Counselor Resource Book

College BoardOpportunity Scholarships

CLASS OF 2022

ContentsIntroduction

Lesson Plans2 Overview: College Board Opportunity Scholarships

4 Step One: Build Your College List

6 Step Two: Practice for the SAT

8 Step Three: Explore Scholarships

10 Step Four: Strengthen Your College List

12 Step Five: Complete the FAFSA

14 Step Six: Apply to Colleges

16 Appendix17 Tips for Navigating Virtual Platforms

18 Special Circumstances

19 Additional Activities for Virtual Classroom Guidance

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The College Board Opportunity Scholarships is a different kind of scholarship program. Students don’t have to write an essay, fill out an application, or have a specific GPA or test score. The program motivates students and rewards them with scholarships for simply completing the actions they need to take to apply to colleges. The College Board has committed $5 million per year to this scholarship program. At least half of all the scholarships will be designated for students whose families earn less than $60,000 per year.

Students can earn scholarship opportunities when they:

1. Build Your College List: $500—Build a college list on BigFuture™.

2. Practice for the SAT®: $500—Use Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy® to get ready for test day.

3. Explore Scholarships: $500--Discover other scholarships using College Board Scholarship Search.

4. Strengthen Your College List: $500—Strengthen their college list with a mix of academic, safety, match, and reach schools.

5. Complete the FAFSA®: $500—Fill out the FAFSA form to apply for financial aid.

6. Apply to Colleges: $500—Apply to the schools they want to attend.

Students who complete all six scholarship steps are eligible to earn a $40,000 scholarship. Scholarships are awarded—through monthly drawings—to students who complete each step. Find supplemental resources and scholarship details at cb.org/opportunity. You can find the official rules at opportunity.collegeboard.org/about/official-rules.

ELIGIBILITY The College Board Opportunity Scholarships program is open to class of 2022 high school students in the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, and DoDEA (Department of Defense Educational Activity) schools. There’s no citizenship requirement. Class of 2023 students are eligible beginning December 2021.

HOW TO JOINStudents who wish to enter the College Board College Opportunity Scholarships may join at cb.org/opportunity.

SCHOOL COUNSELORS—TAKE THE PLEDGE! No one knows more about helping students navigate the college planning process than a school counselor, which is why we are encouraging counselors from across the nation to join a movement to help students take advantage of these scholarship opportunities. Our goal is to encourage as many counselors as possible to complete the pledge and make a commitment. If you haven’t already pledged, go to: cb.org/counselorpledge and make a commitment today.

HOW TO USE THIS RESOURCEThese lesson plans have been updated to incorporate the changes to the program for the class of 2022 and are designed to be delivered whether your school is utilizing in-person, virtual, or hybrid instruction. Additionally, each lesson plan can be delivered in less than 30 minutes in the event you have limited time with your students. Supplemental activities are provided, should you have more than 30 minutes available.

Introducing the College Board Opportunity Scholarships

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LESSON PLAN

Overview: The College Board Opportunity Scholarships

OBJECTIVESCounselors will:

1. Share the purpose of College Board Opportunity Scholarships program.

2. Provide an overview of the 6 key action steps.

1 WATCH OVERVIEW VIDEO (2 Minutes)Share your screen and show students the video: Introducing the College Board Opportunity Scholarships

2 REVIEW CONTENT (12 Minutes)What is the purpose of the program?

§ To help students navigate the college planning process

§ To reward their efforts and actions with chances to earn scholarships

Who is eligible? § Juniors and seniors who attend high school in the

U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, and DoDEA schools

Additional Information § No minimum GPA or test scores

§ No citizenship requirements

§ No application, essay, or letters of recommendation

§ Half of the scholarships are awarded to students from families with income of $60,000 or less

Each of the 6 key action steps is a scholarship § Build Your College List: $500—Save 6 colleges on

BigFuture

§ Practice for the SAT: $500— Complete a Timed Mini Section or Diagnostic Quiz on Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy

§ Explore Scholarships: $500—Discover other scholarships by using College Board Scholarship Search

§ Strengthen Your College List: $500—Save 1 safety, 2 match, and 3 reach colleges on BigFuture

§ Complete the FAFSA: $500— Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid

§ Apply to Colleges: $500—Apply to at least 2 colleges

Complete Your Journey: $40,000— Students who complete all 6 action steps will be eligible for a chance to win 1 of 25 Complete Your Journey Scholarships.

