Letter to My Future Self: A High School Journey
Inquiry Framework
Question Framework
Driving Question
The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can reflecting on your 9th-grade experiences, evolving self-understanding, and future aspirations inform a letter to your senior self, guiding your actions and shaping your high school journey?Essential Questions
Supporting questions that break down major concepts.- How have your experiences in 9th grade shaped your perspective on high school?
- What are your aspirations for your remaining high school years, and what steps can you take now to achieve them?
- In what ways has your understanding of yourself and your goals evolved during your first year of high school?
Standards & Learning Goals
Learning Goals
By the end of this project, students will be able to:- Reflect on 9th-grade experiences and their impact.
- Articulate personal growth and evolving self-understanding.
- Define aspirations and goals for the remaining high school years.
- Develop письмо writing skills: structure, tone, and clarity.
- Connect present actions to future outcomes.
- Critically evaluate personal development over time.
- Set actionable steps towards achieving future goals.
- Communicate effectively through письмо writing.
- Demonstrate self-awareness and introspection.
- Apply письмо writing conventions to express sentiments and aspirations effectively
Entry Events
Events that will be used to introduce the project to studentsTime Capsule Reveal
Time Capsule Reveal: Present students with a "time capsule" filled with letters from past 9th graders to their senior selves. As they read these diverse reflections and aspirations, students start to consider what they might want to say to their future selves, sparking curiosity about their own journeys.Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities
These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.Dear Senior Self: Crafting Your Future Narrative
Students will draft the письмо to their senior selves, incorporating reflections on their 9th-grade experiences, their personal growth, and their goals for the future. They will connect present actions to future outcomes, demonstrating self-awareness and introspection.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA completed письмо to their senior selves, ready to be placed in a time capsule.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsConnect present actions to future outcomes. Critically evaluate personal development over time. Demonstrate self-awareness and introspection.9th Grade Reflections: Mapping Your Journey
Students will brainstorm significant experiences, challenges, and achievements from their 9th-grade year. They will create a timeline or mind map to visually represent these events.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA visual representation (timeline or mind map) of key 9th-grade experiences, labeled with brief descriptions of their impact.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsReflect on 9th-grade experiences and their impact.Mastering the Art of письмо Writing
Students will learn about the structure and conventions of letter writing, focusing on tone and clarity. They will practice writing письмо segments expressing different emotions and sentiments.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityPractice письмо segments demonstrating appropriate tone and structure.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsDevelop письмо writing skills: structure, tone, and clarity. Communicate effectively through письмо writing. Apply письмо writing conventions to express sentiments and aspirations effectively.Charting Your Course: SMART Goals for the Future
Students will define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for their remaining high school years. They will outline actionable steps to achieve these goals.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA list of SMART goals for the future with actionable steps for each goal.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsDefine aspirations and goals for the remaining high school years. Set actionable steps towards achieving future goals.Rubric & Reflection
Portfolio Rubric
Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio9th Grade Reflective письмо Writing Rubric
Reflective Thinking
Assesses the student's ability to reflect on their 9th-grade experiences and personal growth.Experience Reflection
Evaluates how well the student reflects on and describes their 9th-grade experiences.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides comprehensive, insightful reflections on 9th-grade experiences with strong connections to personal growth.
Proficient
3 PointsOffers clear and detailed reflections on 9th-grade experiences with connections to personal growth.
Developing
2 PointsIncludes basic reflections on 9th-grade experiences with limited connections to personal growth.
Beginning
1 PointsReflects minimally on 9th-grade experiences with little to no connection to personal growth.
Personal Growth Analysis
Assesses the student's analysis of how they have grown or changed during the 9th grade.
Exemplary
4 PointsExcellently analyzes personal growth with nuanced understanding and illustrations.
Proficient
3 PointsClearly analyzes personal growth with adequate supporting detail.
Developing
2 PointsProvides limited analysis of personal growth with some illustrative examples.
Beginning
1 PointsAnalysis of personal growth is superficial and vague.
Future Planning and Goal Setting
Evaluates the student's ability to set realistic goals and plan actionable steps for the future.Goal Articulation
Measures the clarity and relevance of the goals set by the student for their remaining high school years.
Exemplary
4 PointsArticulates ambitious yet realistic goals with exceptional clarity and relevance.
Proficient
3 PointsArticulates clear and relevant goals with logical consistency.
Developing
2 PointsSets basic goals with some clarity but may lack full relevance.
Beginning
1 PointsGoals are unclear and lack specificity and relevance.
Actionable Steps Planning
Evaluates the ability to outline specific actionable steps to meet set goals.
Exemplary
4 PointsOutlines comprehensive and practical actionable steps for each goal.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides adequate actionable steps that logically support each goal.
Developing
2 PointsIncludes limited actionable steps that are somewhat practical.
Beginning
1 PointsActionable steps are vague or impractical.
писмо Writing Skills
Assesses the student's ability to effectively communicate through письмо writing.Structure and Organization
Evaluates how well the letter is structured and organized, including opening, body, and conclusion.
Exemplary
4 PointsDemonstrates impeccable structure and organization with seamless flow.
Proficient
3 PointsShows clear structure and organization with a logical flow of ideas.
Developing
2 PointsHas some structural organization but may lack logical connection between ideas.
Beginning
1 PointsLacks clear structure; ideas are disorganized and difficult to follow.
Tone and Clarity
Assesses the appropriateness of tone and the clarity of expression in the letter.
Exemplary
4 PointsExhibits a sophisticated tone and precise clarity of expression throughout.
Proficient
3 PointsMaintains appropriate tone and expresses ideas clearly.
Developing
2 PointsDemonstrates inconsistent tone and variable clarity in expression.
Beginning
1 PointsHas inappropriate tone or lacks clarity, making understanding difficult.