College & Career Readiness

College & Career Readiness

Elementary School

Elementary school teachers may think college and career preparation is outside the scope of their responsibilities, it is critically important for teachers to start conversations about the future early so that students begin to understand the importance of school and how their teachers/counselors should increase their level of success.

We can use some strategies in a classroom environment to promote college and career readiness.

  •   Establish an Open Dialogue:

For young elementary students, the notion of college and careers can seem abstract or far in the distant future, especially for students who may be the first in their family to obtain an advanced education. To make college more concrete in their minds, it would be beneficial to introduce various colleges and careers to students so they can start envisioning possibilities for their futures early on.

  • Encourage Student Goals:

To help my students set concrete goals for the future, each student in my class is tasked to create a one-page plan with their parents or guardians that answers the following questions: 

  • What career would you like to pursue when you are older?

  • What college would you like to attend?

  • How will you make your dreams come true?

Method

K-2nd Grade

3rd-5th Grade

Outcomes (Data)

Real World Experience

Bring in community members to present their occupations to students and answer students’ questions about their careers. Have students consider whether they would like a career similar to the presenter and define why or why not.

Take field trips to jobs in the community (i.e. fire department, police station, hospital, etc.). Have members of the community speak to the class about their job.

Students learn about different career opportunities through community members.

Class Activities

Career Bingo. Career Hangman. Have students write/draw themselves performing their future careers and share them with the class.

Write a letter to your future self about career goals and interests. Work in small groups and brainstorm and research 5 new occupations.

Students learn about various careers and identify occupations that interest them.

Use of Technology

Have students make slideshows about their values, interests, strengths, and weaknesses. Explore one career online and create an informational video.

Students use technology to learn more about themselves and the careers they are interested in.

Lesson Plans

Lead a lesson about the importance of our unique skills and capabilities. Have students group up and discuss their personal qualities. Then have students draw their exceptional qualities and determine which specific qualities they would like to improve upon.

Have students fill out S.M.A.R.T. Goal Planner. Write an essay about at least three careers you are interested in. SMART goal planner lesson plan ideas: https://www.teachervision.com/blog/morning-announcements/an-interactive-lesson-plan-for-teaching-students-how-to-set-smart-goals

Students learn how to select and work towards goals. Students practice reflecting on their interests and abilities.

Examinations

Job Application/ College Materials

Career and Skillset Exploration. Have students write about or draw the career that interests them the most and consider their skills that would be beneficial for that career.

Have kids develop a resume using online examples (5th grade).

Students begin to develop the skills necessary for success in the workforce.

Personal Planning

Have students draw pictures of their ideal work environment. (Ex. for students who like animals, they could draw themselves outdoors, feeding zoo animals.) Have students reflect on what they like most about this work environment.

Students will contrast two decisions using a Venn diagram chart. Have children reflect on a decision they felt proud of making.

Students will explore career paths, determine which careers interest them, and develop decision-making skills.

Middle School

The goal of middle schools was to prepare students for high school. As high schools add Advanced Placement courses and Dual Credit courses, middle schools must look at what steps to take to help their students advance toward college and career readiness, not just high school readiness.

There are some suggestions to make middle school students ready for college, and career readiness and those are;

  • Host a Career Fair

Hosting a Career Fair is a great opportunity to expose middle school students to careers they might not know about and get your community involved with the school. Most parents of students work, so setting up a night where parents can come in and set up a booth to share their jobs would be a great opportunity for both parents and students.

  • Give Students a Mentor

A middle school staff member that can keep an eye on each student is a wonderful way for students to be kept accountable and to be doted upon by someone who cares about them. A teacher who looks after a group of students, like a homeroom, for all 3 years that a student is in middle school is a splendid idea!

Method

6th Grade

7th Grade

8th Grade

Outcomes (Data)

Real World Experience

Interviewing a family, friend, or community member to learn about their job.

Role play practicing professional phone calls and leaving voicemails by using a very basic script.

Career Fair- Teachers and Administrators can help by inviting some professionals from different fields for the career fair.

Students will gain real-world knowledge from their surroundings. They will also learn through role-playing and talking to professionals at a career fair.

Class Activities

Career Show- Dress up like professionals they want to be (doctor, teacher, lawyer, etc.)

Trivia Questions on Interesting Facts about different occupations.

Role play and introduce the occupations they are interested in.

Students are going to learn more about college and career readiness through fun activities, like Career Show or Trivia Questions.

Use of Technology

Teach students to use online tech tools of your choosing such as Class Dojo, educlipper, storybird, etc.

Interactive true & false “use of technology” appropriateness quiz.

Technology-knowledge day. Have each team present tech safety lessons to students. They can include tips and tricks to make life easier.

Students will increase their awareness of using technology, by learning the appropriateness of technology. Also providing online tech tools and a tech-knowledge day will help them learn how to use technology.

Lesson Plans

My Career and College Dreams Collage- This is one of the easiest activities to implement. Ask your students to create a personal collage of their possible dream jobs/careers. They should find corresponding photos in magazines, on the computer, or create a drawing for that position.

