Career Videos

During the month of May we are focusing on careers.  I thought it would be a fun idea to have parents share their careers, but organizing schedules for speakers would disrupt our normal classroom routines and sounded a little overwhelming.  Then a lightbulb inside me went off!  What if I used our emphasis on technology to help share our parent's careers???

I created a private youtube channel and invited parents to upload short 2-3 minute videos using the criteria below.  Then I had students log in and peruse the videos, increasing both engagement and differentiation for their unique interests.  I sent home the following letter to parents to enlist their help:
 

Since not all careers are represented, I supplemented with additional careers using Kidsgov's TeacherTube channel.  Here you can watch additional kid friendly videos on a variety of careers.

Animal Keeper:


Marine Pilot:


Marine Biologist:


Army Dentist:


Archeologist:


Biologist & Chemist:



White House Chef:


Architect:
 

Careers Taboo

In third grade we played Careers Taboo (you can download the cards here) to introduce the topic of careers! I split the class into 2 teams and had them sit in a line.  The student at the front of the line would draw a card and try to describe the career on the card without saying any of the "hush" words.  Their team had 30 seconds to guess the name of the career.  While they were describing the career, the student at the front of the line on the opposing team would look over their should to make sure they weren't saying any of the off-limit words.  Teams were awarded points by guessing correctly in the time limit.  If a team was not able to guess the career, the other team had an opportunity to steal.  Each team took turns describing and guessing.  We had a great time and there were lots of laughs to the difficulty of not saying the hush words!

Career Bingo

To continue our emphasis on careers, we played bingo in kindergarten!  I began by going over a variety of careers that would appear on their bingo boards.  We discussed the title of the job, responsibilities and their interest level with each using these posters:

Then I introduced how to play bingo and we were off!  I read aloud descriptions of different careers and they searched their bingo board for the accurate match.  I created the boards using pictures from the Career Day Activity Packet.

Exploring Colleges: Monsters University

During the month of May our focus is on our future.  In 4th grade we began discussing colleges as a way to further our education and open more doorways to careers.  Using our downstairs bulletin board as a springboard, we discussed the importance of selecting a college that matches our interests.  Real college websites are a great resource, but I thought I'd increase their engagement by having them explore Monsters University!

Students explored the site looking for the requirements to get in, classes available and clubs they could join.  They filled out reflection sheets to take home and convince their parents that they wanted to apply.  You can download a copy of it here.

Lee's Pathways to Success

To kickoff our month on careers and college, I created a staff bulletin board to highlight our unique pathways that brought us to Lee Elementary.  I collected high school and college information from each staff member to proudly display.  I included all of our staff members, including teachers, office staff, administration, special areas, nurses, custodians, and our childcare helpers.  I added graduation caps to everyone!

Here are some close ups:

Careers in 1st Grade: Being Wendy

In first grade we have begun our month on thinking about our futures.  Where do we want to go to college?  What do we want to be when we grow up?  Our first lesson focused on the career options that are out there.  To get their brains thinking, we read Being Wendy written by Fran Drescher.

This story follows a young girl named Wendy on her journey of thinking outside of the box.  She lives in Boxville, where everyone must pick a box that shows their career choice.  Even the dogs where boxes!  Wendy cannot figure out just one career that she would like to have because she has many interests.

Throughout the story we talk about the following points (from The Corner on Character blog):

1.  Do you think everyone grows up to get the job they wanted when they were a kid? Share responses from the teachers at your school at this time to demonstrate that dreams change as we grow.

2.  If you set a goal to have a specific career someday and you grow up to be something different, does that mean you failed at your goal? 

3.  Wendy said that she felt different from everyone else, but was afraid to tell someone. Why do you think she was afraid? 

4. Is it a bad thing to be different from others? How do you treat people who are different from you?

5.   The author stated, “Wendy tried to take her dad’s advice, but the more she thought about it, the more she hated thinking inside the box.” Have you ever heard the expression, “thinking inside/outside the box”? What does it mean? How does it apply here?

6.  What do you think the town of “Freedomland” is like?

After the story we start brainstorming what we might want to be when we grow up.  Then we narrowed down what career we would want to have if we lived in Boxville, with one exception: it can be more than one idea!  Students created their Boxville character and wrote down many career options they are interested in pursuing.  You can download the body template from The Corner on Character here.

Here are some of the Boxville residents they created:

It's Not a Box

In kindergarten I introduced careers with one of my favorite stories, Not a Box written by Antoinette Portis.  This book just screams imagination!  We follow a rabbit as he uses a "box" as many different items - guessing before we turn the page to see what he is pretending to be this time.  I like the springboard into careers it provides and message that you can be anything.

After the story, we watched this adorable music video that highlights even more careers:


Then I passed out coloring books (you can download for free here) that had a variety of careers you could choose to color.  Some students even drew their own ideas of what they'd like to be when they grew up.

Someday...A lesson on Careers

In 2nd grade we began our talks about the future by reading Someday by Eileen Spinelli.  This book is a great springboard into careers because it takes a young girl imagining her future career, then ties it into how what she is doing today is preparing her for each pathway.  For example, she is digging in the couch cushions for coins and dreams of being a paleontologist digging for bones.

After the story we played "I Have, Who Has" with careers.  I downloaded this game from The Career Day Activity Packet from Teachers Pay Teachers.  Each class competed to get the fastest time.

Then I challenged them to come up with as many careers as they could using an Alphabet Chart.

