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Promising Practices
- High School and College Advisory
Target:Middle School Students
Purpose:Explore careers and prepare students for high school coursework.
Activities:
-Complete the PSSS and learn to interpret results. -Explore careers and the costs of college.
-Current high school students speak about the ins and outs of their freshman year.
Results:Students learn the terminology they need to know for post-secondary education, and how to understand PSSS results.
Contact:
Marika Tomkins
Pioneer Middle School
(509) 526-8621 mtomkins@earlyoutreach.wsu.edu
Full Details Here - LIGO Hanford Observatory
Target:Middle School Students
Purpose:Students have hands-on experiences with science and math in a professional setting.
Activities:
-Tour LIGO Observation Center, Laser Tube, Physics exploration.
-Hands-on activities and exhibits to explore light, gravity, waves and the galaxy.
-Meet with a real scientist or engineer.
Results:Students experience practical applications of math and science and are motivated to pursue careers in these areas.
Contact:Dale Ingram
LIGO Hanford Observatory
(509) 372-8248
ingram_d@ligo-wa.caltech.edu
Full Details Here - 8th Grade Career Showcase
Target:8th Grade Students and Parents
Purpose:Teach students how to research their interests and improve their public speaking abilities.
Activities:
-Students research and prepare a presentation on a chosen career.
-Students compete for opportunity to present at the regional Career Showcase.
Results:Students learn through research and develop sophisticated presentation skills for authentic audiences.
Contact:
Leroy Werkhoven
NLA Group
(509) 877-9906
leroywerkhoven@nlagroup.com
Full Details Here - Summer Academy
Target:Middle School Students
Purpose:Provide students the opportunity to explore careers in science and math.
Activities:
-Three-week workshop.
-Field trips, photo journaling, experiential lessons, use of engineering software and equipment.
Results:Students were able to learn what it takes to have a career in math, science and engineering and explore the LIGO Hanford Observatory, Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater Facility.
Contacts:
Dan See
John Sager Middle School
509-525-5300dsee@earlyoutreach.wsu.edu
Full Details Here - Youth Radio Project
Target:Middle School Students
Purpose:Develop high educational and career goals.
Activities:-Gather news about GEAR UP and community related topics and events for radio and media production.
Results:Knowledge in radio and media production.
Contact:
Carlos Bejar
Skagit Valley College
(360) 416-7990
carlos.bejar@skagit.edu
Full Details Here - Rise Up Camp: Students To Lead &
Succeed
Target:Students, Ages 12-18
Purpose:Provide experiential learning program designed for youth to develop their leadership skills.
Activities:-Large and small group activities for five days.
Results:Increased student leadership, self-confidence, arts experience, collaborative and creative thinking.
Contact:
Kat Vellos
Yakima Valley GEAR UP Program
(206) 938-6090
Full Details Here - Digital Camera Camp
Target:Middle School Students
Purpose:Interest middle school students in technology and its uses for academic learning and professional careers.
Activities:
-Students went through the Kodak website which listed the top ten tips for successful photography.
-Students completed photo collages.
-Students learned how to add music, special effects.
-Students learned how to format photos and graphic design to tell a story.
Results:Students ultimately composed photo stories applying the technological skills they learned; they saw applications to other academic subjects.
Contact
Rachel Weaver
Chief Moses Middle School
(509) 766-2661
rweaver@earlyoutreach.wsu.edu
Full Details Here - Bridges Summer Tech Camps
Target:Middle School Students
Purpose:Develop students’ creativity, multicultural intelligence, writing, and technology skills.
Activities:-Students participate in thematic morning field trips, write about their findings and create web pages.
Results:At the culmination of the camp, students post their final work on the Bridges website so they can all share and comment on other students’ work.
Contact:
Lisa Garcia-Hanson
Central Washington University
(509) 963-1111
garciahl@cwu.edu
Full Details Here - After School Tutoring Clubs
Target:GEAR UP Students
Purpose:Provide students necessary tutoring while developing interests in activities and clubs.
Activities:Several clubs were organized: Mental Karate, Game Club, Multicultural Club, Theater Club, Community Service Club, Health & Fitness Club, and Science Club.
Results:The program provided students with additional academic assistance while engaging them in extracurricular learning activities.