3 ACTION ITEMS TO TAKE (10 Minutes)1. Have students go to cb.org/opportunity and click on

Earn Scholarships to sign up for the program.

RESOURCES § Handouts:

Turn Your Efforts into Scholarships (English)

Turn Your Efforts into Scholarships (Spanish)

§ Videos:Opportunity Scholarships: Reasons to Join

College Board Opportunity Scholarships

§ Web:

Frequently Asked Questions

SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITIES

Overview: The College Board Opportunity ScholarshipsDISCUSSION QUESTIONS

§ What are some of the unique features of this scholarship program?

§ How can this scholarship program assist you with completing the different aspects of applying to college?

ACTIVITIES § Treasure Hunt

w Find a Winner Story on cb.org/opportunity.

w Find “Tips for Building Your List.”

w Find the answer to “What are the dates for the program and the various drawings?"

CHALLENGES § Homeroom Challenge

w Create a competition between homerooms to see which one has the largest number of students sign up by the end of a specified time period. You can also create competition between content area classes, juniors and seniors, and schools.

§ Spread the Word w Create a challenge for juniors or seniors to share information about the College Board Opportunity Scholarships on their social media.

ON THEIR OWN § Encourage students to explore cb.org/opportunity.

§ Encourage students to explore the many features of BigFuture.

§ Encourage students to link their College Board and Khan Academy accounts.

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LESSON PLAN

Build Your College List

OBJECTIVESCounselors will:

1. Share the criteria for Build Your College List.

2. Outline the factors students should consider when researching colleges by utilizing the College Search tool on BigFuture.

1 WATCH SCHOLARSHIP VIDEO (2 Minutes)Share your screen and show students the video: Scholarship Tip: Build Your College List for a Chance to Earn $500 for College

2 REVIEW CONTENT (5 Minutes)Overview of Build Your College List

§ It’s the first of the 6 key action steps. This step is open to juniors in the class of 2022.

§ $500 scholarship

§ 500 scholarships will be awarded monthly from January through March; 100 scholarships will be awarded monthly from April through June.

§ Students must save at least 6 colleges to their list on BigFuture.

Overview of BigFuture § Assists students with preparing, planning, and

paying for college.

§ Provides one place for students to research colleges, admissions requirements, careers, and financial aid offerings.

3 ACTION ITEMS TO TAKE (17 Minutes)1. Have students log in to BigFuture at bigfuture.org

and navigate through the College Search option.

w Have students select College Search from the Find Colleges drop-down.

w Guide students through each tab:

– Test scores and selectivity

– Type of school

– Location

– Campus and housing

– Majors and learning environment

– Sports and activities

– Academic credit

– Paying

– Additional support programs

– Diversity

w BigFuture will compile a list of colleges based on students’ preferences.

2. Have students review colleges on their list and save 6 colleges to their My Colleges tab.

RESOURCES § Handouts:

How to Build a College List

§ Videos:

Interview with Build Scholarship Winner

SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITIES

Build Your College List

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS § Why is the research process important when building a

college list?

§ Why is it important to build a bigger list of colleges than you may apply to?

§ What are some aspects of building your college list that surprised you?

ACTIVITIES § Rep Your College

w In-person: Have students wear paraphernalia from their favorite college.

w Virtual: Have students run and locate some college paraphernalia in their home. They can display their paraphernalia on their screen.

§ Screen Time w Virtual: Have students change their screen background to a picture of their favorite college or its logo.

CHALLENGES § Student Challenge

w Create a competition between students to see which one has the largest number of completed college lists by the end of a specified time period. You can also create competition between content area classes, juniors and seniors, and schools.

§ Spread the Word w Have students encourage one another to complete their college list using their social media.

ON THEIR OWN § Encourage students to further research the colleges on

their BigFuture college list.

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LESSON PLAN

Practice for the SAT

OBJECTIVESCounselors will:

1. Share the criteria for Practice for the SAT.

2. Share information on how students link their College Board and Khan Academy accounts.

3. Review key features of Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy.

1 WATCH SCHOLARSHIP VIDEO (2 Minutes)Share your screen and show students the video: Scholarship Tip: Practice for the SAT for a Chance to Earn $500 for College

2 REVIEW CONTENT (5 Minutes)Overview of Practice for the SAT

§ It’s the second of the 6 key action steps. This step is open to juniors during second semester and to seniors during first semester.

