South Lakes High School
Office of Student Services
11400 South Lakes Drive
Reston, VA 20191
Academic Advising Guidance Lesson
Counselors: Tracey Albert, Bill Campbell, Lauren Crispino, Madiha Jamil, Jeremy Moffitt, Kari Olsen,
Suzanne Parrotte, Heather Thomas
Career Center Specialist: Karen Burke
Title of Lesson: Academic Advising Lesson
Dates: April 18, 2013
Grade Level: ESOL Level 4
Time Required: 45 minutes
ASCA National Standards:
Standard B: Students will complete school with the academic preparation essential to choose from a
wide range of substantial post-secondary options, including college.
Standard A: Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of
self and to make informed career decisions.
Standard B: Students will employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success and satisfaction.
Standard C: Students will understand the relationship between personal qualities, education, training and
the world of work.
Competency (ies) addressed:
A:B1 Improve Learning
A:B1.5
A:B2 Plan to Achieve Goals
A:B2.4, A:B2.5, A:B2.6, A:B2.7
C:A1 Develop Career Awareness
C:A1.2, C:A1.7
C:B1 Acquire Career Information
C:B1.1
Goal:
The Goal of the ESOL guidance lesson is to assist students in gaining an understanding of the
graduation requirements and learn to read their transcript. Students will create a graduation plan with
their counselor and learn about the post-secondary options.
Objectives:
Students will:
1. Gain a better understanding of the graduation requirement.
2. Identify the meaning of verified credit and cumulative GPA.
3. Demonstrate the understanding of the lesson and create a graduation plan.
Materials/Resources:
Pre/Post Test, Computer, Projector, Projector Screen, Pencil, Graduation Plan, Transcript
Activity:
 Counselor will begin by giving out the Pre-Test & collect it. Then, the counselor will review the
overall graduation requirements as indicated on the power point slide and review requirements
for each subject area. The counselor will check-in after each slide to answer any questions.
 Upon the completion of educating about the graduation requirement, the counselor will review
the various terminology and sections on the transcript. Each student will be given a copy of their
transcript to identify those terms and clarify anything that’s indicated on the transcript. The
counselor will review terms such as GPA – Grade Point Average, Cumulative GPA, Weighted
GPA and Verified Credits.
 Counselor will show how to calculate one’s GPA and give examples.
 After the power point, each counselor will break into individual sessions with their students and
complete the graduation plan with them. Each counselor will review the transcript and assess
how many courses and verified credits a student needs to graduate.
 Once the graduation plan is completed, the counselor will conduct the Post-Test & collect it.
Evaluation:
Process data:
35 ESOL students participated in lesson with the counselors through ESOL level 4 classes.
Perception data:
100% of ESOL level 4 students who attended the lesson completed a survey.
Pre-Test
a. 45 % knew the definition of a verified credit.
b. 20% of the students had seen their transcript.
c. 42% knew what they need to do to meet graduation requirements.
d. 45% were aware of post-secondary options.
e. 34% had met with their school counselor.
f. In the ESOL 4 needs assessment conducted in September 2012, 90 % of students
indicated they are interested in learning little or a lot about academic & career planning.
Post-Test
a. By the end of the lesson, 97% knew the definition of a verified credit.
b. 97% of the students had seen their transcript.
c. 97% knew what they need to do to meet graduation requirements.
d. 94% were aware of post-secondary options.
e. 94% had met with their school counselor.
f. 94% of the students found the academic advising lesson to be helpful.
Results data:
98% of students remain enrolled in school for the 2013/2014 school year. (1 student dropped out)
85% of students were promoted to the next grade level. (1 student retained due to grades, 4 students
retained due to ESOL course sequencing)
79% of students successfully passed the WIDA Exam and exited the ESOL program (1 student refused
services, 1 student was placed back in Level 3, and 5 students remained in Level 4).
53% of students increased their WIDA score by 1 point or more, 21% of students increased their score
by 0.5 to 0.9 points, and 26% of students increased their score by less than 0.5 points (1 students' score
decreased)
How was the evaluation conducted?
Students completed a pre- and post- test answering 5 questions in the pre-test with a likert scale of agree,
unsure, or disagree. In the post-test, they answered the same questions along with an additional one
asking if the lesson was helpful.
GRADUATION PLAN
Name:
Date:
What diploma type are you planning on earning?
How many standard credits do you need to have to earn this diploma?
How many verified credits do you need to have to earn this diploma?
What is your current cumulative GPA? _______________________________
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
English
Social Studies
Mathematics
Science
Foreign
Language
Health/PE
Practical/Fine
Art
Elective(s)
SOLs
Verified Credit Summary
Math
Science
English
Social Science
VR Credits Earned
VR Credits Needed