February 2017
GEAR UP
! e r u t u F r e t h g i r B a for
The ACT test makers agree that students who take the ACT their junior year of high school are more likely to get higher scores and have an easier time applying to college. Here are five reasons why you should take your ACT junior year: February 3 Colorado Mesa University campus visit* February 3 Eagle Experience “Local Connection” February 11 ACT Test February 17 GEAR UP Senior College Catch Up Day at USU Eastern February 17 Annual Diversity & Inclusion Conference @ USU Eastern March 24 Weber State University Campus Visit* *For all GEAR UP trips, RSVP is required due to limited space in vehicles. See your GEAR UP advisor for additional information.
GEAR UP is always accepting new participants. To enroll, contact the GEAR UP advisor at your school or through any of our social media sites.
1. You’ll be well-prepared - By the time junior year rolls around, you’ll be well into the coursework required to do well on the ACT. High-level math concepts like trigonometry, logarithms, and the quadratic formula will be old hat by junior year. So, when you see these concepts on the ACT, you won’t be panicked by new information and strange symbols. Also, for most students, junior year is the most rigorous year of high school. Though you may be overwhelmed by AP and honors classes, extracurricular activities, volunteer hours, sports, etc., you’ll already be in study-mode. You’ll be used to tackling long reading and math assignments each night. Plus, you’ll be used to test-taking and thinking critically about challenging problems. There is no better time to take the ACT. 2. You’ll have the opportunity to re-test - Taking the ACT junior year allows you to avoid the unfortunate situation of not having enough time to retake the test before college applications are due. You can always take the test a second time junior year, or spend the summer studying and then schedule your retake for fall of senior year. This time around, you’ll know your strengths and weaknesses, and will be able to structure your ACT prep accordingly. 3. You’ll have the opportunity to take the SAT - Maybe the ACT isn’t your test. Some students prefer the ACT to the SAT, but the reverse is also true. If you take the ACT and completely bomb the math and science sections, but do well on the reading and writing sections, you might be more of an SAT person. The SAT and ACT aren’t just scored differently – they are pretty different exams in a lot of ways. For example, the SAT’s questions are a bit less straightforward than the ACT’s questions, plus the SAT Continued next page
GAINING EARLY AWARENESS AND READINESS FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
Why take the ACT Your Junior Year?
Why take the ACT Your Junior Year?, continued includes more complex vocabulary. On the flip side, the ACT tests you on both science (more like data interpretation, really) and harder math. 4. You’ll have your scores before deciding where to apply to college - Knowing your ACT score before you make your college list is invaluable. Maybe you’ll score higher than your goal, and will have more options than you expected. Or, maybe you’ll have to hedge your bets by applying to a safer safety school. Either way, you’ll be making your college list with realistic expectations. 5. You won’t be cramming senior year - First semester senior year is nuts. It’s just as bad as junior year, if not worse because of the stress of looming college and scholarship applications. Anticipate senioritis and take your ACT your junior year. Even if you have to retake the ACT early on in senior year, you won’t be spending tons of time prepping for it. You’ll have done this over the summer and will just need to brush up before your test.
Don’t Miss Out on the Collage Catch Up Day at USU Eastern
We will be holding the GEAR UP Senior College Catch Up Day at USU Eastern on February 17, 2017. It is a great opportunity for GEAR UP seniors and early graduates, along with their parents, to catch up on any college related applications that they haven’t started yet or need help completing (e.g. FAFSA, scholarships, and college admissions applications). We will have trained professionals there to give you individualized assistance. Junior GEAR UP students are also encouraged to attend to receive mentoring and support on scholarships, personal statements, and college/career research. Refreshments will be provided and their is no cost to attend. Simply register and sign up for a time that works best for you. Register for a time slot at http:// usueastern.edu/price/gearup/events or talk to your advisor.
Scholarship Spotlight CTE Scholarship CTE Scholarships and Tuition Awards are for outstanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) students. The awards cover up to one year of tuition. Eligible applicants have a 1:2 odds of receiving an award. Type: • Application/Portfolio (students should work with their high school counselor and a CTE teacher when completing this application form and portfolio.) Eligibility: • Students seeking a one-year certificate, or a two-year associate or technical degree. OR • Students seeking to be a teacher in a CTE area (four-year program) Note: CTE areas include: Agriculture, Business, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Science, Information Technology and Engineering, or Skilled and Technical Sciences.