For an extra hint, I played them this video:

Middle School Planning Dates

List of Important Dates for 2014-2015 Middle School Planning

AISD Middle School Magnet Choice Fair

Saturday, December 6, 2014, 9:00 am -12:00 pm Ann Richards

Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders

Showcase:  Saturday, January 24, 2015, 10:00 am – 12:00pm

Application Due:  February 6, 2015

Bedichek

Einstein Jr. Advanced Academic Program

Choice sheet Showcase:  January 20, 2015 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

Application process begins in January.  Application due February 6, 2015 by 4:30

Covington

Fine Arts Academy

Waiting for updated application

Fulmore Magnet for the Humanities and Law

Parent Info Night:  November 5, 2014, 6:00-7:00

Shadow Request Due:  December 18, 2014 at 4:00

Evening of Wonder Showcase:  Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Testing Sessions:

Session 1 January 10, 2015  8:00am – 10:00am or 11:00am – 1:00pm at Fulmore

Session 2 January  31, 2015  8:00am-10:00am or 11:00 – 1:00pm at Fulmore

Session 3 During shadowing

**Essay must be completed during shadowing or by appointment in the Fulmore Office.**  No outside essays will be accepted.

Application Due: February 6, 2015, by 4:00

Kealing Magnet for Liberal Arts and Sciences

Showcase:  January 15, 2015, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Application due if shadowing:  January 23, 2015 by 4:30pm

If not shadowing, application due:  February 6, 2015 by 4:30pm

Testing Sessions:

Session 1:  Saturday, January 17, 2015, 8:00 am-10:00 am A-L or 11:00 am -1:00 pm M-Z

Session 2:  Saturday, January 24, 2015, 8:00am – 10:00 am M-Z or 11:00am-1:00pm A-L

Session 3: During shadowing

**30 minute essay to be completed during testing session or shadowing**

Lamar Fine Arts Academy

Application/Audition Workshop:  December 6, 2014, 10:00 am-12:00 pm at Lamar Cafeteria

Lamar Open House:  December 11, 2014, 8:30 am – 11:00 am

Application Due:  December 12, 2014

Letters for Auditions go out:  January 5, 2015

 Auditions:  January 17, 2015, 9:00 am-3:00 pm Lamar

Shadowing:  During month of February

Small

Online applications available for Green Academy and Tech Academy for students not in attendance zone

Register for essay test by January 15, 2015

Application due:  January 16, 2015, 4:00 pm

Essay Requirement:  Saturday, January 17, 2015, 10:00am -12:00pm

                               Saturday, January 24, 2015, 10:00am -12:00pm

3 Keys to Success

In fourth grade we learned the relationship between success in school and future success in a career.  Our students had a great time taking some job "tests" that I'm sure they'll bring home and try to trick their parents too!  This is one of my favorite lessons to do because the students get caught off guard and often tricked by the cleverness.  The lesson comes from "Puzzle Pieces" by Gwen Sitsch & Dian Senn.

I began by having students brainstorm a list of all the jobs and careers they could think of.  I read a description of mystery job, leading students to the realization that they do currently have a job - a student!

We then talked about behavior and about how repeated patterns of behavior can become habits.  Once a behavior becomes a habit, it can be difficult to break.  I used examples of habits that we could have right now that would greatly affect us later in life in a career or occupation - being late, failing to complete a task, speaking disrespectfully to authority, or not getting along with peers.

Students then learned about 3 keys to being successful at any job through a series of "tests."  The first test taught them about following directions.  The second test reinforced concentrating.  The third test emphasized thinking.  You cannot always go with your first impulse when answering a questions or performing a task.  Most times decisions require thought and concentration.

These ideas can help students not only in future careers but also in their current schoolwork.  School is the practice field for most of life's experiences, and students in fourth grade are at an age where they begin to realize that everything they learn is relevant and applicable to everyday life.

Start College with Free Minds

Start College with Free Minds

Hi there, Parents and Guardians of Lee students—

If you’ve been thinking about returning to school, either to pursue a degree or to explore your intellectual potential, here’s a chance for you to do that for free! Free Minds offers a two-semester college course in humanities for adults who want to begin a new chapter in their lives. Applications are available now and are due July 7. 

Free Minds offers a supportive environment for nontraditional students. Classes are held in the evenings in Central Austin, beginning in August and ending in May. Tuition, books, and support services are provided free of charge, and child care is available. Faculty from UT and ACC lead classes in literature, philosophy, history, and writing. Students who complete the course earn six credit hours from ACC.

Many Free Minds students are parents who aim to model the importance of higher education for their children; a sizable portion of Free Minds students have gone on to pursue degrees at schools, including ACC, Concordia, and St. Edward’s. If you think you’re ready to make a fresh start in the classroom, please consider applying.

You are eligible if you:

1.    Are at least 18 years old

2.    Have a high school diploma or GED

3.    Don’t have a college degree and haven’t been enrolled in a degree program in the past two years

4.    Have demonstrated financial need (income no more than $23,340, if living alone, or $47,700 if living in a family of four)

5.    Possess the ability to read challenging books in English

6.    Ready to commit to attending class regularly and complete all assignments

For more information or to download an application, visit the Free Minds website at freemindsaustin.org, write to us at FreeMinds@foundcom.org or call 512-610-7961.

"This intellectual awakening has changed how I view myself, my place in the community and in the world. It is especially exciting to be able to share this new view with my children." —Abbie Navarrete, Free Minds graduate 2007, ACC graduate 2010