Match the Mascot to the College- Customize for your state.

Building a College Vocabulary- Knowledge begins with language. Assisting younger students to understand the concepts of “higher education,” “college,” “university,” “community college,” and “technical school.”

Students will get to expand their knowledge on careers and colleges. They will expand the vocabulary that they will need later in their lives.

Examinations

Job Application/ College Materials

Learn about strengths and weaknesses. Help students discover what they are good at and what they are not good at. Explain the importance of self-reflection and how it relates to having a job and or being in college.

Career lesson. Inform students on different career paths and have them take a career assessment. Get the community involved on this one (people are passionate about what they do, give them an opportunity to pour into youth).

College lesson. Inform students on the difference between certifications, associates, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Teach students how to search different colleges.

Students will get to learn about themselves, things they are good at, and things they need to focus on. They will have a general idea of what applying for a job looks like. Community members will be included to inform students about their occupations.

Personal Planning

Identify personal interests, abilities, and strengths.

Describe skills needed in a variety of occupations.

Visit the High School they will enter as freshmen. Take a tour of the school, sign up for freshmen classes, get assigned to upperclassmen mentors, etc.

Students will explore their personal interests, they will be able to describe what skills are needed for occupations. They will have first-hand field experience.

High School

High school is one of the most significant steps of K-12 and also the last stop right before college. Here are some suggestions to apply;

  • Guidance Lessons & Group Sessions

First, introduce your students to choosing a career based on their interests. Next, send them to some online sites where they can research the post-high school institutions that have programs of study for the careers they are most interested in. Finally, teach them about their options for getting higher education during public education.

  • Personal Graduation Plans

The purpose of a Personal Graduation Plan (PGP) is to guide a child to graduate from high school with the highest level of achievement. The PGP for a middle school student is a support plan based on academic needs. Alternately, the PGP for a high school student is a specific plan where the student notates their endorsement (major) and plans out their four years of classes. Again, this is done under the supervision of the parent/guardian and a school staff member.

Method

Freshman/Sophomore

Junior

Senior

Outcomes (Data)

Real-World Experience

Volunteer around the community pertaining to interest.

Secure a mentorship with an adult in your field of interest.

Take college/Honors/AP courses.

Get involved with an organization that aligns with your career interest.

Have an internship.

Continue job shadowing.

Talk to a military recruiter who visits the school.

Students gain a better understanding of what life after high school will look like.

Class Activities

All Subjects-

Build relationships with all teachers by finding out their educational paths.

All Subjects-

Bring in guest speakers who attend nearby colleges and are a part of/teach for a program that relates to the subject of the class.

History-

Have students present what organizations they would like to be a part of at their dream school that relates to social issues/history.

Have students practice interviewing each other.

Mock interview with staff.

Have a discussion on what students plan to do after high school.

Have a senior night after school.

Students will be able to practice interview skills that will be used in the future.

They will learn about the paths that can be taken after high school.

Use of Technology

Research funding opportunities for college/careers.

Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Research the educational requirements for degrees or careers of choice.

Host a FAFSA night to help families of first-generation college students learn about what they need for the process and the deadlines to submit.

Use iPad, Chromebook, and computers at school to search for jobs that are hiring.

College applications, scholarships, etc.

Create a survey to collect data regarding what students are planning to do after graduation.

Students will be able to learn more about college and career options by researching using some type of technology.

Lesson Plans

College/Career Aspiration Presentations-

Students will create and present 10- minute presentations to learn about the career/college admission process. Presentations should include college/career choice and the according process to achieve this aspiration with their “why”.

Resume Workshop-

Students will learn how to create a resume that stands out and uses action verbs and professional language.

Options after high school presentation.

Life after high school lesson.

Students will gain concrete knowledge about how to achieve their goals, build a quality resume, and what life after high school entails.

Examinations

Schedule and complete PSAT.

Schedule and complete PSAT, ACT, SAT, and AP exams.

Career tests, ASVAB, PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams.

How many students gained a pathway?

How many students are taking AP courses?

How many students are graduating with Academic Honors?

How many students are enlisting in the military?

Job Application/ College Materials

Think about and begin to obtain achievements, field experience, and awards.

Personal statement/Cover letter practice.

Consider who to get letters of recommendation from and how to obtain them.

College visits.

Career center.

Scholarship information.

Obtain letters of recommendation.

Updated resume.

Students will possess the adequate materials needed to apply for scholarships, a job(s), enlistment, and college(s) of interest.

Personal Planning

Monitor/Boost GPA.

Consider whether employment, enlistment, or college enrollment is the path for you.

Reach out to the school counselor to devise a college/career plan.

Check in monthly to monitor progress toward the plan.

Mentor program for freshmen.

Meet with SC to make sure you're on track to graduate.

Talk to SC about post-secondary options.

Students will have the ability to establish and follow through with a plan that empowers them to accomplish personal life goals.