A key component of Freshman Focus is mentorship. The structure of the program is essential in order to make effective use of daily time and establish credibility; however, built into Freshman Focus is the opportunity for ninth grade students to learn from and model the behavior of respected teachers and upperclassmen students. A group of four student leaders and one teacher mentor is assigned to every twenty freshmen in the ninth grade class. The teacher mentor and student leaders then work together to deliver Freshman Focus content. Some lessons are led by the teacher; others are led by the teacher mentor and student leaders together; and many are taught solely by the student leaders.
Because of the important role the teacher mentors and student leaders play in the execution of the Freshman Focus program, the selection process is crucial and competitive. Both teachers and students are required to submit applications, write essays, and design sample activities. These materials are then screened for quality and commitment to program success. The bottom line is that no matter how structured lessons and content are, the best learning will depend on the delivery and modeling of excellent teachers and student leaders.
If Freshman Focus achieves its purpose, the result will be a group of ninth grade students who are comfortable in the new high school setting and who have acquired a skills set that will increase the chances of high school success both academically and socially.