Award: • Varies Deadline: Postmarked by February 17, 2017 http://schools.utah.gov/CTE/main/ Scholarships.aspx
Meet Your Advisors Trenton Willson - Carbon High School - I am a visionary,
innovative career catalyst who has experienced success in pursuit of my dreams largely due to tremendous changes, trials, setbacks, and difficult defeats. Over more than four years, I have guided hundreds of people to quality jobs. As an employment counselor with the State of Utah, I excelled at serving others and helping them see their value and worth. Recognizing that, I realized an even greater mission that helps serve even more people. I started a private business, DreamCoachers, a coaching and mentoring business where I and my wife facilitate personal and career growth for people who are stuck and ready for positive change, leading them to discover their true nobility and placing them on the road to their dreams. I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting with 13 years of accounting experience and 18 years of professional, leadership and business experience. I live with his wife, three children and many pets in the delightful rural community of Elmo, Utah. I will be in the GEAR UP office (in room C6) at Carbon High on Mondays from 10:30-4:00 and Tuesday - Friday from 11:00-4:00 and by appointment.
AnnDee Mead - Emery High School - I was born and raised
in Castle Dale, Utah and graduated from Emery High in 2009. I then attended Utah State University Eastern in Price, where I got my associates of science degree and a bachelors degree in General Studies/Natural Resources. I have a background in education but have spent the last five years working in public land management. I am the new GEAR UP advisor for Emery High and am excited for a new adventure with GEAR UP and USU Eastern! I enjoy riding horses, running barrel, camping, hunting, fishing, hiking and spending time with my husband and little boy. I will be in the GEAR UP office (in the library) at Emery High every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays during school hours and by appointment.
Kimberly Andrus - Green River High School - I have lived
in Green River Utah for about 30 years and graduated from Green River High School. I have completed a few trade schools like EMT’s and Phlebotomy, but I have also attended CEU for a Nail Technician. I am currently enrolled at Ashford University studying to be a SPED Teacher. I am a mother of 4, 2 girls and 2 boys. I have 3 grandkids, 2 boys and 1 girl. I love to shoot
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Meet Your Advisors, continued trap and ride my motorcycle in warm weather. During the summer I like to take my family down the river on tubes. I have many different jobs and enjoy all of them. As a GEAR UP advisor, I can help students that don’t think that they have a chance to go to college. My advisory hours for Green River High School is Monday through Thursday from 11:30-3:30 and on Fridays from 10:30-12:30. I also am at the Teen Center on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-5:00.
Jessica Tucker - Lighthouse High School - I am from Huntington, Utah and went to East Carbon High
and Emery High. I have an Associates in Criminal Justice from CEU and a Bachelors in Psychology from USU, and I am currently working on my Master’s in Psychology. I am married with 5 children. My greatest desire is to be a substance abuse counselor and work mainly with teens. Outside of work I like to stay involved with helping at risk youth, spending time with family, and baking for the elderly people in my community. I enjoy being a GEAR UP advisor because I struggled with academic success in high school and was terrified of the idea of college; being an advisor allows me an opportunity to help students gain the confidence they need and to succeed in both high school and college. I advise at Lighthouse TuesdayFriday from 11:30 to 12:30, and by appointment in my office at USU Eastern.
Hiedi Carlile - Pinnacle High School - I was born and raised right next to the beautiful Mt. Nebo, in
Nephi Utah. Where I graduated from Juab High school and jumped right in to the college adventure attending Snow College. After staying there for a year I transferred to Southern Utah University where I continued my pursuit of graduating with a Bachelors degree. Seven years later, with a husband and three children, I graduated with a Bachelors Degree in General Studies with an emphasis in Education. Now, years later I’ve been able to use my degree as an Advisor for the GEAR UP program. My favorite thing about being an advisor is interaction with incredible youth and gearing them for success towards their next greatest adventure in life, college. My advising days are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm in the GEAR UP classroom.
