How do you introduce and explore careers with students? Do you have some favorite career development resources you use every year? Counselor Keri and Mrs. Bell The Crafty Counselor share their go to resources below. Keep reading!
Exploring Careers
I like to teach career as a self-exploration unit so that students can first identify their own interests, skills, and values and then see how these things relate to the world of work.
I do a lot of hands-on activities relating to career clusters so that students can see what it might be like to be in a career in those clusters. For example, we play a medical charades game to practice “diagnosing” like someone in the health sciences cluster would do. We do STEM challenges relating to the technical sciences cluster.
It’s a fun way to expose students to a variety of careers and help them see that their own interests, skills, and values can be found in a future career for personal fulfillment.
Career of the Week Countdown
I think it is important to show students that their future career choices are endless, as long as they are willing to work hard to achieve their goals. One of my favorite ways to do this is with a career of the week countdown. The countdown not only exposes kids to various career options, but it gets them thinking and talking about various education levels needed to be qualified for different careers.
I have a bulletin board that features the career of the week as well as a weekly appearance and announcement on the school news. Towards the end of the school year, my classroom guidance lessons allow students to research, explore, and think about careers that may be a good fit for them.
What are your favorite career development resources?
Check out this post for Middle School Ideas.