Contact:
Tenya Moravec
Sunnyside School District
(509) 837-2601
tenya.moravec@sunnyside.wednet.edu
Full Details Here
- After School Programs
Target:Middle School Students
Purpose:Provide academic tutoring to students who need special help in Math, Science, English and Health.
Activities:
-Tutoring offered four days a week.
-Busing provided after tutoring concludes.
Results:More students were able to benefit with the provision of transportation home after the program ends.
Contact:
Janay Schutz
Toppenish School District
(509) 865-3370
jschutz@toppenish.wednet.edu
Full Details Here - Building Tutoring Programs
Target:Students who are performing below academic standards
Purpose:To train tutors (high school, college students, and community volunteers) to provide the necessary tutoring according to the Socratic tutorial model.
Activities:Tutors are trained to model positive behaviors and academic attitudes, as well as address the need for tutoring to students that are on house arrest.
Results:A different segment of the student population is addressed and the ability for these students to retrieve credits to be on better track for graduation.
Contact:
Becky Wilson
Kiona-Benton School District
(509) 588-2073
bwilson@earlyoutreach.wsu.edu
Full Details Here - Daytime Tutoring
Target:Middle School Students
Purpose:To assist and provide service to all cohort students, not just students that are involved in the after school tutoring program.
Activities:Tutors were incorporated into the regular class schedules, instead of focusing on students that came after school. Tutors that were directly knowledgeable of subjects assisted students during regular school hours and after lessons to assure they understand the information.
Results:Teachers were willing to open their classrooms during the day to the tutors who helped students to understand the lessons and homework, which in turn helped them target students in smaller numbers for more focused attention.
Contact:
Lori Febus
Granger GEAR UP
(509) 854-1515
Full Details Here
- McClure University
Target:Elementary Schools
Purpose:Create college awareness for students and parents at an earlier level.
Activities:
-Each teacher “adopts” a college. -Students learn about the college throughout the year.
-Classrooms are identified in college terms, not by room numbers.
Results:The elementary school takes on a college atmosphere for students and their parents and sparks conversations about expectations for college enrollment in the future. Teachers also become more involved in promoting expectations and preparation to help students and their families plan for a better future.
Contact:
Jose Rivera
McClure Elementary Principal
(509) 882-7100
jrivera@grandview.wednet.edu
Full Details Here - Transition To 9th Grade Videos
Target:8th grade students
Purpose:Create sustainable Freshman transition program and guide for new students.
Activities:
-Video program is created with input from students, teachers, counselors and administrators with technical help from CWU Media Staff Center and the Bridges program.
-Video is used to help 8th graders transfer successfully to the ninth grade and as a transitional help to new students entering at any time during the high school years.
-Video includes crucial information on scheduling, studying, rigorous coursework, social networking, “survival” skills and school programs that provide support.
Results:Students are better prepared to succeed in high school and new students are provided crucial information when transferring in the middle of a school year.
Contact:
Julie Blohm Grinolds
CWU Okanogan Valley GEAR UP
(509) 963-3961
grinoldj@cwu.edu
Full Details Here - Guess Who? School Interactive Game
Target:8th Grade Cohort/All Middle School Students
Purpose:This “ice breaker” will help students get comfortable with school staff and GEAR UP staff and enhance their question-asking skills.
Activities:
-School staff was informed about activity, which consisted of students guessing their teachers/counselors/administrators college majors, previous careers, college they attended, among other college-oriented trivia factoids.
-Every week a trivia question appeared in the bulletin for the students to try and guess. The students then would go by the GEAR UP room and put their guess in the box. On Thursday of that week a name was drawn from those who answered correctly to win a prize.
Results:There was good feedback from staff and students. The students learned that they can approach teachers and staff while learning about what college they attended and some fun facts about the staff. It was a good ice-breaker to introduce new teachers and GEAR UP staff to the students.
Contact:
Jack Williams
Ephrata GEAR UP
(509) 754-5285 ext 2205
jwilliams@earlyoutreach.wsu.edu
- History Day in Washington, DC
Target:Middle School Students
Purpose:Students engage with history and learn research and presentation skills; they expand their visions of the larger world in a culminating field trip to Washington, D.C.
