Native American College and Career Success
Edition: 4
Copyright: 2025
Edition: 4
Copyright: 2025
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The book is based on the premise that education for Native American and Indigenous students begins with a positive self-concept. For these students, positive self-concept includes pride in their cultural background.
Chapters contain a section titled “Stories from the Elders” or “Interviews with the Elders,” which help students to connect universal themes in Native cultures to college success. Stories from Canada, the United States, and Mexico bridge commonalities across cultures.
Talking circle topics help students to understand traditional culture and how they can build on this knowledge to improve their success in college, careers, and life.
Chapter 1, The Spirit Essence of All We Do: Cultural Identity and Success, contains an overview of Native American and Canadian Indigenous history of higher education from colonization to the present day. It helps students to understand that taking pride in their culture and appreciating diversity is the foundation for learning. It also helps students in transitioning to college and overcoming common obstacles to their success.
New Topics Include:
• Health and Wellbeing
• Suggestions for Successful Learning from the Native Perspective
• The Native Concept of Time
• Native Ways of Knowing
• Begin Your Journey with Smudging
A new section, Additional Cultural Material, contains added stories and talking circle questions for discussion
Tools for Student Engagement
• Interactive activities within the text help students to practice the material learned.
• Frequent quizzes and answer keys within the chapters help students with reading comprehension and check understanding of key concepts.
• Journal entries help students think critically and apply what they have learned to their personal lives.
• Individual and group exercises are included at the end of each chapter.
Resources for Faculty and Students at College Success 1
The College Success 1 website at www.collegesuccess1.com has additional materials to accompany this textbook. Student resources include key ideas, Internet links related to each chapter, and Word documents for the journal entries. Resources for faculty include the Instructor Manual and Faculty Resources for teaching college success courses including over 500 pages of classroom exercises, handouts, video suggestions, Internet links to related material, and much more.
HumanEsources, in partnership with Kendall Hunt Publishing, hosts an interactive online version of textbooks authored by Dr. Fralick.
View the Interactive Online Version
The interactive version uses the latest technology to include:
- Interactive exercises with immediate scoring and feedback.
- Quizzes that are automatically scored.
- Career assessments that appear in relevant chapters. The assessments include active links to career research and available job openings through Indeed.com.
- Course management integration which enables faculty to view, grade, and provide student feedback online and within the course management system. Quiz grades and faculty graded work are automatically entered the gradebook.
- Ease of customization.
- Direct purchase of access codes to avoid bookstore markups.
- Online support materials including interactive classroom exercises, handouts, PowerPoint presentations and test banks.
- Customer Care that provides setup and support for students and faculty.
- Data on student success and retention.
Preface
Features of This Book
Acknowledgments
About the Artist
About the Authors
1 The Spirit Essence of All We Do: Cultural Identity and Success
Learning Objectives
Career Success: Joy Harjo, Poet Laureate Beginning in a Good Way
Celebrate Who You Are
Getting Started
College Success
The Unfortunate History of Higher Education for Native American and Indigenous Students
The Rebirth of Education and Cultural Identity
The Importance of Family and Home
Overcoming Obstacles
Cultural Differences
Academic and Financial Issues
Personal Empowerment through Culture
Cultural Traditionalism
Finding a Safe Place
Health and Well-Being
Suggestions for Successful Learning from the Native Perspective
Stories from the Elders: Wesakechak and Crane
Notes
Talking Circle
Notes
2 Dreams Bring Knowledge: Understanding Motivation
Learning Objectives
Career Success: Lily Gladstone, Actress What Do I Want from College?
What Is the Value of a College Education?
