Tens of thousands of students in states across the country have experienced Freshman Focus!
Many schools have tried “advisory” or “mentorship” programs – some with success, others without. In some ways, Freshman Focus is like these programs, but in one significant way, it is different: structure. Each day of the entire-school-year program – whether you choose to implement daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly sessions – is structured with specific objectives, lesson plans, videos, and activities that every student can complete. The Freshman Focus curriculum is perfect for high schools, after-school programs, and summer programs.
Freshman Focus is designed to cover the many topics that a new high school student needs to know for social and academic success. Lessons range from stressing the importance of school spirit and belonging, to building a support network and making responsible decisions, to learning effective online research and study skills, to getting along with others, to planning for college, and much more.
Want to learn more about Freshman Focus? Please watch the following video for an overview!
In addition to the Freshman Focus program core curriculum, there are additional resources to enhance students’ high school experience.
The Challenge is a project-based learning experience that puts students in the driver’s seat to make a difference in their school, their community, and their futures! Students collaboratively complete five missions to complete the Freshman Focus challenge.
The Campus series builds leadership opportunities for students to organize and implement school-wide events and activities that improve the school’s culture in four strands. Each month, students choose from a variety of activities and events within each strand to implement.
If Freshman Focus achieves its purpose, the result will be a group of students who have acquired a skills set that will increase the chances of high school success, both academically and socially, and who have made a difference in their school and community.
Freshman Focus is a part of AdvantaCORE School Improvement, providing solutions that will strengthen the entire school community so all students can succeed.
All schools face greater accountability today than ever before. School leaders are expected to provide the vision and direction needed to produce academic results. Teachers must meet the academic, social, cognitive, and developmental needs of all learners to ensure they’ll be ready for tomorrow. All students need to develop the college and career readiness skills necessary to succeed in a competitive, global marketplace.
We are inspired by the belief that meeting these core expectations is possible for every school district, school, superintendent, principal, teacher, and student.
AdvantaCORE supports Pre-K-12 public, private, and charter schools and school districts by identifying gaps and weaknesses that are preventing them from achieving peak performance and offering a full menu of proven solutions that will strengthen the entire school community so all students can succeed.
AdvantaCORE’s team knows school improvement and best practice. We have served as superintendents, principals, central office administrators, and teachers. We have worked in urban, suburban, rural, and private school systems. We have worked at the state level and advised successful nonprofit organizations. We have advised boards of education, superintendents, and principals.
As the core resource for strengthening school communities, AdvantaCORE meets the unique needs of our clients with a wide range of services, from professional coaching and school system audits to development and customized implementation of professional development programs. All of our school improvement solutions are solidly grounded in research and best practice.
By supporting and improving schools throughout the region, we can innovate, implement and share what works — building strong school communities so that all students can succeed.