Activities:
-Students complete history day projects. -Students compete at local and state levels.
-Approximately twenty-five students are selected to participate in the event.
-Students participate in fund-raising activities to raise money for a trip to Washington D. C.
-Students experience history in the nation’s capital, keep journals, and write a summary of their experiences.
Results:The entire community is involved in raising funds to send students to Washington D.C. Students expand their visions of the larger world. Students present to community and family about the impact of the experience on their future goals.
Contact:
Principal
Wahluke Junior High
509-932-4455
- Bridges Cultural Event
Target:Middle School students
Purpose:Develop cultural awareness in students and improvement of communication and technology skills.
Activities:Students experience small group activities in a full day workshop at CWU or on the school campus, and participate in themes such as: hip hop poetry and song, Day of the Dead, College Majors Fair, film festival and “Where will I be in Ten Years.”
Results:Students become aware of different cultures and activities and then write about their experiences. Their writings are posted on the Bridges website.
Contact:
Lisa Garcia-Hanson
Bridges Director
Central Washington University
(509) 963-1111
garciahl@cwu.edu
- Compass2Campus Program
Target:Middle School Students
Purpose:Identify College Bound Scholarship applicants and team them up with college mentors.
Activities:College mentors meet with middle school students and follow them through high school to encourage academic and social skills.
Results:Students maintain a close relationship with college mentors who monitor their grades and help them stay out of trouble throughout high school so that they are eligible for the College Bound scholarship when they graduate.
Contact:
Cyndie Shepard
Western Washington University
360-650-3093
cyndie.shepard@wwu.edu
- Helping Students "Prepare For Their Dream"
Target:Middle School Students
Purpose:Help students actively pursue a dream by doing research and using technology to learn what various programs can offer them.
Activities:
-Students “declare” a college/university choice.
-Students use various media to research the options they have at that school.
-Students have the option to change schools each of their middle school years.
-College research projects are displayed in the hallways to show everyone’s future planning.
-Students receive certificates of acceptance to colleges.
Results:Students learn that college can be a reality for them; they recognize the need to research various colleges beforehand to know if their desired majors are offered. Students learn more about the schools than just knowing their logo, colors and sports teams.
Contact:
Doug Kaplicky
Warden Middle School Principal
(509) 349-2366
dkaplicky@warden.wednet.edu - Long-Distance Book Clubs
Target:Middle School Students
Purpose:Enhance student reading and analysis with college student facilitators and interactive technology.
Activities:
-University Technology Departments set up interactive video station in each school.
-GEAR UP purchases book that students want to read.
-College mentors also read the book.
-Mentors on CWU campus interact with students through distance, interactive video sessions.
-Students are able to discuss what they’ve read, build communication and critical thinking skills and develop relationships with college student role models.
-Students are able to keep the books when the session ends.
Results:Students engage in high level reading and critical thinking skills and interact with college students as mentors and role models.
Contact:
Lisa Garcia-Hanson
Bridges Director
Central Washington University
(509) 963-1111
garciahl@cwu.edu
- Roadmap To College!
Target:Students and Families
Purpose:Provide information about ten highly rated colleges and universities in Washington and the steps to enroll in these institutions.
Activities:Roadmap to College books provide information and starting points on how to select a college and prepare for enrollment. Institutions include: Art Institute of Seattle, CWU, Gonzaga University, UW, WSU, WSU, among others.
Results:Students and families are more aware of academic offerings, how to apply, and other features that may interest them.
Visit website to access Roadmap to College Guides: http://www.morrowdesignstudio.com/rgi - ACES Academy: Aviation, Careers, Engineering, and Safety
Target:6th –10th grade girls
Purpose:In a field in which females are underrepresented, this “camp” provides knowledge and incentive to pursue a career in math and science.
Activities:
-Three day “camp” where girls stay in dorms and participate in hands-on activities.
-Projects include rocket building, aviation simulation and engineering concepts.
-Girls interact with college student mentors majoring in Aviation.
-Camp culminates in a presentation for staff and parents.
Results:Girls interested in aviation see a career pathway that is possible for them and learn what subjects they will need to take and master to fulfill this career goal.
Contact:Dr. Amy Hoover
CWU Aviation Department
(509) 963-1111
hoovera@cwu.edu