AFNORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL

Pathways to Careers

Nine Week Exploratory class

Course Syllabus

SY  2004 – 2005

Ms Angela Elliott

Room:  B1.4

Angela_Elliott@eu.odedodea.edu

 

Course Description:

   This class will explore self in relation to possible career goals, explore the skills necessary to reach immediate and future educational and career goals and explore the variety of careers available to them.

 

Course Goals, Objectives and Standards:

Upon completing of the course students should be able to:

q       Demonstrate an understanding of and apply strategies needed for success in school;

q       Identify their interests, skills, characteristics and accomplishments and describe how these may influence their school and career decisions.

q       Demonstrate the skills needed to set and obtain personal goals.

q       Demonstrate understanding and effective use for interpersonal skills required to establish and maintain positive relationships and work effectively in groups.

q       Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of resources to find information about learning, work and local opportunities for career exploration.

q       Demonstrate knowledge of selected fields of work and occupations.

q       Develop a personal portfolio to include a resume, references and samples of work.

q       Demonstrate the use of good organizational skills.

 

Scope and Squence:

 

  1. Self exploration,
  2. My Road we based career and educational exporation
  3. Communication Skills
  4. Study Skills and organization
  5. Career Research Project
  6. Resume

 

CONTINUOUS SCHOOL PROGRESS:  AFNORTH International Middle/High School’s CSP (Continuous School Progress) goal is, “All students will improve their written communication skills across the curriculum.”  The 6+ trait is the model selected to improve school-wide writing in all subject areas.  The 6+ Trait writing framework is a powerful way to learn and use a common language to refer to characteristics of writing as well as establish a common vision of what “strong” writing looks like.  Teachers and students will use the 6+ Trait model to identify areas of strength and weakness as they continue to strive towards continued writing improvement.  Success of all students requires that the 6+ Trait become a consistent and integral component of each course taught at AFNORTH International Middle/High School.  In the Careers class we will be focusing on the use of the 6+ traits in analyzing the self assessment tools, reporting career research, expressing personal attitudes and developing personal goals.

 

Course Grading and Assessment:

   20%  in class work

   20% short term assignments done out side of class

   30%  Long term career research project

   30%  Portfolio

 

Classroom Expectations and Consequences:

It is my belief that everyone in the class has the right to a learning environment that is safe emotionally and physically.

Expectations:

  1. Respect will be shown to everyone in the class.  This is to include verbal and nonverbal communication. 
  2. All student’s ideas will be respected. 
  3. Everyone is expected to participate in the learning experience.  All students must complete the assignments but if they feel uncomfortable about sharing their personal information, they do not have to share aloud.  (For example if we are discussing personal goals.)
  4. Roleplaying will be used throughout the course and all students will participate equally.
  5. Students will be in the room and ready for class at the official start time.

Consequences:

  1. Students will be reminded of the expectations of the class. 
  2. If at any time, a students poses an immediate threat to another human being, they will be asked to leave the activity, go the office to complete a Discipline referral, speak with the administration and have parents called.
  3. The parents of students who consistently do not meet the expectations of the class will be call and informed of the situation.  Class time that is lost due to a student’s behavior will be made up by the student after school or at lunch at the discretion of the teacher.
  4. If behaviors persist a referral to the office will be made.

 

Supplies:

Students will come prepared to class having pencil or pen, binder, lined paper, home work log and their school computer password.

 

Home and Make Up Work:

Some work or projects must be completed outside of the class.  Students are expected to have assignments completed but the due date.  Outside assignments will be used during the class time so if they are not complete, the learning experience of the entire class will be affected.  Late work will receive a grade penalty and will be completed and turned in.

 

Specific Requirements:

q       Students will spend one day “Job Shadowing”.  I will arrange for it to be an excused absence but parents must make arrangements with the individual mentors and arrange transportation to and from the “job”.  The optimum would be having student “shadow” someone in a field of their interest.  This may not be completely possible in some cases.  Students will be required to write up the experience.

q       Students will interview someone working in the field they are interested in.  This is difficult in this area but with some creative thinking not impossible.