Look at the ideas below for using “Real life” information to teach academic skills. What are you doing in your classroom
now? Please share ideas on post-it notes and post them on the poster paper on the wall.
Employment
Reading
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Writing
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Math
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Education
Read Career Zone
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Read Classified Ads
Read articles on
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interviewing skills
Read biographies of
people who are
employed in a field

of interest
Write a thank you
letter after a job
interview
Write a 3
paragraph essay
about a job you are
interested in
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Do a research
paper about a
career in
technology
Learn about the net 
pay and gross pay
Figure out what
percentage of your 
check is taken for
taxes
Independent Living
Self-Determination
Read about the
requirements for entrance
into a vocational program
Read about different
college majors and the
requirements to
successfully graduate
Read literature about
Accommodative services
departments at colleges
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Read the DMV manual
Read contracts for cable
and electrical services
Read lease/rental
agreements
Read an owner’s manual
Read the movie theatre’s
internet site to determine
when and where movies are
playing
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Fill out a college
application and FAFSA form
Write a letter to a potential
roommate describing your
best qualities
Write a term paper on the
job market
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Fill out forms for a doctor’s
office
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Write a paragraph about your likes,
dislikes
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Read an owner’s manual to
learn how to set up a
vacuum cleaner
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Write an essay about your dream job or
dream future
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Write an opposing view to an book
review or movie review
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Figure out if it is a good choice to buy a
Big Mac every day or to pack a
sandwich lunch
Learn how to use performance data to
ask for a raise or promotion
Figure out the expense of
college with room and
board attached
Determine how much you
would need to pay for an
apartment shared by 4
roommates
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Fill out rental agreements
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Write a letter of complaint
to a company about a faulty
product
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Figure out how much
flooring it would take to
cover an 8 x 10 room
Estimate the costs of
running a household
Figure out the calories in a
McDonald Happy Meal
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Read about the problem solving
process
Read articles about goal setting
Read an online discussion of a
movie/book
Read about self-advocacy
Read about the difference between
IDEA and ADA regulations
Read about your disability
Read IEPS
#2
Look at the ideas below for using “Real life” information to teach academic skills. What are you doing in your
classroom now? Please share ideas on post-it notes and post them on the poster paper on the wall.
Science
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Social
Studies
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Learn how
medication impacts
your performance
at work
Investigate jobs
that relate to the
subject matter
taught
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Learn about taxes
and how they
impact a paycheck
and community
Write a paper
about what you
would have liked
about living in
Colonial times
Learn about unions
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Identify college majors and
what jobs they will relate
to in the future
Identify training
opportunities that support
the lesson plan
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Learn about the ADA
Have students write a
paper about what they
would like about living in a
dorm
From the viewpoint of the
college, write an essay on
why they should accept
you
Write a paper on the local
economy and job market
for on the field of interest
of the student
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Learn about how the
dangers of using a bleach
and ammonium based
cleaners
Learn about recycling
Learn what to do in case of
natural disasters
Learn to use a thermometer
to figure out how hot bath
water is
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Learn how to contact
authorities
Learn how to get a lawyer
Learn how to get a deed to
a house
Learn about crossing the
border into Canada
Learn how to protect
yourself from identity theft
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Learn about weather and appropriate
choices
Learn how to make a choice about
medications
Learn citizenship and volunteer
opportunities in the community
Selective service
Learn a decision making process
Learn about rights as a citizen
Identify a foreign culture and make a
plan for visiting
Learn where to vote in the community
Learn how to speak up if you are being
treated unfairly