A review of the elements of the Joplin High School Transitions Advisory Course

1. Transitions
Elements
2018-2019

2. Class Creation
Each Transitions class is created with an intentional mix which means that
students that are very different from each other will be grouped together. This
allows for students to interact with students that they might not normally
interact with.
Classes as of the 2018-2019 school year are looping. Students and teachers will be
together through that classes’ senior year. This decision was made at the request
of students and staff at the end of 2017-2018 school year.

3. Credit
A student receives .25 credit for completing all of the requirements of
Transitions, which includes:
● Attending class
● Participating in class activities
● Completing the Digital Citizenship quizzes

4. Digital Citizenship
Digital Citizenship is part of a Joplin Schools district wide agenda and is required
of all Joplin High School students.
Technology is an essential aspect for academic and personal success at Joplin
High School. This district curriculum gets students thinking about digital
citizenship.
Curriculum materials and activities can be found in Canvas and will be
completed in Transitions.

5. Weekly Schedule
Monday - Gathering (Discussion) about topics related to the theme &/or school
events
Tuesday - 1:1 Conferencing & GWP
Thursday -
● 10:15-11:00 Transitions Lesson - an activity geared towards a specific theme
● 11:00-11:47 Intervention/GWP - Intervention is a time for students to be
called or requested to visit a specific teacher to work on classwork. GWP
(Guided Work Period) is time in your Transitions class to work on classwork.

6. Gatherings
● A discussion about a specific topic that is posed by the teacher or suggested
by a student.
● Usually based around a specific theme
● This is a time to typically not have technology in front of you unless
requested by the teacher.
● The goal is to think about the topics you are covering and practice having
face-to-face conversations.

7. 1:1 Conferencing & GWP
1:1 Conferencing is when the teacher sits down
with one student and has a conversation about:
● Grades
● Attendance
● Behavior
● Any lesson follow-up
● Life in general
It might be weird at first to have these
conversations, but it really helps the teacher
and student get to know each other and helps
the teacher know how to best assist each
student.
Guided Work Practice or GWP is a time for
students to work on any school work that needs
to get done.
It allows students to have less to do outside of
the school day.
There are opportunities to:
● Study for tests
● Complete homework
● Work on group projects (especially on
Thursday)
● Receive tutoring from another member of
your class.
This is NOT time to watch videos, sleep, or play
on your phone.

8. Thursday Schedule - Lesson & Intervention
On Thursday Schedules, the first half of
Transitions is an activity that is geared towards
a specific theme. The types of activities will
vary, but many will be group and discussion
based and will revolve around the monthly
theme or career exploration.
Many of the resources for these activities will
be housed in the canvas course for each
Transitions class.
The second half of the hour is Intervention.
Intervention is an academic intervention
program that allows students to visit a specific
class to:
● Retake a test or quiz
● Makeup absent work
● Receive 1:1 assistance
● Work with group members on a project
In order to have intervention, a student must
ask the teacher they wish to see to request
him/her. Teachers may request students for
intervention as well.
If there is a request, the student, teacher, and
Transition teacher will receive an email.

9. Monthly Themes by Grade Level

10. Creation of Monthly Themes
The monthly themes were recently revised and revamped due to the following
events from the 2017-2018 school year.
1. During local business visits, teachers were told by local employers which
skills they sought in potential employees.
2. Student forum groups held at the end of last school year revealed student
needs and desires for transitions. The Transitions Committee merged those
student needs and desires with what was learned from the local business
visits.

11. Freshman Theme Highlights
● High School Orientation - Reviewing new procedures that you need to know
to be successful at Joplin High School
○ Canvas
○ Email
○ School Procedures - Lunch, Cell Phones, etc.
● How to calculate GPA
● Which credits you need to graduate
● How to become a successful student
● How to plan your high school career

12. Sophomore Theme Highlights
● Explore career paths with the goal of selecting a preference during
enrollment.
● FTC Tours
● Student Leadership and Responsibility
○ Many starting to drive - activities related to car ownership and maintenance
○ Many starting to work - creating a resume, how to fill out applications, and how to present
yourself to an employer.
○ Mock Interviews with community leaders to practice interacting and completing interviews.

13. Junior Theme Highlights
● How to manage one of your more stressful school years with tips and
practices that will help all year long.
● ACT Practice Tests
● College & Scholarship Essay writing and applications
● Financial Literacy (some topics included)
○ Checking vs Saving
○ Credit Cards
○ Budgeting

14. Senior Theme Highlights
● How to build a social network that can help you get the job you want
● How to present yourself and prepare for interviews
● Adult Orientation - Essential things to know before leaving high school
○ Topics will include:
■ College Life
■ Moving out of your home
■ Renting & Renters Insurance
■ Insurance
■ Healthcare
■ Taxes
■ Etc.