New Teacher Institute Content Days: Road to and Through College

Day 1, Webinar 1 (P.M.). Click here to access the materials for this session.

RTTC Curriculum Overview

I. RTTC & College Readiness
4 Main Buckets of College Readiness

College-
Academic
Graduate
Readiness
Identity

Academic Readiness
 Test Prep
 “On-Track to Graduate”
grades support
 Rigorous classes, A.P. for
all
 Organization Skills
 Note-Taking Skills
 Time Management
 Goal setting & Monitoring
Community
College
Involvement &
Knowledge
Citizenship
Community
College-Graduate Identity College Knowledge Involvement &
Citizenship
 Relationship building with  Road to and Through College  125 hours of
students curriculum (every other day class community service for
 Strengths-finding and for Grades 9-12) graduation
character development  Match & Fit Conversations  Involvement in clubs
 Purposeful reflection  Great College Lists and organizations on-
 Career and college connections  Quality Application Campaign and off-campus
 Monthly middle school college  Collegiate Summer Away  Leadership support
lessons Programs  IDEA summer
 Parent Workshops  Financial Aid Campaign internships

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II. IDEA College Readiness Standards

A. Academic Readiness Strands

1. Growth Mindset
2. Goal Setting
3. GPA
4. Organization
5. Writing
6. Presentation
7. Collaboration & Communication
8. Ownership of Learning

B. College Graduate Identity Strands

9. Self-Appraisal
10. Self-Advocacy
11. Self-Regulation
12. Critical Consciousness
13. Social Belonging
14. Motivation

C. College Knowledge Strands

15. College Exploration

16. Application Aptitude
17. Resume
18. Personal Statement
19. Letters of Recommendation
20. College Support
21. Majors & Careers
22. Financial Aid

D. Community Involvement & Citizenship Strands (includes some dual-coded standards)

23. Civic Engagement

24. Financial Literacy

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III. RTTC Course Sequence

A. Overview

RTTC I: Envisioning the Path to College; Exploration of Self

RTTC II: Envisioning College & Beyond; Relationship Between Self, Others & Society

RTTC III: Preparing to Make College a Reality; CSAP

RTTC IV: College Applications; Thriving in College & Beyond

 B. Strand Highlights

Strand Focus Questions Students will finish the year with…

How do I succeed in high school? • Skills that will help students to take ownership and succeed
th
9 Grade in high school and beyond, such as: goal setting, organization,
RTTC I Who am I and what do I have to offer? time management, note-taking, and study skills
• The ability to articulate their character strengths and how to
leverage those strengths
What do I envision for myself in the
• An awareness of the factors and experiences that have
future? shaped their identity
• Strategies to strengthen their growth mindset and delay
How can college help me to achieve gratification in pursuit of greater future rewards
my goals and dreams? • Increased proficiency in emotional intelligence and strategies
to regulate emotions and manage stress
How can I prepare myself to be the • Preliminary exploration of their interests and possible college
most competitive college applicant options
possible? • An understanding of what makes a competitive college
applicant

Why does earning my college degree  An understanding of the inequalities that mar the
th educational landscape in America and how earning their
10 Grade matter?
RTTC II college degree is an act of resistance
How do I work with others to achieve  The interpersonal and communication skills to work
collaboratively in diverse groups and resolve conflict
better results?
 The ability to give and receive feedback
 An awareness of their personal values and the role of values
How can I align my interests and in shaping behaviors
aptitudes with a career?  The ability to articulate their interests and connect those
interests to career options
How do I find the right college for me?  Experience researching colleges and universities through the
lens of both match and fit

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How do I create the best possible
11th Grade college list for myself?
RTTC III
How can a CSAP experience
strengthen my college-going identity?
What do I need to have ready for the
college application process next year?
How do I complete the college
12th Grade application process?
RTTC IV
How do I pay for college?
How can I prepare to overcome
potential college challenges?
What do I envision for myself in the
future and how does my college choice
align with that vision?
C. Year-At-a-Glance: Unit Breakdown
9th Grade:
 Unit 1: Welcome to High School
 Unit 2: Who You Are & What You Have to Offer
 Unit 3: Foundational College Knowledge
 Unit 4: Research Paper
 Unit 5: How to Be a Competitive College Applicant
 Unit 6: Envisioning Your Future
 Unit 7: End of Year
10th Grade:
 Unit 1: Social Justice & Empowerment
 Unit 2: Let’s Get Along
 Unit 3: Mini Group Project
 Unit 4: Career Exploration
 Unit 5: Finding the Right College
 An ACT score of 20 or higher
 The ability to evaluate whether a college or university is a
good match and fit for them personally
 An understanding of how transformative a CSAP experience
can be when exploring their academic interests, determining
college preferences, and building skills to enhance their
social belonging when after matriculation
 A solidified college list, updated resume, and refined draft of
their personal statement
 The ability to implement feedback
 A CSAP acceptance and plan to attend
 An ACT score of 21 or higher
 A college acceptance to a school where they are excited to
matriculate, that aligns with their interests, and where they
can envision themselves thriving personally and academically
(College-Going Identity)
 The necessary financial aid to attend their school of choice
 An understanding of how to navigate the higher ed system
and knowledge of the supports that exist to help students
succeed in college
 An awareness of common challenges faced by college
students, especially those from low-income and/or minority
backgrounds who may be first-generation college goers, and
strategies to work through those obstacles
 The resilience to persevere through difficult times without
sacrificing their goals and dreams
 A belief in their own agency to shape the future and achieve
their goals
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NOTE: In Semester 2, the traditional curriculum students will have additional units—for a research paper and end of the
year presentations. The hybrid curriculum will include ACT units.

11th Grade: RTTC and ACT instruction alternates by unit—4 units of each subject

• Unit 1: Match & Fit

• Unit 2: Collegiate Summer Away Programs
• Unit 3: Financial Aid Literacy
• Unit 4: Preparation for College Applications

NOTE: In Semester 2, the traditional curriculum students will have additional units—for a research paper and end of the
year presentations. The hybrid curriculum will include ACT units.

12th Grade:

 Unit 1: College Applications

 Unit 2: College Cost
 Unit 3: College Communities & Involvement
 Unit 4: Planning for Academic Success
 Unit 5: Financial Literacy
 Unit 6: Transition Skills

IV. Vertical Alignment

Year At a Glance Reflection Questions:

1. What are some of the key topics, skills, and experiences that students go through in the RTTC curriculum? 

2. Which topics, objectives, and skills repeat or build on each other over time?

3. How does that mean for our work as a 9th through 12th Grade RTTC team?

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V. End of Course (EOC) Exams
Quick Write: What is backwards planning and why is it an important concept?

When examining the EOC exam, consider the following question:

• What are the components (knowledge and skills) of the final exam that will show that students are college
ready?

– Knowledge: The content that students must internalize. 

• Examples: Knowing the definition of terms like “growth mindset” and “delayed gratification”

– Skills: The actions that students must be able to do or replicate. 

• Examples: Using their planner, writing SMART goals, calculating the Cost of Attendance

Your Turn—download a copy of last year’s EOC exam for the strand of RTTC that you teach.

1) Start by annotating the EOC exam.

– Highlight key Knowledge and Skills tested in the multiple choice & writing sections of the exam.

2) Answer these reflection questions with your group:

– How do these align with the topics covered in each unit throughout the year? 

– Why should students care about the knowledge and skills they learn about in RTTC class?

– What will students be able to do as a result of mastering the material in your class?