Four Ways to Teach Kids about College
- Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8
If you ask any student at my elementary school what he knows about college, his eyes will light up. He will eagerly tell you about “his” college, about dormitory life, and possibly the latest scores for his collegiate teams. Yes, college may be ten years in the future for this child, but at my school college is an eagerly awaited eventuality — and a constant presence in our daily lives.
As teachers, we’re on the frontlines of a sea-change in our country — an all encompassing push to ensure that our future workforce has the post-secondary education necessary for the high-skilled occupations that will help our country thrive. This is what the increased rigor emphasized by the Common Core State Standards is all about.
But enough of the political-speak (you can turn on the TV for more of that). In teacher terms, we know that we teach and plan “with the end in mind.” Backward design is a cornerstone of our pedagogy. And if we are to take the very long view, college and career readiness is ultimately the “end” to bear in mind.
It makes sense, then, to let our students know about this important goal. Our students deserve to have big dreams and to know about the paths to achieve those dreams. Plus, when we teach them that college is necessary, expected, and important, we are also telling our students that we have high expectations for them because we believe in them!
#1 – Get Some Team Spirit!
At my school, each class “adopts” a college for the year. We decorate our classrooms with college regalia, the students write their college’s name on the heading of their papers, and each class proudly sings their college alma mater songs at school events. This ensures that after seven years at our elementary school (beginning in pre-K,) our students will have studied seven different colleges at great depth! (To watch my students proudly sing Princeton's alma mater song, visit my class website.)
In this "University of Michigan classroom," the teacher calls her students to attention with a "Go Blue" chant.
A college themed door welcomes my students to my classroom.
In 2005 actor, author, and Harvard class of ’67 graduate John Lithgow wrote a lighthearted rhyme about a college-bound mouse for his Harvard commencement speech. Two years later he published this beautiful picture book for a younger audience — or perhaps for audiences of all ages. Mahalia Mouse Goes to College tells the story of a young mouse who accidentally attends a college lecture while searching for food scraps. The mouse becomes so enamored with learning that she ends up matriculating with the college students.
The rollicking rhyming verse paired with extravagant vocabulary makes this book a blast to read aloud to students. And the take-away message is a winner:
“An epic account on a miniature scale,
Of a mouse who set forth on life's bumpy trail
And succeeded by simply refusing to fail.”
#3 – Hold a College Fair
Every spring we hold a “junior college fair” at my school, a culmination of a year of learning about specific colleges. Each class prepares a display of student work and general information about their college. The students visit the college fair in the gymnasium. Special visitors also attend the fair to interact with the students — college professors, college students, musical performing groups from local colleges, and more.
The students add their college research to display boards for the college fair.
Last year, my class made a "Guess Where I Went to College" flap board. Students enjoyed raising the flaps to read my students' research about where famous people went to college and what they studied.
#4 – Go Visit!
There’s nothing quite like walking around a college campus to make college “real” for young students. I’ve had students who have graduated from my school come back and tell me that our class trip to my alma mater was one of the most memorable experiences of elementary school.
When I plan our college-day, I reach out to the education department at the school to connect us with college students to talk with my students during our visit. I ask professors to give my students behind-the-scenes tours. And I make sure to leave time for plenty of kid-friendly fun!
Sitting in an old fashioned lecture hall is a novelty for 3rd graders.
Meeting a chemistry student and snooping around the lab was a highlight of the trip.
What does your school do to promote a college-bound culture among your students? Do you plan to use any of these ideas in your classroom? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!