§ $500 scholarship

§ 500 scholarships will be awarded monthly from January through March; 100 scholarships will be awarded monthly from April through October.

§ Students must link their College Board and Khan Academy accounts.

§ Students earn an entry for this step by completing a Timed Mini Section or Diagnostic Quiz on Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy.

Overview of Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy § Personalized practice—tailored to each student

based on their PSAT/NMSQT®, SAT, or diagnostic quiz.

§ Interactive—practice questions, videos, lessons, and tips on studying and test taking.

§ Full-length practice exams—8 official practice exams created in collaboration with College Board.

§ Feedback—get instant feedback and view progress.

3 ACTION ITEMS TO TAKE (17 Minutes)1. Have students create College Board and Khan

Academy accounts, if necessary.

w collegeboard.org

w satpractice.org

2. Virtual: Have students link their College Board and Khan Academy accounts.

w Have students send you a screenshot in the chat feature showing that they have linked their accounts. Remind students to send the message only to you and not to everyone.

3. If students have a score from a PSAT-related assessment or SAT, they will take a Timed MiniSection. If a student does not have a score, they will take a Diagnostic Quiz.

4. Allow students time to navigate features on Official SAT Practice and post their favorite feature in the chat.

RESOURCES § Handouts:

How to Link Your Accounts (English)

How to Link Your Accounts (Spanish)

Official SAT Practice for Students (English)

Official SAT Practice for Students (Spanish)

SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITIES

Practice for the SAT

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS § How can practicing for the SAT be beneficial?

§ Other than admissions, what are some of the other ways the SAT is used?

ACTIVITIES § Practice and Preparation

w Virtual: Select a student volunteer to share their screen and create a practice schedule using the Practice Schedule feature on Official SAT Practice on the Khan Academy homepage.

w Students can work on creating their own practice schedule as they navigate through the process. They can also select study buddies and enter reminders in their smartphones.

CHALLENGES § Classroom Challenge

w Create a competition between classes to see which one has the most students who have Completed a Timed Mini Section or Diagnostic quiz by the end of a specified time period. You can also create competition between homerooms, juniors and seniors, and schools.

§ Spread the Word w Create a challenge for juniors or seniors to share information on their social media about Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy with other students.

ON THEIR OWN § Encourage students to follow their practice schedule on

Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy and to work with their study buddies.

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LESSON PLAN

Explore Scholarships

OBJECTIVESCounselors will:

1. Share the criteria for the Explore Scholarships step

2. Share how College Board can connect students to over $6 billion in scholarships, internships, and other financial aid

3. Discuss how to use College Board Scholarship Search

1 SCHOLARSHIP STEP VIDEO (2 Minutes)Access the Explore Scholarships video in summer 2021 on the College Board Opportunity Scholarships YouTube channel

2 LESSON PLAN CONTENT (5 Minutes)Overview of the Explore Scholarships step

§ It is the third of the 6 key action steps.

§ 100 scholarships of $500 each will be awarded from July through February.

§ Students earn an entry for Explore Scholarships by using College Board Scholarship Search to explore a list of personalized scholarships.

Features of College Board Scholarship Search § Allows students to receive a customized list of

scholarship opportunities.

§ Streamlines a student’s scholarship search with a focused list of options.

§ Students can connect directly to the provider’s page and complete an application.

3 ACTION ITEMS TO TAKE (17 Minutes) Have students log in to their College Board accounts at scholarships.collegeboard.org.

§ Select Start Matching

§ Students enter their grade level, desired degree (2-year, 4-year, or graduate program), and grade point average.

§ Students will be able to update their matching criteria including intended major, activities, test scores, and more that will help Scholarship Search build their customized list.

Guide students through exploring their matched scholarship programs

§ Once they’ve completed their matching criteria, students should select Show Me The Scholarships.

RESOURCES § Handouts:

Where to Find College Scholarships

How Outside Scholarships Affect Your Financial Aid Package

How to Spot Scholarship Scams

SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITIES

Explore Scholarships

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND KEY POINTS § What are the differences between financial aid and

scholarships?

