General Discussion - The Freshman Transition Network2024-03-28T09:00:12Zhttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/forum/categories/general-discussion/listForCategory?feed=yes&xn_auth=noMentors as part of Freshman Transitiontag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2015-08-25:2630686:Topic:531852015-08-25T22:52:13.962ZJohn Morganhttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/JohnMorgan
Does anyone have experience or knowledge related to using upperclassmen as mentors for freshman students as part of their transition program? Ideally I would have liked to have our transition program in place first, but I inherited a situation where we have a group of mentors but not much else. This is also the first year for the mentors. While we work on a true transition program, we are looking for ways to effectively use this cadre of mentors. We have a schedule where two days a week we have…
Does anyone have experience or knowledge related to using upperclassmen as mentors for freshman students as part of their transition program? Ideally I would have liked to have our transition program in place first, but I inherited a situation where we have a group of mentors but not much else. This is also the first year for the mentors. While we work on a true transition program, we are looking for ways to effectively use this cadre of mentors. We have a schedule where two days a week we have a block schedule: on those days our students have BKT or "Black Knight Time" which we are still trying to define. Definite potential, students are in these as classes with teachers by grade level. Our plan is to try to push our mentors out into these BKT's to work with freshmen. BKT's are 35 min. Any help, suggestions, or resources are appreciated. Starting a transition programtag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2014-05-01:2630686:Topic:415502014-05-01T14:39:28.326ZGary Kiddhttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/GaryKidd
<p>Our administrative leadership team is starting the planning process to have a transition program in place beginning in Fall, 2015. We would appreciate any feedback about successes/landmines than anyone is willing to share as we begin our journey.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Our administrative leadership team is starting the planning process to have a transition program in place beginning in Fall, 2015. We would appreciate any feedback about successes/landmines than anyone is willing to share as we begin our journey.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Thanks</p> Elective Choices for Freshmentag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2014-02-12:2630686:Topic:407952014-02-12T13:46:26.238ZLori Morrellhttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/LoriMorrell
<p>After visiting a few schools that have freshman transition programs, I discovered that they offer about half the elective choices to their 9th graders than we do. The mindset is that too many choices are confusing and stressful to parents and students. Any thoughts on this?</p>
<p>After visiting a few schools that have freshman transition programs, I discovered that they offer about half the elective choices to their 9th graders than we do. The mindset is that too many choices are confusing and stressful to parents and students. Any thoughts on this?</p> Re-freshing Freshmentag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2014-02-07:2630686:Topic:409372014-02-07T13:37:13.669ZGary Birdwellhttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/GaryBirdwell
<p>Hi Folks - I have not posted for quite a while. Here at Urbandale High School we are currently in our 8th year of a 9th Grade House / SLC project. And, while our results are quite well in general, I feel as if we are hitting kind of a plateau and need some ideas for reinvigorating things. </p>
<p>Along with two others, I am the only member of our original team. Others have gotten smart, and moved out of education, while others have taken on new roles in the district. And, while the…</p>
<p>Hi Folks - I have not posted for quite a while. Here at Urbandale High School we are currently in our 8th year of a 9th Grade House / SLC project. And, while our results are quite well in general, I feel as if we are hitting kind of a plateau and need some ideas for reinvigorating things. </p>
<p>Along with two others, I am the only member of our original team. Others have gotten smart, and moved out of education, while others have taken on new roles in the district. And, while the newer members of the team are well qualified individuals and have the best interests of the students in heart and mind, I feel as if some of our "mojo" is gone. We have not had any quality new initiatives in quite some time. It feels as if we are in constant re-tread mode.</p>
<p>In an effort to boost things, we are currently using "The Ninth Grade Opportunity" as a book study during our common planning time. That has provided some good discussions, but it seems as if the conversation always turns to me saying "well, been there, done that".</p>
<p>I am looking for some ideas on how to reignite the fire that we took off with several years ago. I don't know if it is me (and if it is I am completely embarrassed) or just the necessity with which we started is no longer there. If anyone has some suggestions, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THEM!!</p>
<p></p>
<p>Yours in education</p>
<p></p>
<p>Gary Birdwell<br/>Urbandale High School</p>
<p><a href="http://www.urbandaleschools.com">www.urbandaleschools.com</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.j-hawks.com">www.j-hawks.com</a></p> Schedulingtag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2013-08-06:2630686:Topic:382982013-08-06T21:48:22.054ZPaul Torgersonhttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/PaulTorgerson
<p>We are currently looking at having a modified block schedule which will allow us to see our freshman once a week, broken into 4 groups, in a 70 minute setting, kind of like a set advisory period.We are a small school with about 95 incoming freshman. I would appreciate feedback on the following:</p>
<p>1. Is 70 minutes too long? </p>
<p>2. Are we missing the mark by not incorporating our Freshman Success program into the freshman core classes? Our freshman team is made up of the four main…</p>
<p>We are currently looking at having a modified block schedule which will allow us to see our freshman once a week, broken into 4 groups, in a 70 minute setting, kind of like a set advisory period.We are a small school with about 95 incoming freshman. I would appreciate feedback on the following:</p>
<p>1. Is 70 minutes too long? </p>
