Roadmap to College - 9th Grade

Eight down and four to go! I am talking about school. Your child has completed eight years elementary and middle school. In four years your child will be graduating from high school and going to college or the world of work. Now is the time to start planning for your child to go to college.


Here are some tips:

1. Encourage your child to get involved in clubs and other school related events. Colleges want a student that is well rounded.

2. Stay focused academically. Your GPA will be an important number as yo begin 9th grade. You will have your 9^th grade, 10^th grade, 11^th grade, and from August to December of your 12^th grade year to calculate your GPA. By the time January of your senior year comes you will be completing college applications and the only GPA you will have will be the one from December. Hint, Hint, Clue, Clue, your GPA of your last 4 months of high school does not count when you are applying to college.  Of course you will submit your final transcript to the college of your choice, but the college admission board will have seen your GPA from the past 3 ½ years.  Keep those good grades up!


3. Start recording your activities, classes, and other activities. By the time you get to your 12^th grade year you will have forgotten everything you did in 9^th grade.  See post entitled: A Sample Resume to create a template for your resume or checklist.

4. Encourage your child to volunteer and hold leadership position in activities.


5. Engage in community service, volunteer for community walks, health fairs, senior citizens centers, hospitals, churches, etc.


6. Read, Read, Read and Read some more.


7. Parents movitate and keep track of your child's progress.

Roadmap to College - Tips for Summer after 9th Grade

CONGRATUALTIONS!!  You have stayed focused and are almost finished with your 9th grade year.  It is now time to plan your summer. 

Summertime
Start thinking about a summer job.  Even if your family goes on vacation each year, there is enough weeks in the summer for your child to obtain a job.  Think outside of the box, even if your child does not work for a major food chain or retailer, there is always the job of yard maintenance and baby sitting.  If your child can play a musical, they can offer to play for a church or youth group if the regular musician is on vacation during the summer.  This is a great time to look at what your child is interested in as it relates to college.

Summer Reading Lists
B4Literacy encourages reading at all times but defiantly during summer.  Be sure to read books that are at your reading level or above.  It does not matter what you read, this is your time to read for enjoyment not the school year assignments.  Search the Internet for Summer Reading List of books you enjoy!

10 tips for success in school

Dear Readers,

Here are a few tips to stay ahead in class:

1. Sit close to the front of the classroom if you do not have assigned seats.
2. Participate in classroom discussions.
3. Ask questions, if there is something you do not understand.  You are not the only person who has a question.
4. Keep up with class assignments and homework.  Always complete them before the due date
5. Always ask your teachers for help so you can keep up in class.
6. Keep your skills sharp by reading and doing extra problems or skill sets in your classes.
7. Learn how to type so you can type your papers, this is what you will be doing in high school.
8. Take good class notes and review them before tests.
9. Learn how to proofread, correct, and rewrite your written work.
10. Develop test-taking skills.

December - Special Events

Dear Readers,

When you think of the month of December, Christmas is probably the first thing that comes to mind. There are many other special events that are worth celebrating.

Rosa Parks - She did not give up her seat on a bus on 12/1/1955

Pearl Harbor Rememberance Day - 12/7/1941

Emily Dickinson's Birthday - 12/10/1830

National Cocoa Day - 12/13

Bill of Rights Anniversary - 12/15/1791

Boston Tea Party Occured 12/16/1773

Hanukkah Begins at Sundown 12/20

Christmas 12/25

Kwanzaa Begins 12/26

Just an ordinary 8th grader...

Dear Readers,

Let's pretend I am in the 8th grade.  My days are so busy, they are filled with school work, classes such as English, Math, Social Studies, Writing, Reading, Music, and P.E.  I have so much to learn in all of my classes.  I have homework, homework, homework and more homework from school.  At home I also have to do my chores, talk to my friends on the phone, send texts to my friends and post on my instagram among other things. 

When do I have time to think about college?  Yes, I think I know what I want to be when I grow up but what steps do I take and how long will it take to get there?

Keep your options open - Research the field of study to make sure this is going to be your career choice.  Shadow someone in the field of study that you are interested in.

You have plenty of time, but you will have to prepare properly to determine what interests you, find out what you are good at and how to put the two together to form your career or field of study.

So just keep your options open...

International Literacy Day

 

 

National International Literacy Day was first on November 17, 1965 by UNESCO and it was first celebrated in 1966. Its goal was to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies.

 

This day focuses on worldwide literacy needs.  Did you know that over 774 million adults in the world do not know how to read or write.  Surprisingly 123 million children in today's society do not have reading and writing skills and some are denied access to education.

 

 

Sources:

Wikipedia.org

International Reading Association

 

 

National Read a Book Day

 

 

Did you remember to READ today? It is National Read A Book Day!
B4Literacy challenges everyone to read a book to yourself, your child, your family, friends, or co-workers.

Think about those who are unable to read and read to them or teach them to read so they can join you in reading next year.

We are encouraging everyone to read 20 to 30 minutes or more today!