§ What are the differences between an institutional scholarship and an outside scholarship?

§ Talk to students about how to avoid scholarship scams.

ACTIVITIES § Review a scholarship application

w Select a scholarship program and walk your students through each part of the application.

w Students can follow along by logging in to their College Board Scholarship Search and selecting a scholarship they are a match for.

CELEBRATION § Classroom Celebration

w Acknowledge and celebrate students who complete multiple scholarship applications.

§ Spread the Word w Have students spread the word about the College Board Scholarship Search site. Students can work together to encourage each other to complete their scholarship applications.

ON THEIR OWN § Encourage students to continue to explore additional

scholarship opportunities later, if not completed during class session.

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LESSON PLAN

Strengthen Your College List

OBJECTIVESCounselors will:

1. Share the criteria for the Strengthen Your College List step.

2. Outline how to build a well-balanced college list (reach, match, and safety schools).

1 WATCH SCHOLARSHIP VIDEO (2 Minutes)Share your screen and show students the video: Scholarship Tip: Strengthen Your College List for a Chance to Earn $500 for College

2 REVIEW CONTENT (8 Minutes)Overview of Strengthen Your College List

§ It is the fourth of the 6 key action steps. This step opens for the class of 2022 in July.

§ 100 scholarships of $500 each will be given monthly from July to October.

§ Students must update or create their college list on BigFuture so that their 6 saved colleges include 1 safety, 2 match, and 3 reach colleges.

Provide definition of safety, match, and reach colleges § Reach—Your SAT or ACT score is lower than the

average score range of last year’s freshman class.

§ Match—Your SAT or ACT score is solidly in the same score range as last year’s freshman class.

§ Safety—Your SAT or ACT score is higher than the average score range of last year’s freshman class.

Provide example of safety, match, and reach for Ima Student

§ Ima Student scored 1000 on her SAT.

§ For school A, her score is within the average SAT score range of the freshman class so it’s a match.

§ For school B, her score is above the average score range, so it’s a safety.

§ For school C, her score is below the average score range, so it’s a reach.

3 ACTION ITEMS TO TAKE (10 Minutes)1. Have students log in to BigFuture at bigfuture.org

and update their SAT score.

2. Have students review their list and identify the safety, match, and reach colleges on it.

w Have students provide you with their college list using an online form or survey. If using a shared form, students can utilize their student ID number rather than their name to protect privacy. Without disclosing their list, give students a shout out for completing the task.

3. Students must save a minimum of 1 safety, 2 match and 3 reach colleges on their list.

RESOURCES § Handouts:

How to Build a College List

§ Web:

How to Find a College That Fits You

SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITIES

Strengthen Your College ListDISCUSSION QUESTIONS

§ Why is important to have safety, match, and reach schools on your college list?

§ What factors other than test scores determine if a college is a good fit for you?

§ Were there colleges that ended up under a different category than you expected?

§ Why do you think those colleges ended up in a different category?

ACTIVITIES § My College Short List

w Have students post on their social media about each college they are thinking about and why that college made their short list.

w What factors placed those colleges on their list?

w What makes them most excited about those colleges? What is something they would like to know more about regarding those colleges?

w Encourage students to tag the college and their admissions office in the post as this may develop a dialogue between the student and the college.

ON THEIR OWN § Encourage students to continue to explore BigFuture

and fine-tune their college application list.

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LESSON PLAN

Complete the FAFSA

OBJECTIVESCounselors will:

1. Share the criteria for the Complete the FAFSA step.

2. Outline the FAFSA scholarship eligibility requirements.

3. Share key information on the FAFSA website.

1 WATCH SCHOLARSHIP VIDEO (2 Minutes)Share your screen and show students the video: Scholarship Tip: Complete the FAFSA for a Chance to Earn $500 for College

2 REVIEW CONTENT (15 Minutes)Overview of Complete the FAFSA

§ It is the fifth of the 6 key action steps. This step opens for the class of 2022 in October.

§ $500 scholarship

§ 500 scholarships will be given monthly from October through December. 100 scholarships will be given monthly from January through February.

§ Students must confirm completion of the FAFSA by logging on to their College Board Opportunity Scholarships page and confirming submission on My Action Plan.

