At the start of the current school year, Lakewood High School introduced College Credit Plus (CCP) Strategies for Success, a class designed to help students develop and maintain a strong work ethic before entering college. The class focuses on academic strategies that will help students with personal time management, memory techniques, study skills, communication and identifying career resources. The course is taught by Shannon Dunn and is open to students in grades 9 through 12.
The course is structured to help students gain the necessary skills and tools to navigate through college and the workforce. It sets students up for success in the future, no matter where they are taken. Instruction targets common student challenges, such as problems with test taking, studying, procrastination and identifying individual learning styles.
“Hopefully, we can teach some skills that help you to manage your time better, which happens to help you in every aspect of your life,” Dunn said.
The class gives students college credit through a partnership with Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). It is worth one full credit at the high school, along with 3 college credit hours. The course is part of the West Shore Family Consumer Sciences Department.
For students attending Tri-C, this CCP credit will cover their “Strategies for Success” class requirement. At other institutions, the credit may cover an elective or a required class, depending on the college’s policy.
Since its debut, the class has nearly tripped its students compared to the first semester. Many students are taking an interest in the course after learning about how beneficial it can be for future college students. Lucia Robbins, a student in the class this semester, said, “I want to have the best work ethic I can before I go to college.”
Dunn has already witnessed the impact on former students. “I had a student email me that said some of the things we had learned were helping her,” she said.
For many, the class provides an opportunity to access resources and strategies they may not have learned at home. As a CCP class, it is also a great way to introduce students to college-level expectations within the familiar environment of high school.
“I wish it had been around when my kids were in high school,” said Roberta Marcinek, one of the school counselors at Lakewood High School.
Lakewood offers other life-skills classes, including Financial Literacy, a money management class, and Compass, a career-exploration class. Strategies for Success pairs well in Lakewood’s curriculum as it prepares students for real-life challenges, such as managing stress, communicating with people, and improving relationships.
“These are the things over the years that are going to be helpful hints for the college setting,” Marcinek said.
The hope is that students will continue to spread the word about the class and influence other students to take the class, not just for the CCP credit but for all that the class offers. “I just hope they take the skills with them that help them to be more successful,” said Dunn.
