventories will be saved on each student’s H-Drive.

F. Grading

Freshman seminar is a non-credit bearing class for all new incoming freshmen and is required for graduation. However, throughout the semester, students will be asked to complete surveys based on course content.

G. Classroom Procedures

Upon entering the classroom before the bell rings students should follow the procedures listed in the order below.
1. Locate your folder, find a seat and put up your name tag
2. Take paper out of your folder and begin the “Do Now” activity on the board
3. After I take attendance, you may submit your answers for the daily puzzle.
4. If you need to use the bathroom, raise your hand with the #1 and I will nod my approval. You MUST sign out on the clipboard with the time you’ve left and take the wooden pass. Upon your return, indicate time you returned, put the pass back and return to your seat quietly.
5. If you want to ask a question, raise your hand. If I am speaking, I will acknowledge you (nod of my head) then you may put your hand down. I will get back to you when I’m done speaking.
6. At the end of class, you will be directed to put your papers and name tags in your folders. Next you will pass it to the student on your left. Please wait for the person on your right to give you the stack of folders. Do NOT shove or slide the folders to the next person.
7. After I have collected the folders, I will dismiss you. Push in your chairs and have a nice day.

H. Tentative Schedule

Sept 6 & 7 Introduction #1: Cultures & Procedures
Sept 8 & 9 Introduction #2: Respect, Responsibility & Teamwork
Sept 12 & 13 Introduction #3: Autobiography Bingo, Me T-shirt activity
Sept 14 & 15 Documentary: Bullied
Sept 16 &19 Growing Intelligence #1 & #2 Changing the brain
Sept 20 &21 Community Service AHA Heart Walk (October 1) information
Sept 22 & 23 Growing Intelligence #3  Brain pruning
Sept 26 & 27 Growing Intelligence #4
Stereotyping limiting aspirations
Sept 28 & 29 Study Skills #1 Time, Space & Organization
Sept 30 & Oct 3 Study Skills #2 Note Taking

Oct 4 & 5 Guest Speaker: Domestic Violence
Oct 6 & 7 Study Skills#3 Test Taking Strategies
Oct 10 HOLIDAY
Oct 11 & 12 Study Skills #4Following Directions
Oct 13 & 14 Guest Speaker:Lynn Seftner, Questar III
Oct 17 & 18 Study Skills #5 Challenge
Oct 19 & 20 Tough Girl/After School Special
October 21 Conference Day
October 25 & 26 Guest, Amy Molloy Albany  Topic:Suicide Prevention
October 27 & 28 Follow Up w/School Psycologist Mrs. Ruiz

October 31 & Nov 1 (computers) Resume Writing #1

Nov 2 & 3 (computers) Resume Writing #2
Nov 4 & 7 Meet & Greet Your Counselors
Nov 8 & 9 (computers) Careers#1 Career Interest Inventories
Nov 10 (computers) Careers#2 Classifying Careers
Nov 11 HOLIDAY
Nov 14 (computers) Careers#2 Classifying Careers
Nov 15 & 16 (computers) Careers#3 Researching Career Choices
Nov 17 & 18 (half days) Guest, Tami Amodio Catholic Charities Topic: Stress
Nov 21 & 22 Working Papers & Job Applications
November 23 Conference Day
Nov 24 & 25 NO SCHOOL
Nov 28 & 29 Values

Nov 30 & Dec 1 Getting & Keeping A Job Guest, Tami Amodio

Dec 2 & Dec 5 Workplace Rights/Responsibilities
Dec 6 & 7 Project Linus
Dec 8 & 9 Project Linus
Dec 12 & 13 Project Linus
Dec 14 & 15 Project Linus
Dec 16 & 19 Transition Survey
Dec 20 & 21
Dec 22 & 23 Speaker/Substance Abuse Tami Amodio & Mary Minahan
WINTER BREAK Dec 26 – Jan 2


Jan 3 & 4
Jan 5 & 6 Radio
Jan 9 & 10 Radio
Jan 11 & 12 Radio
Jan 13 Radio
Jan 16 HOLIDAY
Jan 17 & 18 Clinical Survey (Mrs. Faso)
Jan 19 & 20 Seminar Survey/ Final Activity
January 23 Possible make up snow day


The topic of the day will be written on the board. "Do Now" activities are based on the previous lesson.