§ Students who are ineligible to complete the FAFSA can still have a chance at this scholarship by checking the appropriate selection on their My Action Plan page. They will remain eligible for the $40,000 Complete Your Journey scholarship.

Overview of the FAFSA § Completing the FAFSA is free.

§ FAFSA is available October 1st of the student's senior year.

§ FAFSA is used to qualify students for many types of aid such as grants, scholarships, work-study jobs, and loans.

§ The FAFSA is used for federal aid, as well as by state governments and colleges to award their own aid.

Review key features of fafsa.gov and studentaid.gov § Discuss the items students and their parents will

need to complete the FAFSA, including Social Security number (if applicable), tax return, and other financial documents.

§ Studentaid.gov provides detailed information for students and parents about the FAFSA, the FSA ID, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, student dependency status, reporting parent information, and what happens after the FAFSA is submitted.

3 ACTION ITEMS TO TAKE (10 Minutes)1. Direct students to log in at cb.org/opportunity and

have them identify where they will indicate that they have completed the FAFSA or are not able to complete the FAFSA.

1. 2. Direct students to sign up for free access to Wyatt, the FAFSA assistance chatbot at getfafsahelp.org.

RESOURCES § Handouts:

Financial Aid Glossary

20 Questions to Ask about Financing College

§ Web:

Financial Aid Toolkit

FAFSA Infographic

Financial Aid Essentials

SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITIES

Complete the FAFSADISCUSSION QUESTIONS

§ What are the benefits of completing the FAFSA?

§ Who is eligible to submit the FAFSA?

ACTIVITIES § Create an FSA ID

w Have students create an FSA ID.

ON THEIR OWN § Encourage students to have a conversation about

paying for college with a caring adult who:

w Took out loans to pay for college

w Did not take out loans to pay for college

w Paid off their student debt

w Worked while taking college classes

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LESSON PLAN

Apply to Colleges

OBJECTIVESCounselors will:

1. Share the criteria for the Apply to Colleges step

2. Help students prepare for their college application process

3. Share college application tips with students

4. Share materials necessary for the application process

1 WATCH SCHOLARSHIP VIDEO (2 Minutes)Share your screen and show students the video: Scholarship Tip: Apply to Colleges for a Chance to Earn $500 for College

2 REVIEW CONTENT (5 Minutes)Overview of Apply to Colleges§ It is the sixth of the 6 key action steps. This step opens

to the class of 2022 in October of their senior year.

§ $500 scholarship

§ 300 scholarships will be awarded in February ofstudent's senior year.

§ Students may enter the scholarship from Octoberthrough February.

§ Students earn an entry for this scholarship byapplying to 2 colleges.

Review materials necessary for the application process § Application

§ Transcripts

§ Official test scores

§ Letters of recommendation, if necessary

§ Essay, if necessary

Share college application tips with students§ Use proper capitalization, grammar, and spelling.

§ Give recommenders at least 2 weeks notice.

§ Provide recommenders with a student resume orbrag sheet.

§ Allow someone to review your application forerrors and feedback.

§ Be mindful of deadlines.

3 ACTION ITEMS TO TAKE (17 Minutes)1. Direct students to log in to cb.org/opportunity and

have them identify where they will indicate that theyhave completed their college applications.

2. Have students log in to a college applicationplatform (i.e., Common app or Coalition) and guidethem through completion of the application.

RESOURCES § Booklets:

College Advising Essentials—Volume 1

College Advising Essentials—Volume 2

College Advising Essentials—Volume 3

College Advising Essentials—Volume 4

SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITIES

Apply to CollegesDISCUSSION QUESTIONS

§ Allow students to share how they organize their application process.

§ Allow students to share concerns or open discussion up to the Q&A session.

ACTIVITIES § 2 Truths and a Lie

w Select a student to state 3 items from their student brag sheet.

w Only 2 of the items stated are things the student actually did.

w Class has to guess which 1 of the 3 items is something that the student did not do.

§ Rep Your College w Have students change their backgrounds to the school logo for their top college choice.

§ Oh, the Places They Will Go w Post a map of where students have applied on your counselor page.