<p>2. Are we missing the mark by not incorporating our Freshman Success program into the freshman core classes? Our freshman team is made up of the four main teachers that will be teaching the freshman in their core classes. </p> Mission Statement/Goal for Freshman Learning Communitytag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2013-05-24:2630686:Topic:374212013-05-24T04:14:37.377ZChase Tuttlehttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/ChaseTuttle
<p>I was curious if others would share their Mission Statement or Goal for their FLC. I am hoping to help make some changes at my school's Freshman Academy and would love to start with the mission. I need some help however. So anyone who has a mission statement or example that they could share would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Thanks!!</p>
<p>I was curious if others would share their Mission Statement or Goal for their FLC. I am hoping to help make some changes at my school's Freshman Academy and would love to start with the mission. I need some help however. So anyone who has a mission statement or example that they could share would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Thanks!!</p> Social Mediatag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2013-04-22:2630686:Topic:371982013-04-22T00:24:31.763ZDarrell Medleyhttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/DarrellMedley
<p>I was hoping to get some input on how you handle social media issues in school. My support personnel and administrative team are working overtime to combat the issues that students create and bring into the school that we end up dealing with. Almost every student has a cell phone with internet access and almost all students have a facebook, twitter, or instagram account and they utilize these media formats to bully, harass, and promote their dislike with each other. </p>
<p>I have held…</p>
<p>I was hoping to get some input on how you handle social media issues in school. My support personnel and administrative team are working overtime to combat the issues that students create and bring into the school that we end up dealing with. Almost every student has a cell phone with internet access and almost all students have a facebook, twitter, or instagram account and they utilize these media formats to bully, harass, and promote their dislike with each other. </p>
<p>I have held parent meetings to discuss the legal, emotional, and educational impact of social media but there seems to be no diminishing the issue. I am open to suggestions and if anyone has an idea or something they have tried in their school that has worked. </p>
<p>Any advice is appreciated.</p>
<p></p> Professional Development Opportunities in NH/MA/MEtag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2013-02-21:2630686:Topic:350792013-02-21T13:21:52.689ZBeth Kaputahttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/BethKaputa
<p>I am part of a team looking at our current freshmen transition. We would like to implement a program for 2014-15 school year. We are looking for some good professional development opportunities focused on issues relating to freshmen and are having a hard time finding any local to the Boston/New Hampshire or Southern Maine.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Can anyone recommend any good sources, workshops or conferences?</p>
<p></p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p></p>
<p>Beth</p>
<p>I am part of a team looking at our current freshmen transition. We would like to implement a program for 2014-15 school year. We are looking for some good professional development opportunities focused on issues relating to freshmen and are having a hard time finding any local to the Boston/New Hampshire or Southern Maine.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Can anyone recommend any good sources, workshops or conferences?</p>
<p></p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p></p>
<p>Beth</p> Transition Activitiestag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2012-03-14:2630686:Topic:314772012-03-14T14:56:03.576ZErin Hibbitthttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/ErinHibbitt
<p>Our school is planning on inviting the current 8th graders to the high school for about an hour and a half in May, and then we are doing another Freshman day in August. Does anyone else do this type of transition activities? What types of things do you do? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>Our school is planning on inviting the current 8th graders to the high school for about an hour and a half in May, and then we are doing another Freshman day in August. Does anyone else do this type of transition activities? What types of things do you do? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!</p> I should have introduced myself a while ago!tag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2011-09-06:2630686:Topic:225262011-09-06T12:41:41.044ZJustin Mayohttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/JustinMayo
<p>Hello everyone. For the past year I have been gathering information from this network that has been very valuable. I suppose it is time for me to formally introduce myself!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My name is Justin Mayo and I am the Director of the Freshman Academy at Glenbard East High School. The program was started about 7 years ago and we have found it to be very helpful in our students transition into high school. The program is designed to make our large high school (approximately 2700)…</p>
<p>Hello everyone. For the past year I have been gathering information from this network that has been very valuable. I suppose it is time for me to formally introduce myself!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My name is Justin Mayo and I am the Director of the Freshman Academy at Glenbard East High School. The program was started about 7 years ago and we have found it to be very helpful in our students transition into high school. The program is designed to make our large high school (approximately 2700) feel smaller for our freshman students. Each freshman student is divided into a different "House." Each House has a different set of teachers in it (including math, English, social studies, science, and 1-2 elective areas), one of whom leads that particular house. Each student has at least three teachers within that house. This group of teachers meet each week to discuss student achievement, implement student intervention, and participate in collegial discussions on freshman-related topics.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Having been on the original school improvement team that created the Academy, and now as the Director, I am very proud of the accomplishments we have made for our school. I would be more than happy to answer questions about our Academy and am looking for professional development opportunities I may be able to provide for my team leaders. Thanks for reading!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Justin Mayo</p>