Self-Discovery Class Detailed Outline

Introduction

Situation

1. The Latino and other minority student populations are exploding
2. Latinos have the highest school drop-out rate by as much as three times
3. This program is designed to keep students in school and encourage them to receive an advanced education

Main Situation leading to Drop-Outs

1. Low self-expectation or self-esteem of youth, i.e. “motivation”
2. A large achievement gap exists that discourages minorities from trying
3. Money issues
4. Knowledge of “How To”

Secondary Issues

1. Family and cultural issues (A program must be initiated to make the parents a part of the motivation and program
2. Subtle discrimination—just enough to make students feel “less than”
3. Lack of community support
4. Educator attitudes and support

This course can reverse the Drop-Out Trend

1. Raise the self-expectation and self-esteem of the youth
2. Motivate the youth to close the achievement gap themselves
3. Train youth on how to get money for college
4. FASFA for documented students
5. Scholarships that are available for undocumented students
6. Scholarships for high performance in the class
7. Teach a multitude of ‘How To’ skills

How does this course raise self-expectation of the youth?

1. The Power of Tutoring
2. Group confidence building
3. Prestige of being bilingual
4. Providing information through the curriculum

Flexibility

1. The course is divided into recommendations for 8^thto 12^thgrades
2. Teachers can switch lesson plans from grade to grade as desired and even supplement their own as needed
3. The entire course is expected to be on-line and available to teachers

Tutoring is an Eligibility Requirement

1. As students tutor others they realize that they have unique talents and value
2. Students with below grade level reading and math find out they can do the lower level material of their younger siblings, and gain confidence to catch up to their own grade level
3. The value of being bilingual becomes evident and students become proud of their unique heritage and skills
4. Self-esteem and self-expectation is raised and youth decide to stay in school
5. The act of “tutoring” develops a “mentoring” relationship and this also develops a sense of self and value

Annual Conference

1. An annual conference is suggested to be organized in each school district so that students see that they are part of a much larger whole
2. The conference is organized at the School District Level to keep the cost low
3. Held at one of the local high schools
4. Eight to sixteen classes involved in each Conference
5. Some suggested Topics for the Conference
6. What would you add to curriculum?
7. What would you delete from curriculum?
8. Roundtable on Tutoring           

Self-Esteem Builders

Tutoring and Mentoring

Giving Service

Encouraging ‘Yes, you can’ ‘Si, Se Puede’

The Value of Being Bilingual

Cultural Confidence 

III. Class Curriculum Topics

Team Builders

Life Skills

Academic Roadmap

Financing College

Why Stay in School 

A quick summary is here: Diversity Discovery 2013 and a currently proposed Table of Contents is here.

Specific Topics Envisioned

Tutoring and mentoring

Integrity (focused on students reporting their tutoring hours honestly)

Cross-Age Tutoring (From Utah Department of Education)

Tutoring as a mentoring scheme

Tutoring younger siblings

Tutoring parents

Tutoring and mentoring peer to peer

Being tutored and mentored

Mentoring in your home

Mentoring in your extended family

Mentoring in your community

Lessons on English and math tutoring

Lessons on tutoring Spanish (Or another native language)

Leadership Principles (These are to give the students much greater leadership ability as they go out into America)

Boy Scouts of America Scoutmaster Woodbadge Leadership Principles

Lessons 1-11 on the 11 principles of Leadership (Pre 2000 Woodbadge course)

Getting and Giving Information

Understanding Group Needs and Characteristics

Knowing and Understanding Group Resources

Controlling the Group

Counseling

Setting the Example

Representing the Group

Planning

Evaluation

Sharing Leadership

Manager of Learning

Lessons 1-8 on the 8 principles of Leadership in the current Woodbadge course

Leading Change

Problem Solving

Valuing People

Leveraging Diversity

Managing Conflict

Coaching and Mentoring

Forming/storming/norming/performing

Ethics in Action

Specific Latino Leadership styles outlined by Juana Bordas in “The Power of Latino Leadership”, 14 lessons

Leading Latino Style

Ancient Roots and Mestizo Ancestry

The Latino Legacy in the United States

Personalismo: The Character of the Leader

Conciencia: Knowing Oneself and Cultivating Personal Awareness

Destino: Personal and Collective Purpose

La Cultura: Culturally Based Leadership

De Colores: Inclusiveness and Diversity

Juntos: Collective Community Stewardship

¡ Adalante! Global Vision and Immigration Spirit

Si Se Puede: Social Activism and Coalition Leadership

Gozar le Vida: Ledership0 That Celebrate Life!

Fe Y Esperanza: Sustained by Faith and Hope

Building a Diverse and Humanistic Society

Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Cultural Confidence

You are unique. (Your personality and background strengthens America.)

Examples of Parents who sacrificed to bring their family here, 5 lessons. Each student interviews his parents and writes a report of their experience and then relates these to the class, 15 examples

Lessons on famous Latinos such as Cesar Chavez, and many other famous and successful American Latinos, and what can be learned from their experiences

Visiting lectures by Latino judges, and successful Latino businessmen, about what it took for them to be successful

Cultural Confidence

You are unique. (Your personality and background strengthens America.)

Examples of Parents who sacrificed to bring their family here, 5 lessons. Each student interviews his parents and writes a report of their experience and then relates these to the class, 15 examples

Lessons on famous Latinos such as Cesar Chavez, and many other famous and successful American Latinos, and what can be learned from their experiences

Visiting lectures by Latino judges, and successful Latino businessmen, about what it took for them to be successful

Financing College

Scholarships (Every minority can go to college) (8^th Grade)

Scholarships (What scholarships can do for you.) (9^th Grade)

Learn about scholarships (10^th Grade)

Learn how to apply for scholarships (10^th Grade)

Finding scholarships (11^th Grade)

Apply for scholarships (11^th Grade)

Apply for FASFA Pell Grants (12^th Grade)

You can go all the way through college on scholarships.

Preparing for college

Keeping up your GPA (9^th Grade)

Preparing for the ACT (11^th Grade)

Why go to College (10^th, 11^th, 12^th Grade)

Universities

Trade schools