CHALLENGE § Classroom Challenge

w Create a competition between classes to see which one has the most students who have completed at least 2 applications by a specified deadline. You can also create competition between homerooms and schools.

§ Spread the Word w Create a challenge for seniors to post pictures of themselves in the college gear or using a college frame for each school they have applied to.

ON THEIR OWN § Have students create a timeline and task list for their

college application process.

§ Have students put deadlines in their calendar or set reminders in their smartphones.

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Appendix

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YOUR SETUPIf you're working from home, make sure your background is professional and appropriate for interactions with students. Set up in front of a bookcase or a wall with a poster or painting. Test your video, have your camera positioned where you are framed from the shoulders up. Make sure your camera is at eye level.

CONSIDERATIONSSet office hours and stick to them. Have clear boundaries with your students and parents. Are you using a school or system issued or a personal device? What information are you storing on that device? Make sure you are complying with school and district guidelines.

ENSURING PRIVACYHeadphones with a microphone should always be used to preserve privacy when talking with students and parents. When possible, use a noise machine; this will assist in developing a more private environment.

Many virtual platforms offer virtual waiting rooms or private breakout rooms. Use these rooms when you have open office hours or back-to-back meetings. These rooms allow you to preserve privacy with students and parents, preventing others from entering too early.

STANDARDSHave procedures in place for students to follow in both emergency and nonemergency situations when you're not available. Work with your students on ways they can develop a similar relationship with you virtually as they did in-person. Update your school’s website and counseling page as often as possible.

BEST PRACTICESSign in to your virtual platform early and stay signed in throughout the day, especially if you have office hours.

If your video freezes or breaks up, check your internet speed. Try turning off your camera to improve quality.

Upon first use for students, set aside some time to introduce your students to the platform. Discuss online etiquette and expectations, as well as school or district policies.

Some platforms have a whiteboard feature. Use this to engage your students as well. Your platform might also have a breakout room feature to preassign or auto-assign students into groups for short periods of time so they may discuss things better.

HOW TO SCHEDULE A MEETINGSome platforms allow you to schedule meetings. Simply enter topic, date, and other related details to schedule. It is recommended that you make registration required when scheduling a meeting or utilize a password for entry.

HOW TO SHARE YOUR SCREENLook for an icon or button for sharing your screen; it's usually located in your meeting controls. You may share your entire desktop, specific application window, or whiteboard. Select the share button when ready and stop sharing when done.

CREATING BREAKOUT ROOMSWhen using the breakout room feature, select the number of rooms you would like to create, and how you would like to assign your participants—automatic or manual.

Tips for Navigating Virtual PlatformsAs you embark upon counseling in a virtual, hybrid, or in-person setting, use these suggestions to help you support your students. Please note that district and school policies differ across the nation, as it relates to virtual delivery of lesson plans, as well as permitted platforms, sites, and tools. Please follow your district and school policies to utilize activities that are in compliance with your setting.

STUDENTS WHO AREN'T SAVVY USING TECHNOLOGY

§ Provide screenshots of how to log in.

§ Collaborate with a teacher to set up small group tutoring on how to do certain tasks.

REASONS THAT A STUDENT MIGHT NOT WANT TO BE ON VIDEO

§ Embarrassed by their home setting.

§ Insecure about their appearance.

§ Might have experienced or concerned about cyberbullying.

§ Allow them to use their name or an avatar.

§ Allow them to change their background.

REASONS THAT A STUDENT MIGHT NOT WANT TO SHARE ANSWERS WITH WHOLE CLASS VIA CHAT

§ Sensitive topic.

§ Feel insecure about their answers compared to peers.

§ Might have experienced or concerned about cyberbullying.

§ Allow student to pass on sharing with whole class.

§ Allow student to share answer with you via the private chat option.

SAFETY CONCERNS

§ Review rules and set expectations for student behavior during virtual sessions.

§ If using break out rooms, monitor them closely and advise students of such.

§ Take precautions to avoid Zoom "bombing" or having unwelcome strangers join your session by using passwords, not publicizing sessions, and advising students not to share meeting information.

§ Follow school and district guidelines.

MENTAL HEALTH

§ If concerned about a student’s mental health, follow school and district guidelines.