Choosing a Major and Career
How to Be Motivated
Your Mindset Makes a Difference
Grit: A Powerful Tool for Student Success
Thinking Positively about the Future
Find Something Interesting in Your Studies
Avoid Multi-Tasking
Intrinsic or Extrinsic Motivation
Locus of Control
Other Ways to Improve Motivation
Success Is a Habit
Eight Steps to Change a Habit
Keys to Success: Persistence
Interviews and Stories from the Elders
Interview from the Elder: Juanita Edaakie
Talking Circle
Notes
Exercises
3 Walk with Nature as One: Choosing Your Major
Learning Objectives
Career Success: Autumn Peltier, Water Rights and Environmental Activist Making a Career Decision
Steps in Making a Career Decision
Choose a Major That Matches Your Gifts and Talents
Understanding Personality Types
Extraversion or Introversion
Sensing or Intuition
Thinking or Feeling
Judging or Perceiving
Personality and Career Choice
Personality and Preferred Work Environment
Exploring Your Personal Strengths
Build on Your Strengths
Using Emotional Intelligence in Your Personal Life and Career
Exploring Your Interests
Realistic
Investigative
Artistic
Social
Enterprising
Conventional
Using Values to Make Important Life Decisions
Work Skills for the Twenty-First Century
Career Trends 2024-2030
Artificial Intelligence
Working from Home
Flexibility
Diversity at Work
Preference for Soft Skills
Green Jobs
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Higher Earnings in STEM Occupations
Increased Need for Education
Increasing Opportunities in Healthcare, Social Service, Computer, and Mathematical Occupations
Declining Careers in Manufacturing, Retail Trade, Sales, and Administrative Support
Career Outlook
Keys to Success
Stories from the Elders: The Creation of the Fifth Sun and Moon
Notes
Talking Circle
Notes
Exercises
4 The Moon Will Smile at Your Courage: Managing Time and Money
Learning Objectives
Career Success: Deb Haaland, Politician and Activist The Native Concept of Time
What Are My Lifetime Goals?
A Goal or a Fantasy?
The ABCs of Time Management
Technology and Time Management
Suggestions for Dealing with Technology Addiction
How to Estimate Study and Work Time
Schedule Your Success
What Is Your Chronotype?
Using a Schedule
If You Dislike Schedules
Manage Your Time with a Web Application
Time Management Tricks
Divide and Conquer
Do the First Small Step
The 80/20 Rule
Aim for Excellence, Not Perfection
Make Learning Fun by Finding a Reward
Take a Break
Learn to Say No Sometimes
Dealing with Time Bandits
Dealing with Procrastination
Why Do We Procrastinate?
Tips for Dealing with Procrastination
Managing Your Money
The Best Ideas for Becoming Financially Secure
Money Management Tips for College Students
Need More Money? Explore Employment, Financial Aid, and Scholarships
Keys to Success: Do What Is Important First
Stories from the Elders: How the Navajo Learned to Weave
Reference
Talking Circle
Notes
Exercises
5 The Earth Sings the Same Song It Sang to My Ancestors: Improving Your Memory
Learning Objectives
Career Success: Jodi Wilson-Raybould, Lawyer, Author, and Politician Native Ways of Knowing
5 Characteristics of Indigenous Knowledge
Improving Your Memory
Memory: Short Term Versus Long Term
Forgetting
Minimizing Forgetting
Practical Memory Techniques Based on Brain Science
Think Positively about Learning
Develop an Interest
See the Big Picture First
Meaningful Organization
The Magical Number 7 Theory
Visualization
Intend to Remember
Elaboration
Distribute the Practice
Create a Basic Background
Stress and Emotions
Using Mnemonics and Other Memory Tricks
Acrostics
Acronyms
Peg Systems
Loci Systems
Visual Clues
Say It Aloud
Have a Routine
Write It Down
Remembering Names
Keys to Success: Positive Thinking
Stories from the Elders: Wesakechake-pwekitot
Talking Circle
Notes
Exercises
6 The Rainbow Will Rise Full Circle: Improving Study Skills
Learning Objectives
Career Success: John Herrington, Astronaut Neuroscience and Practical Learning Strategies
Visual Learning Strategies
Audio Learning Strategies
Tactile Learning Techniques
Kinesthetic Learning Strategies
Olfactory Learning Strategies
Gustatory Learning Strategies
Applying Memory Strategies to Reading
A Study System for Reading a College Textbook: SQ4R
Reading Strategies for Different Subjects
Improving Reading Concentration
Guidelines for Marking Your Textbook
Tips for Online Learners
Advantages of Online Learning
Challenges of Online Learning
Balance Freedom with Responsibility
Establish a Personal Schedule
Minimize Distractions
Read the Syllabus
Online Learning and Memory
Review Tools
Online Assessment
Expect More Writing
How to Be Successful in Your Math Courses
A Student Perspective: How to Be Successful in Math
Keys to Success: Create Your Success
Stories from the Elders: How Spider Stole the Sun
Notes
References
Talking Circle
Notes
Exercises
7 Listen to the Trees Talk: Taking Notes, Writing, and Speaking
Learning Objectives
Career Success: Tommy Orange, Author Why Take Notes?
