Tosha Todd School Counselor, LPC, Ed.S.
Sunny Pointe Elementary
Blue Springs, MO
ttodd@bssd.net
www.kcschoolcounselorchic.blogspot.com
 Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Program Content Standards and GLE’s
addressed and taught
 Strand CD – Career Development; Big Ideas 7, 8, and 9
 Get’s kids EXCITED about their futures!
 Concepts:
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Integration of Self-knowledge into Life and Career Plans
Adaptations to world of work changes
Respect for all work
Career decision making
Education and career requirements
Personal Skills for Job Success
Job Seeking Skills
 In my building…fulfills a CSIP goal for career education and growth plan goal
When is the best time of year to have
Careers Week?
 Look at building schedule
 Determine a “less busy” time of year
 I schedule mine in December – do careers lesson in
November
Who participates in Careers Week?
 At SPE, everyone! Kindergarten – 5th grade
 Approximately 580 students participate
Form a team!
You can’t do it alone!
Ask for a volunteer from each
grade level so they have
input.
 Pick a Theme
 Why? It helps FOCUS the events for the
week
 Ideas!
 To Careers Week and Beyond
 STEM
 You can be ANYTHING
 College and Career Ready
 Oh the Places You’ll Go
 Last year at SPE – we did a careers dress up day for the kids
and teachers
 College t-shirt day
 This year we will continue with those two days but we are
theming it to follow our kids through their school careers
so
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Monday – SPE day (wear spirit wear)
Tuesday – PKMS day (wear purple and white)
Wednesday – BSHS day (wear purple and gold)
Thursday – College day – wear your future college clothing
Friday – Career Day – dress like your future career
 You can do ALL school participation or only certain grade levels
 Everything on one day or throughout the week
 Lean on your team to help you make these decisions
 START SMALL!!!!
 How much time do you want to commit to Career Day? (2 hours, 3
hours, etc.) It may look different for each grade level.
 Do you need to reschedule lunch shifts, recess, special classes?
 If you are going to do an extended time frame, schedule in restroom
breaks for students and guest speakers
 This can look however you want – At SPE this is what we do
 Each grade level has the expectation of doing a minimum
of 2 careers focused activities during the week**
 Each grade level has the expectation of having a minimum
of 3 guest speakers visit them to share about their career
 A grade level representative will send email report to me
outlining ALL activities and speakers a week before so we
(office staff, administrators, etc.) know what activities will
be going on
 Send potential guest speakers the first informational
letter after you have made an initial contact with them
through phone or e-mail.
 When you have received confirmation, send follow up
questionnaire to get more information about them.
Also provide them with possible questions, etc. (see
attached information)
 Make sure you have any necessarily technology
available to the guest speaker
Things to Consider:
 Guests should be able to speak to children at their
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level
Guests should be able to stay on topic
Guests should be able to commit to taking the time off
to participate
Try to get guest speakers from all six career paths
Get speakers from a variety of post-secondary options
 Name Tags
 Class meeting with students regarding behavior
expectations on career day, being good listeners,
asking “smart” questions, etc.
 Having chairs and desks moved and classroom
arranged and ready for guest speaker
 Have activities for the week ready
 At SPE I…
 Teach my careers lessons in November to
support what teachers will do during
Careers week in December
 Provide resources to teachers
 HELP wherever I need to!
 Do several bulletin boards
 Coordinate events throughout building
 Mystery Teacher
 Interactive Bulletin Boards
 Career Fair – like science fair – have students or classrooms
create a science fair type project on a specific career
 Door decorating contest - local university themed or themed
differently
 Videos
 Photo booth
 If you have the space – do a career fair in the gym or
cafeteria
 Have each teacher in a grade level secure a speaker and
rotate classes for several hours
 Make sure you have a variety of careers
Where to find GREAT Ideas!
 Pinterest
 YouTube
 Teachers Pay Teachers
 Counselor Blogs
 A Good Ole Google Search
 The Amazing Resource Guide I have for you!!
 Have students and teachers fill out evaluation forms
 Send a formal thank you letter from the school to all
guest speakers
 Have students write thank you notes to the guest
speakers as well
RESOURCES
A list of elementary careers
resources is included in your
packet
Questions???