(Including Digital Education Portfolios and College Essays)

One common concern for high school students who choose to learn outside of the traditional high school environment is that they may not be able to join (and start) clubs, hold leadership positions, and gain volunteer hours and letters of recommendation that will make them stronger applicants for college. Some students in this situation also worry that they may not possess the study skills to excel in college classes, whether they choose to take community college courses as high school students or want to be working at a high level for when they attend a 4-year university. Another concern is finding a supportive community of like-minded teens. This course has been created to fill these needs as well as others.

This course/council is intended to span the full year and provides a wonderful opportunity for high school students who are interested in developing life skills and study skills, volunteerism, participating in clubs, potentially holding office in the student council, and earning other experience that can prepare them for success as a high schooler and potential college applicant. It provides valuable workshops, activities, and experience that can help with college applications as well as high school and community college coursework in addition to success in life during and beyond high school. The class focuses on personal development, college preparation, and even college essay-writing practice. Among other things, it will include help with the following:

• A mix of  lessons to teach skills, and activities to put those skills into action
• Leadership Skills and Experience
• Researching  Majors
• Researching Colleges
• Writing College Essays (which could be an entire course in itself!)
• Planning (Dual-Enrollment) Community College Path
• Choice of Career and Educational Path
• Job Skills
• Research-Based Coping Skills Workshop
• Study Skills
• Goal-Setting and Goal-Attainment
• Racking and Tracking Volunteer Hours
• Creating Digital Portfolios/Online Resumes 
• Starting and Running Clubs (Potentially)
• Leadership, Communication Skills and Conflict Resolution
• SAT/ACT Planning
• Aptitude Tests
• Virtual College Tours

One of the main benefits of this course is to allow the opportunity for student leadership and to help students gain experiences that they may not be able to find outside of traditional high school.  Students will also be participating in creating a newsletter for Learn Beyond The Book as part of their volunteer service hours. This course may be taken as an elective for high school credit–talk to us about it!

Ages: 14+yo.

About the Teacher:

Dr. Lizzie Scott has a PhD in Psychology, is a published author, has worked with high school students for many years, and knows what helps them grow as students and as people. She has taught this class for several years, has experience with helping high school seniors and college transfer students through the process of successful college applications, and knows what is required for them to have an edge. Both her kids have taken many community college classes as high schoolers and received high grades, and she knows what helps the most.

To register, click here