career kaleidoscope: what do you see? chances, changes, and challenges

Career Kaleidoscope:What Do You See?

Chances, Changes, and Challenges

Career Options Program

(Act 1124)

To prepare students for choosing a career option at the high schoollevel, students in grades 6, 7, and 8 participate in at least six careeractivities each school year.

By the end of the 8th grade, students will have participated in at least 18 career activities, chosen a career cluster, developed a Five-Year Educational Plan, and initiated a Career Portfolio.

The Five-Year Educational Plan……includes courses required for graduation and a sequence of courses which is consistent with the student’s career goal.…is reviewed by the student, parent, and counselor.…is maintained in the Career Portfolio and follows the student to high school.

Appendix A: American School CounselorAssociation Standards

• B. Career Development

• Standard A: Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions.

• Standard B: Students will employ strategies to achieve future career success and satisfaction.

• Standard C: Students will understand the relationship between personal qualities, education and training, and the world of work.

ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors

• A.1.b. Is concerned with the educational, academic, career, personal and social needs and encourages the maximum development of every student.

• A.3.a. Provides students with a comprehensive school counseling program that includes a strong emphasis on working jointly with all students to develop academic and career goals.

• A.3.b. Advocates for counseling plans supporting students’ right to choose from the wide array of options when they leave secondary education. Such plans will be regularly reviewed to update students regarding critical information they need to make informed decisions.

• A.9.g. Assesses the effectiveness of his/her program in having an impact on students' academic, career and personal/social development through accountability measures especially examining efforts to close achievement, opportunity and attainment gaps.

• B.2.b. Recognizes that working with minors in a school setting may require counselors to collaborate with students' parents/guardians.

• C.1.a. Establishes and maintains professional relationships with faculty, staff and administration to facilitate an optimum counseling program.

• D.2.b. Extends his/her influence and opportunity to deliver a comprehensive school counseling program to all students by collaborating with community resources for student success.

Middle School Career Week

Purpose: Career Options (Act 1124)

Planning: Guidance Counselors Administrators Teachers Students Parents (PTA)

Scheduling: When & Where

Career Questionnaire (Pre-test)

Random sample of students from each grade level

Same students targeted for the post-test questionnaire after career week

Questionnaire in chart form:Career fieldTypes of jobs in this fieldSkills neededEducation requiredSalary range

Introduction & Announcements

Initial Announcements/Overview for students for parents

Posters art students Daily Announcements Career Thought of the day “Employees of the Day” Recognition of guest speakers

Activities

Guest Speakers Parent volunteers Former students Community contacts Tips for guest speakers

Classroom Activities Research topic/presentation “Dress for Success” Role-playing interview Job application

Activities (continued)

LA ePortal Computer lab Explore website Topics for research Five-Year Educational Plan (8th grade)

Parent Involvement Invitation to parents to attend “Career Development Tips for Parents”

Teacher Involvement Share personal career experiences Relationship of course to real world

Follow-Up

Students Questionnaire on career (post-test)

Teachers List of activities used in classroom Evaluation form

Parents Evaluation form (if attended)

• Requires Administrative Support• Organization• Communication• Community Support• School Promotion• College/University Support & Participation• Local Businesses & Training Programs • Sponsored and Coordinated by Professional School

Counselors

High School or District Level

College/Career Fair

• Superintendent• School Board• Chief Academic Officer• Assistant Superintendent• Curriculum Directors• Principals ( K – 12)• Transportation Department• Funding

District Level Support

• Checklist (edit as needed on a yearly basis)• Sample letter and reservation form for recruiters• School Schedule (edit as needed for class schedule)• Donations Request – sample letter and form• Form for layout of the fair• Recruiter evaluation form and Intent to Participate

Sample Forms

• Sponsored by Professional School Counselors as an annual event (“institutionalized”)

• Meets many career standards and competencies (ASCA & National Career Dev.)

• Can be measured and evaluated through questionnaires. Compile results. (assessment)

• Community Involvement (public relations)• Present information to school board via District

Newsletter, Booklet, and media coverage.

Counselor Accountability

• Counselors have the opportunity to:

- work with students individually in relation to careers and postsecondary education

- visit with representatives from various universities, technical schools, branches of the military, local training programs

- become more familiar with financial aid options

- utilize the information in individual school programs

Professional Development

- High school counselors prepare their students, inform parents, ensure participation and provide follow-up services and career counseling.

- Elementary and middle school counselors coordinate and ensure the transition of students through the fair and serve as hosts and hostesses.

Professional School Counselors –

Cooperate / Coordinate

• “Color Your Career Fair” according to the needs of the students, the school, the community, and the district.

• Ask the students to “Dress for Success.”

• They will behave like “golden children.”

• The future will be filled with “blue” skies.

• The grass will be “greener.”

Opportunities Are as Varied as the Colors of

a Kaleidoscope!

Chances, Changes & Challenges

• Chances - The chance to provide a variety of career information to many students

• Changes - Provide current information in an ever-changing world

• Challenges are everywhere – but counselors arise to all challenges!