1. Overview of Program
Since 1983, CHOICES has helped millions of students in
the U.S., Canada and Australia shape their futures.

2. is . . .
Administered in Nashville by PENCIL Foundation in collaboration with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools.
Two powerful, fast-paced 50-minute classroom seminars designed to help middle schools students realize that they can take charge of their lives.

3. seminar presenters . . .
Engage students in interactive lessons that demonstrate that all decisions have consequences.
Use role play activities to increase student understanding of the importance of money and time management and to make “real world” connections between school and career.

4. PENCIL Foundation’s goal is . . .
To recruit volunteers from the community, train them, and assign them to Metro middle schools where they will conduct CHOICES seminars in eighth-grade classrooms.

5. PENCIL Foundation’s role in
Recruits and trains business and other community volunteers to present seminars
Provides all seminar materials to volunteer presenters
Helps schedule and manage volunteer participation
Evaluates program with input from volunteers, students and educators

6. A school’s role in
Selects a coordinator—often the school guidance counselor—to serve as liaison between school and PENCIL
Identifies classroom teachers wanting to have the seminars presented to their students
Informs teachers about the logistics of hosting seminars during their class period
Coordinates and schedules presentation times with volunteers, PENCIL program manager, and host teachers
Evaluates program and communicates regularly with PENCIL program manager

7. seminar presenters . . .
Are recruited through PENCIL Partners and community organizations as well as from individual applications.
Engage students in two 50-minute seminars on two consecutive days.
Commit to leading seminars in 1- 3 classrooms on two consecutive days

8. impacts students by . . .
Helping them discover how much control they actually have over their lives and futures.
Engaging them in thoughtful discussions focusing upon factors influencing their lives, how they can take charge of many of them, and the concept that self-discipline is “The Key to Success.”
Making a compelling case that education—or the lack of it—impacts life options. 

9. materials Seminar Leader Guide Procedures for conducting Seminar 1
Information essential to effective classroom presentations
Toolkit
Overhead transparencies
Masters of exercises, worksheets and surveys
Props needed for interactive exercises
Laminated cards required for exercises

10. presentation tips
REMEMBER You—the Volunteer Seminar Presenter—are the “Key to Success” of the CHOICES lessons.
Seminars are not intended to be “canned” presentations.
Be at ease with the material. Develop a comfortable and natural delivery style. Relax and enjoy the seminars with the kids!
Follow the sequence of activities in the lesson plans and cover all elements in your presentation.

11. presentation tips Feel free to incorporate your own words.
Present the seminars in a non-judgmental manner.
Encourage students to draw conclusions, anticipate outcomes and establish in their own minds the relationship between today’s decisions and tomorrow’s consequences.
Use interactive exercises, discussion, questions and anecdotes to engage students.

12. seminar presenters . . . Serve as powerful role models.
Share knowledge and experience of the “real” world—that is, life after graduation.
Reinforce things students have already heard, inspire them to change in attitude and performance, and plant seeds that will need further nurturing.
Motivate students to THINK and PLAN.

13. student participants . . .
Learn the importance of wise decision making.
Broaden their perception of what to anticipate after graduation.
Have the opportunity to learn from an adult in the business community in a relaxed, friendly and structured manner.

14. pre-seminar assignment
The school coordinator arranges for the classroom teacher to get the Apartment Hunt Worksheet.
Several days before the first seminar, the teacher makes copies for his or her students.
In preparation for the seminars, students complete the worksheet to have ready for use in the seminars.

15. seminar 1: lesson plan Classroom Introduction 5 minutes
Factors Influencing Who I Am minutes
The CHOICES Challenge minutes
Time Management minutes
Money Management minutes
Homework Assignment for Day Two minutes

16. seminar 2: lesson plan Review 5 minutes The Time of My Life 5 minutes
School Decisions & Career Consequences minutes
Connections Between School & Work minutes
Future Impact minutes
My Plan to Take Charge of My Life minutes
The Key to Success minutes

17. helps students . . . See that many factors influence their lives.
Comprehend that they can control many of those factors.
Identify self-discipline as the most important factor.
Realize that decisions have consequences.
Understand that educational choices have both short-term and long-term consequences.

18. helps students . . .
Discover how many “free” hours they have each week.
See the benefits of doing homework in light of the free time available to them.
Discover how much money it takes to live on their own.
Realize the possible long-term impact of dropping out of school.
Appreciate some of the many ways a career can be rewarding.

19. helps students . . .
Make clear connections between education and career options.
Identify the five building blocks of success and the rewards they can provide.
Understand that there is a connection between what is expected at school and what will be expected at work.
Discover how their decisions impact others.
Acquire a method to set goals and make a plan to achieve them.

20. PENCIL Foundation Contact Paul Cotton
x 228