The College Lecture
How to Be a Good Listener
Handwritten Notes and Memory
Tips for Good Note Taking
Note-Taking Systems
The Cornell Format
The Outline Method
The Mind Map
Taking Notes in Math
Improving Note-Taking Efficiency
Telegraphic Sentences
Signal Words
How to Review Your Notes
Power Your Writing with Artificial Intelligence
Beware of Plagiarism
Prepare
Organize
Write
Writer’s Block
Edit and Revise
Final Steps
Effective Public Speaking
Learn to Relax
Preparing and Delivering Your Speech
Keys to Success: Be Selective
Stories from the Elders: How the Spider Symbol Came to the People
Notes
Reference
Talking Circle
Notes
Exercises
8 Walk with Bare Feet on the Earth: Test Taking
Learning Objectives
Career Success: Adam Beach, Actor Begin Your Journey with Smudging
Preparing for Tests
Attend Every Class
Distribute the Practice
Schedule a Time and a Place for Studying
Test Review Tools
Reviewing Effectively
Predicting Test Questions
Preparing for an Open-Book Test
Emergency Procedures
Ideas That Don’t Work
Dealing with Test Anxiety
Dealing with Math Anxiety
Math Tests
Taking Tests
True-False Tests
Multiple-Choice Tests
Matching Tests
Sentence-Completion or Fill-in-the Blank Tests
Essay Tests
What to Do When Your Test Is Returned
Keys to Success: Be Prepared
Interview from the Elder: Ms. Elaine St. John
Talking Circle
Notes
Exercises
9 Empower Yourself: Strategies for Success
Learning Objectives
Career Success: Sean Sherman, Sioux Chef
Balancing the Four Elements for Health and Wellbeing
Indigenous Health
Empower Yourself by Discovering Your Character Strengths
Empower Yourself by Building on Strengths from Your Family, Culture, and Community
Empower Yourself by Taking Care of Your Mental Health
Managing Thoughts and Feelings
Increase Awareness of Negative Thought Patterns
Increasing Resilience
Strategies to Build Resilience
Empower Yourself by Managing Stress and Relaxing
What is Stress?
Practice Stress-Reducing Thoughts
Using Mindfulness to Relax
Using Breathing Techniques for Relaxation
Calming Your Mind
Relaxing Your Body
Quick Relaxation Strategies
Social Media and Stress
Empower Yourself by Focusing on Wellness
Longevity in the Blue Zones
Exercise, Learning, and Mental Health
Good Nutrition
Benefits of Getting Enough Sleep
Choose Well-Being by Avoiding Harmful Substances
Empower Yourself by Taking Steps to Increase Happiness
Empower Yourself by Reflecting on Your Life Purpose
Keys to Success: Empower Yourself to Find Help When You Need It
Additional Cultural Material
To’lowim Woman and Butterfly Man
The Youth Who Brought the Corn
How Coyote Got His Cunning
The Gifts of Gluscap
The Wooden Doll, Iroquois, Northeast
White Buffalo Calf Woman
Glossary
Index
Dr. Marsha Fralick has been recognized as an Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate by the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition for excellence in teaching, curriculum development, and leadership over the last 43 years. She has brought together research in psychology, education, neuroscience, health, and career development to provide students with strategies for college, career, and lifelong success. Her college and career success materials are now used by community colleges and universities nationwide and in Canada. She has a doctorate from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in career counseling, a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Redlands, and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and English from Arizona State University. She has a passion for helping students achieve their goals and dreams in life through developing a positive self-concept and increasing both their skills and motivation to achieve success.
Beatrice Zamora is a retired educator with 32 years of service with a special focus upon students who face challenges of being low-income, educationally underprepared, and under-represented in college. Beatrice has served in various roles in higher education including the Dean of Counseling and Student Services, professor, and counselor. In 2015, Beatrice received the honor of Woman of the Year – Higher Education, bestowed upon her by the California State Legislature, an acknowledgement of her dedication and service to the students of California. Bea understands that cultural diversity is a strength and she has explored her Native American heritage through the Aztec dance and culture of Mexico and collecting Native American stories. She has a passion for creating equality and helping students reach for their dreams.
As a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Larry Gauthier was raised in the Woodland Cree traditions and incorporates traditional First Nations value and beliefs systems into student support programs. Larry has spent over 20 years working in student support services and most recently at the senior executive level with Southeast College in Saskatchewan. His passion has always been student retention and success.