Using What’s Next Illinois for High School Planning

Lynn Daguerre, MAProfessional School Counselor

Marcia EllisWNI Manager of Training and Support

Principal_conference_08210_post.pdf

Explanation of Product

What’s Next Illinois is an interactive college and career planning system that provides students with a comprehensive , integrated resource for charting their future path, enabling them to reach farther than they ever thought possible.

Who is it for• Students in elementary through high

school and all levels of post-secondary.

• Parents and guardians assisting their students in college and career planning

• Counselors, teachers, administrators, coaches, and others to help manage the students career and college plans.

Benefits to StudentsStudents can plan for high school, college, and career

Students can study for “free” for the ACT and SAT through TestGear

Benefits to Counselors and Teachers • Counselors and teachers can access several

lesson plans that will assist them in utilizing What’s Next Illinois as a high school, college and career planning

• Counselors and teachers and can use What’s Next Illinois reporting tools to assess whether students have completed career plans, developed high school course plans that are compatible with the students’ career plans

• Counselors can use data to support the Career Development Domain of the ASCA process to show how their work has affected student achievement positively.

• Utilize worksheets to assist students in the process of developing college and career plans

Benefits to Counselors and Teachers

What’s Next Illinois High School Planning TabCreate plans for goalsCreate transition planDevelop portfolioCreate a High School timeline

Timeline covers 7th grade through the college freshman year

Planning for GoalsStudents have to provide answers for the following

Your favorite school subjects:Your most challenging school subjectsWhich of your classes support your career

goals?Which of your school activities support your

career goals?What community activities do you participate

in that support your career goals?

High School Transition PlanHigh School student plans to attendSupport required to successfully

execute the planPersonal benefits from executing the

plan Program student intends to follow

PortfolioCareer PlanningSend and receive messagesReview and manage calendarTrack usage of guidewaysMerge accountsTransfer information from ChoicesComplete journal entries

The High School TimelineAllow students to develop a timeline

that will help them to be successful in high school.

The timeline can be used as a checklist or reminder.

Help students with helpful hints on preparing

7th grade timelineWork at developing good study habits. Successful Study Techniques 

Maintain good grades.   Start saving for college.   Talk to people who have attended college to learn about their experiences.   

7th grade timeline Start thinking about which jobs interest

you.What kinds of work would suit your interests, abilities, aptitudes, values and learning styles? Career FinderCareer, Cluster Survey, Interest Profiler 

Get involved in extracurricular activities like clubs, student organizations, sports and volunteer work.  

7th grade timeline – cont.If you're given opportunities to pursue

academic subjects and extracurricular activities that are new to you, take them!It will help you to expand your outlook.  

Look into additional academic options that may be available in your area, such as magnet programs and school enrichment programs.  

Check out summer programs available in your community.  

Practice your time management skills.Learning to make the most efficient use of your time can help prevent you from getting overwhelmed. Time Management 101 

Improve your reading, writing and math skills.These basic skills will serve you well in both college and career. How to Improve Your Reading Comprehension and How to Write Effectively 

7th grade timeline – cont.

8th grade timeline Counselors, teachers, parents and friends

are all good sources of information.Ask them any questions you have about college, in addition to doing research on your own.  

Study hard!Make sure you use good study habits and keep your grades up. Successful Study Techniques 

8th grade timelineStart saving for college.You might want to consider signing up for a college savings account. College Savings Calculator 

Start thinking about the courses you'll take in 9th grade. Your Plan of Study 

8th grade timeline – cont.

  Find out about academic enrichment programs, including summer and weekend programs, available through your school or local colleges.

  Don't forget about extracurricular activities like sports, performing arts, volunteer work or other activities that interest you.  

8th grade timeline – cont. Investigate Advanced Placement (AP),

International Baccalaureate (IB), and other honors-level courses you can take in high school to help you prepare for college.

  Take the ACT EXPLORE test to evaluate your skills in English, math, reading and science reasoning.It's good practice and your scores won't count towards your college application. ACT Explore Getting Ready for College  

8th grade timeline – cont.Find out from your guidance counselor

what you can do now to start getting ready for college.If you have a choice of classes in junior high, take ones that will challenge you and prepare you for college. Ask about the classes you'll need to take in high school to meet college admission requirements. In Illinois, it's recommended that college-bound students take at least the following high school courses:

8th grade timeline – cont.four years of Englishthree years of mathematics, including

algebra and geometrythree years of laboratory science, including

biology and chemistrythree years of social studies, including

history and governmenttwo years of electives, chosen from foreign

language, music, visual arts, theater, dance and vocational education