“Learning from the stories of
Kate & Juan”
How career exploration in middle school can help
ALL students achieve their dreams
____________________________________________
CTE Conference
Santa Clara County Office of Education
September 27, 2012
____________________________________________
Dan Blake
Career Development Specialist
Sonoma County Office of Education
Kate & Juan are real students,
and their stories are not unlike
those of many students you
work with every day
Kate’s Story…
Juan’s story…
What can we learn
from their stories?
Sixth-through-ninth-grade
children have demonstrated very
little understanding of how school
relates to the real world and seem
to have little to no awareness of
the skills and knowledge needed
for success in the future.
(Johnson, 2000)
Without willing &
motivated learners,
all our best reform
efforts will be in vain.
Young people have high
ambitions, expecting to be highly
educated and have professional
careers, yet research has found
that many do not develop
coherent plans for achieving
their goals.
(Hughes & Merchur Karp, 2004)
Johns Hopkins University
research suggests that “the
extent to which students [in
grades 5-8] believed that the
mathematics they were
studying would be useful in
life…was the strongest
predictor of student effort.”
Guidance activities directed at
junior high school students
had the largest effect sizes,
indicating that guidance efforts
may be most effective with preteenage (rather than high school or
college) students
(Hughes & Merchur Karp, 2004)
When surveyed, the
majority of high school
dropouts say they began to
“disconnect” in middle
school or earlier.
(Castellano et al., 2002)
Some alarming statistical
trends:
st
1
•The U.S. has fallen from
th
place to 13 in high school
graduation rates
th
12
•The U.S. now ranks
in
the percentage of 25-34 yearolds with an A.A. Degree or
higher
However, the U.S. does lead
the world in one important
statistic:
The U.S. has the highest
college dropout rate in the
industrialized world.
The number one reason
students drop out of college is a
lack of career focus. Even if they
do stay in college, students who lack
focus end up spending more time
and money to earn a degree. With
advance planning, [students] can
enter college well-informed and
focused on a career goal.
(ACRN, 2006)
If students have a clearer idea
of their career goals, they will
be more likely to engage in
academic tasks.
(Blustein, 2002)
Career Development Continuum
Preparing all Youth for Success in College, Career, and Life
Career Awareness
Career Exploration
Career Preparation
Learn about a wide variety of
jobs and careers
Explore, research, and plan
for the future
Gain education, training, and
work experience
Classroom & School
•
•
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•
Web Research
Guest Speakers
Career Interest Assessment
College & Career Fairs
Career Contextual Instruction
College Awareness
Workplace
• Industry Tours & Field Trips
• Career & Job Fairs
• Youth in the Workplace
Families & Neighborhood
• Adult Interaction
• Role Model Observation
Classroom & School
•
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Career Pathways, Courses, & Clubs
Integrated Curriculum
Classroom Simulations
Career Plan Development
Career-Focused Projects & Assignments
College Exploration
Workplace
•
•
•
•
Job Shadowing
Career Mentoring
Community Service Projects
Informational Interviews
Families & Neighborhood
• Risk Taking
• Role Playing
• Progression of Responsibility
K-8
School & Workplace
•
•
•
•
•
•
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•
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Core Academic Preparation
Career Technical Courses & Programs
Career-Related Project-Based Learning
Career Plan Refinement
Work-Ready Certification/Soft Skills
Occupational Certifications
Job-Seeking Skills
Work Experience
Internships
College Preparation
Postsecondary Options:
• Community College
• 4-year College or University
• Trade/Technical School
• Military Service/National Service
• Apprenticeship
• Enter Workforce (full or part time)
• Self-Employment/Entrepreneur
Exploration
Engaged
Experienced
Aware
Skilled
Prepared
Connected
9-16
Awareness
Educated
Preparation
Current efforts…
Too frequently, career preparation
for middle grade students
consists of a single, brief unit
once a year. Ideally, career
education and development
should be infused into the
curriculum.
The most effective career
development programs are
systemic—developmental,
accessible to all learners, and
embedded in the curriculum as
part of the whole process of
educating a child for the larger
thing called life.
(Maddy-Bernstein & Dare, 1997)
Program Goals & Objectives
Expand knowledge of career options
Program Goals & Objectives
Expand knowledge of high school
and post-secondary
education/training options
Program Goals & Objectives
Increase perception of
post-secondary relevance
Program Goals & Objectives
Increase understanding of career
goals, interests, and aspirations
Program Goals & Objectives
Increase the number of students
who develop integrated
academic/career development
plans, including course sequences
that are consistent with career
pathway options
Program Goals & Objectives
Increase awareness of middle
school staffs & parents regarding
career development resources and
educational options
Q & A:
What does it look
like?
Key Curriculum &
Activities
Contact Information
Dan Blake
Career Development Specialist
Sonoma County Office of Education
707-524-2780
dblake@scoe.org