§ Participate in professional learning that addresses student mental health at American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

Special CircumstancesThere are many scenarios that can occur in a virtual classroom setting. Below are sample behaviors and possible solutions to take into consideration as you meet with your students virtually.

Please note that district and school policies differ across the nation, as it relates to virtual delivery of lesson plans, as well as permitted platforms, sites, and tools. Please follow your district and school policies to utilize activities that are in compliance with your setting.

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TAKE POLLS OR SURVEYSUse of tools such as Kahoot!, Poll Everywhere, and SurveyMonkey are great ways to gauge student knowledge, seek student input, or ask fun, get to know you questions.

NEW IDENTITYAllow students to change their name on the virtual conference platform. Instead of using their first name, they can instead use one of the following examples:

§ Name of one of their college choices

§ Career choice

§ Favorite food, tv show, place to visit, etc.

FILL IN THE BLANKProvide a statement for students to complete by putting their answers in the chat. For example:

§ As it relates to writing a personal essay, I want to know ___________.

§ A college is a good fit for you if ___________.

§ Some differences to expect between high school and college are ___________.

GIVE AND RECEIVEAllow students to give and receive feedback, a compliment, words of encouragement, or a wish. For example, Student A picks an inspirational quote and gives it to Student B. This is even more impactful if, as they give the quote, Student A goes through the physical motion of handing it to Student B. Student B in turn goes through the physical motion of receiving it. On camera, it can evoke the feeling that comes with giving and receiving.

PLAY GAMESYou can find virtual games for classics, such as Jeopardy or Bingo.

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDSAllow students to share their answers via an image. For example, how do you feel about leaving high school and transitioning to college? Students post their selected image in the chat or you can call on students to share their screen and explain why they chose that image.

Additional Activities for Virtual Classroom GuidancePlease note that district and school policies differ across the nation as they relate to virtual delivery of lesson plans, as well as permitted platforms, sites, and tools. Please follow your district and school policies to utilize activities that are in compliance with your setting.

cb.org/opportunityFind information on the College Board Opportunity Scholarships program, including details and tips for each step, official rules, FAQ, resources for parents and educators, and more. Download resources from this website to support your outreach and implementation efforts.

cb.org/counselorpledgeJoin fellow counselors and educators in a national movement to support students on their college journeys and encourage them to take advantage of the clear steps and benefits of the College Board Opportunity Scholarships. Take the pledge and gain access to a digital pledge kit, monthly tips, and an opportunity to earn a recognition badge.

bigfuture.orgStudents and parents are provided a wealth of information regarding postsecondary education planning on this website. Topics range from the college search to the financial aid process. Videos from students and counseling professionals provide insightful advice.

sat.orgThis website provides information regarding the SAT Suite of Assessments. Included on the site are descriptions of the assessments, important dates, practice questions, and more.

satpractice.orgStudents can practice for free using Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy and access diagnostic quizzes, full-length practice tests, interactive problems, and personalized practice recommendations. Students will receive instant feedback on their answers so they can see their progress and maximize their study time.

studentaid.ed.govThis is the comprehensive U.S. government site that covers all information related to financial aid. It also has a “Prepare for College” section that details the financial benefits of attending college, explores career options, and provides academic and financial aid checklists.

collegeboard.org/counselorsThis College Board website page is dedicated to counselors. Access our wide range of professional learning offerings including Counselor Summer Institute, Counselor Workshops, and the Counselor Webinar Series. You can also access our E-learning modules and downloadable resources.

scholarships.collegeboard.orgCollege Board Scholarship Search is a tool that allows you to create a profile with standard information requested by many college scholarship applications. This profile is used to match you with scholarships you're eligible for based on their requirements.

getfafsahelp.orgStudents can sign up for WyattSM, a personal FAFSA assistance chatbot. Wyatt is free to use and can answer questions that students have as they complete the FAFSA.

fafsa.govThe federal government website for everything to do with federal student aid. This is where students go to fill out the FAFSA. Helpful announcements are posted on the homepage.

financialtoolkit.ed.govPacked with resources, this website provides fact sheets, videos, infographics, PowerPoint presentations, sample tweets, etc., to help counselors advise students about financial aid. Use of tools such as Kahoot!, Poll Everywhere, and SurveyMonkey are great ways to gauge student knowledge, seek student input, or ask fun, get to know you questions.

Web Resources

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