Test Specific Tips for High ACT Scores English - When searching for sentence errors, start by reading the sentence or paragraph carefully, listening in your head; usually the word or phrase that contains an error will sound wrong. If no errors pop up, look for the four most common types of errors: • Errors in the relationship between the verb and its subject • Pronoun errors • Sentence structure errors • Awkwardness, verbosity, and incorrect use of idioms Mathematics - As soon as you find the right answer, mark it and move on -- there are no ‘’degrees of rightness’’ to be considered. Marking up diagrams or sketching simple drawings when none are available can help you ‘’see’’ the answers. The questions generally focus on mathematical reasoning, not your ability to perform calculations; if you find yourself spending too much time figuring the problem out, then you’ve probably overlooked a simple shortcut. As you work through the multiple-choice math questions, you’ll be given reference information (formulas and facts), but you’ll need to know how to use them. You’re allowed to use a calculator, but, again, it won’t help you unless you know how to approach the problems. If you’re stuck, try substituting numbers for variables. You can also try plugging in numbers from the answer choices. Start with the middle number. That way, if it doesn’t work, you can strategically choose one that’s higher or lower. Reading - Use the three-stage method (previewing, reading, and reviewing) to get the most out of each reading passage. Focus on the big ideas in each passage, not the small details. Look for connections among ideas in each passage. To help you find answers quickly, take notes as you read, marking the main ideas or connections with your pencil. Continued on page 6
s t n e r a P Just for Be Prepared for Parent-Teacher Conference Do your homework before - and after your next parent-teacher conference by Stephanie Vozza
TO GET THE MOST out of your next parent-teacher conference, try these tips from Kathy Jenkins, founder of the Organizing Tutor, a Mechanicsville, Va.- based student organizing service. Make a list. Jot down questions or areas of concern ahead of time and bring them to the meeting. (And be sure to take notes during the conference). Make a plan. Base it on how and when the teacher would like to continue to communicate during the rest of the school year. Review your child’s grades. Overall grades are important, but individual test and quiz scores offer clues to your child’s trouble spots. (Example: Zeroes for homework may mean that your child struggles with organization). Get your child’s perspective. Ask, “What do you think your teacher will bring to my attention?” If her prediction is correct, everyone is on the same page. If the teacher says something different, this may be an issue to address. Let the teacher take the lead. Listen and learn from the person spending many hours a day with your child. “Remember, both of you have the same goal,” Jenkins says. “You want your child to succeed.
Helpful Homework Web Sites Homework Center: www.factmonster. com/homework WebMATH: www.webmath.com Homework Spot: www.homeworkspot. com Discovery Education: www. discoveryeducation.com/students
Becoming a Homework Helper You may not always have a lot of time or know exactly what your student is learning, but there are ways you can help. • Check your student’s planner to see which assignments have been assigned. Students should use the planners every day to keep track of their assignments. If needed, have teachers add comments, sign the planner each week and include your student’s grade. • When your student is working on homework or gets stuck, here are some questions you can ask: * What are you working on? * Let’s look at this together. * What do the directions tell you to do? * What words or directions don’t you understand? * Tell me what you’ve done so far. * Let’s look in your book or notebook for some notes and information that might help us. * What did the teacher say when he or she gave you this assignment? * Did you go to tutoring today? * Who can you call to get help? * Can you go before or after school to get help from your teacher? Sometimes students need help, but don’t know how to ask for it.
Students of the Month Jordan Deto Emery High School
Jorden has been chosen as one of our GEAR UP students of the month because of his willingness to spend time exploring options for his future. He is a senior at Emery High School. Jorden is interested in mechanics and recently applied to USU Eastern. Jorden loves hunting, fishing and camping with his family. Jorden is a hard worker and will do great things after graduating in May.
Kate Karcich Lighthouse High School
Kate Karcich has been chosen as one of our GEAR UP students of the month because of dedication to her studies. Kate is a senior at Lighthouse High School. She is top of her class, with straight A’s, and is also GEAR UP’s Higher Education Resource Officer for Lighthouse High. Kate will be the Lighthouse High Valedictorian for 2016/17. After graduation Kateis planning to attend Snow College to study Criminal Justice.
Test Specific Tips for High ACT Scores, continued Science Reasoning - Use the same three-stage method (previewing, reading, reviewing) for each science reasoning passage. In data representation passages, focus on what is being measured, relationships among variables, and trends in data. Don’t be confused by irrelevant information or technical terminology -- most science reasoning passages have them, and they can almost always be ignored. Writing (Optional) - Essays are scored holistically, which means that the final score is based on an overall impression. To make that overall impression a good one, be sure to organize your ideas into a standard essay format. A well-organized essay consists of four to five paragraphs, including an introduction, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion. Aim to have at least two body paragraphs to develop and support your ideas.
Upcoming ACT® Dates Test Date February 11, 2017 April 8, 2017 June 10, 2017
Registration Deadline January 6, 2017 March 3, 2017 May 5, 2017
(Late Fee Required) January 7-20, 2017 March 4-17, 2017 May 6-19, 2017
Score Release February 22, 2017 April 18, 2017 June 20, 2017
The ACT® is an important college entrance exam. Scores can affect college entrance and scholarships. All Utah eleventh-grade students will take the ACT® in March or April at their schools. Students who want to take the test again can visit the following ACT® website to register for the test: www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html GEAR UP students may contact their GEAR UP coordinator to obtain an ACT® test fee waiver. (GEAR UP cannot pay for or waive late fees.)