th
8
Grade
Academic Success
Welcome! Please pull a piece of paper out
and setup your Cornell Notes for today’s
lesson! We will get started in just a minute.
Mrs. Gardner and Mr. Caro,
School Counselors
Lesson objectives
As a result of this lesson, students will be able
to:
Calculate Grade Point Averages (GPA)
Read and Understand a Transcript
Learn about Ways to Manage Time
Better
Create an Academic SMART Goal
Essential Question
In what ways can setting
goals and managing time
wisely contribute to your
academic success?
Calculating G.P.A.
 G.P.A. stands for Grade Point Average
 It is a formula to calculate grades from all your classes
A= 4 points
B= 3 points
C= 2 points
D=1 point
F= NOTHING
The Formula
 Step 1
 Add up all of your classes
 Figure out your points
 Step 2
 Divide your total points by the number of classes
Example- A+B+B+A+C+A= 20 points
20 points / 6 classes= 3.33
Your GPA
Activity #1—GPA Team Race
 You will be divided into a team of 4
 Each team will be given 6 cards
 Each card has a letter grade on it (ex: “A”, “C”, etc.)
 Your team task is to Calculate the total GPA
 Winning team gets to present
Caro vs. Gardner
Understanding your Transcript
 Your transcript is a document that shows all the
grades you have received in middle school
 Shows your Class Ranking
 Used for Class Placement
View your Transcript on Student Portal!
Activity #2--Putting it All Together
A-G Requirement review
• A-G classes are taken
and passed with a C or
better in high school to
be eligible for a 4-year
university in California
• Not all classes in high
school are A-G so
choose wisely (ex: PE
Are you A-G ready?? Quiz
challenge
• Letter A stands for ______
• At SJHS, the 3 foreign languages offered are
__________, ___________ and ____________
• 3 years of math are required but ___ are
recommended.
• Classes like theatre, dance, and ceramics are
examples of the __________requirement
• Two universities I can go to if I am A-G ready are
________ and ____________
Time Management
Start with the assignments that are the
hardest
 This sounds backwards, but we feel better about our work if it
progressively gets easier.
 Look at your to-do list and do those things you dread first.
 Your list will get easier and by the time you finish, you will
have an overall positive feeling about the experience. We
prefer when things get better over time, not worse.
Assignment activity
 Listed here are a few different assignments. Based off of what we have
discussed and your personal preferences and tastes, put these
assignments in the order you think you should work on them.
 1-page math worksheet (due tomorrow)
 Reading log (due at the end of the week)
 Big science project (due in three weeks)
 Read a newspaper article and write a one paragraph reaction (due
tomorrow)
Self-advocacy
 If you need help, speak up
 Where can I get help?
Family
support
Student
Success
Students
Setting Goals
 Setting goals is something you can do to
 Challenge yourself
 Get something you want
 Boost your self-esteem
Think about what goals you have reached since you
have been in school?
How to contact us
 School Counselor Appointment Form
 Email
 [email protected]
 [email protected]
Online form
Go to school website under “counseling”
 Follow us on Instagram
 nmms_school_counselors
S.M.A.R.T. Goals
S
M
A
R
T
Specific
Measurable
Achievable/Action
Realistic
Timely
SMART GOALS
Specific
*Better grade in math
*Read 20 AR books
Measurable
*My math grade improves
*My AR level increases
Realistic
*I can read 10 books in a
month
*I can go from an C to an A
Achievable/Action
*I will study at home
*I will attend tutoring
Timely
*By the end of week
*End of February
Activity #4--Write an academic
smart goal
 Think about an area or class you want to do better at
(PE mile time, math grade, AR points, etc.)
 Think about what steps are necessary to reach your
goal (get missing homework, attend tutoring, practice)
 Who can help you reach your goal?
(parents, school counselors, teachers, older siblings)
 What behavior or thoughts do you have to change to
reach your goal?
(stop being tardy to class, find better friends, self-control)
So Now What…
 You have control over what grades you earn
 Plan NOW for success TOMORROW
 Use these skills to have a great semester!
THANK YOU!
Any Questions?