STUDENT ENGAGEMENT:

As human beings, we take risks every day. Sometimes they’re big. Most of the time they’re small, but just about every day we take some type of risk. There’s a reason that we take these risks: the possibility of a reward.

 

Give students some example of risk/reward scenarios and ask them to identify the risks, the rewards and what they may choose to do in each situation. Examples of these might include:

 

• You’re in a long line at the store, and running late. Another check-out lane opens.

• Your phone is at 3% and you left your cord at home. The video you’ve been watching has four more minutes.

• You have to finish a report that’s due tomorrow, but a friend has stopped by wanting to play a game.

DIGGING IN:

Just like these small decisions students make every day, choosing classes for high school brings with it the promise of both risk and reward. Today, students will be taking a look at three different types of challenging classes: Honors, Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Credit. Once they have had a chance to understand these three types of classes, they will research available classes at their high school and choose classes that they might consider.

 

Explain to the students that in high school there are a variety of classes to choose from. Just about every academic subject has both a general version and more challenging options for classes.

 

Honors classes are classes where the content is a little more academically advanced than a general class. One of the benefits of taking honors classes is to advance your understanding of the subject. Another benefit is thatHonors classes have what are referred to as “weighted grades.” This means that good grades in these classes will affect your grade more than other classes will. There are Honors classes available to students at all grade levels.

 

Dual Credit classes are more challenging as well, but students taking a Dual Credit class are also earning college credit at the same time as they are earning high school credit. This means that students can save money and time in college by earning these credits for free in high school. Some, but not all Dual Credit classes have weighted grades. Most students take Dual Credit classes in their junior or senior year, but some classes are available at all grades.

 

Advanced Placement classes are like a combination of both of these. Grades in all AP classes are weighted, just like Honors classes, but with AP classes you have the chance to earn college credit as well. Following an AP class, students take an exam, and based upon student performance, they can be awarded with college credit. While the majority of AP classes are taken in the 10th, 11th and 12th grade years, there are a handful of classes available to 9th graders.

Ask students to open their high school’s curriculum guides and find the section listing Honors, Advanced Placement and Dual Credit classes. Give students time (maybe five minutes) to skim through the curriculum guide to review the Honors, Dual Credit and Advanced Placement classes. Once the time has elapsed, ask students to share their examples.

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INTO ACTION:

These classes are challenging to be sure, but just like the choices that we make every day they have the ability to bring rewards with them. Pass out the SWOT Analysis sheet to the students. Today, they will be choosing three challenging classes that they might be interested in taking in high school. They can be Honors, Dual Credit, Advanced Placement or a combination of all three.

 

First, students will identify personal strengths that help them succeed in the classroom and in life in general. Next, they will do the same for personal weaknesses. Then, for each of the three classes that they have chosen, students will identify the opportunities (skills, people, programs and other resources) that will help them succeed in this class. Finally, for each of the three classes, students will list the threats (weaknesses, obstacles and challenges) to their success in this class. An example of a “threat” might be that a student is involved in sports and doesn’t have time to spare. An example of an “opportunity” might be if a student’s older sister has taken the class before.

 

Allow students time to search and find Honors, Dual Credit and Advanced Placement classes on their own. It may be a good idea to have a full list of available Honors, Dual Credit and Advanced Placement courses on hand should students struggle.

 

As students complete their SWOT Analyses, allow them to choose a partner to report out their choices.