Whether it is high school or middle school it is never too early to start making the connections between school and the world of work. I love having the opportunity to push into classrooms and meet with students before our scheduling meetings to discuss the importance of making the connection between students' course selection and future career goals. Students benefit from thinking about how the skills they gain in school relate to the world of work and their post-secondary plans whether it is a college or a trade.
Skill Acquisition for the Real World
Schools are not just institutions for theoretical knowledge; they are training grounds for real-world challenges. Connecting coursework to future careers enables students to grasp the practical applications of what they learn. From problem-solving and critical thinking to effective communication, these skills are transferable assets in any profession.
The larger group conversation can be tailored to the specific elective offerings at your school and also towards core courses and core course placement. This is a great time to introduce the idea that certain colleges or college majors are looking for students to take accelerated or advanced course work tailored to their interests. For example, students interested in Nursing or Engineering should be planning to advance to a higher level math before graduation.
Students entering the trades may not have realized the benefit of their course course work to their future career goals. How does English class relate to a construction job? Well if you are an independent contractor you may have to write client emails, draw up reports, or even market and advertise yourself if you work for your own company.
Setting Goals and Aspirations
Making the connection between course selection and future careers helps students set tangible goals. Whether aiming for a specific college, vocational training, or entrepreneurial ventures, having a clear vision motivates students to excel academically. It transforms education from a series of tasks to a purposeful journey.
- Have students identify what their individual goals are
- Ensure these goals are tailored to their post-secondary plans (or current interests)
- Students realize how academic decision making now influences their future
- Students plan course selection to ensure that course sequencing fits within their timeline
- Encourage advancing into higher level course work through highlighting importance and planning
I use the below resource with my students and would love to hear how this works in your classrooms. This could also be used by classroom teachers and does not need to be specific to school counseling. I created two versions for schools who utilize Naviance and have access to the career and personality assessments. I also included a version for schools without Naviance which directs students to take a super quick assessment through CareerOneStop.
Let me know how it works for you!
Check out these other resources for post-secondary planning & academic advisement:
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@supercoolcounseling - Thanks! - Super Cool Counseling by Michelle Beech
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