1 Running head: CAREER PROJECT

Career Project: School Counselor "Professional Planning Program" Alana Sopko Malone University

2 CAREER PROJECT Career Project: School Counselor "Professional Planning Program" Age Group: Eighth Grade through Senior Year General Demographics & Background: This course outline has been developed to work with most cultural and demographic backgrounds and through all of the career developmental stages. Career Development Concern: Most middle school and high school students do not have and actual "career plan" in place. Both Erickson and Super noted that to become a fully function adult, adolescents between the ages of 12-18 must crystalize personal and professional identities. Implementation: The "Professional Planning Program" is a course developed to help students plan and prepare for a future career. The program begins in their eighth grade year and continues on through graduation. The students will meet 1 hours once a week and 3 hours once every 9 weeks to develop personal and professional goals such as; enhanced self-understanding, increased awareness of occupational exploration, skill development, drafting schedules, etc. Upon graduation students will present their Educational and Career Planning Portfolio to a panel of judges to receive their diploma, ensuring that they are well prepared for the world of work. Executive Summary: Students in the eighth grade will be given a series of career assessments similar to the ones given in MyPlan. After reviewing their results students will sign up to take a "Professional Planning Period" that coordinates with their future career paths. Students will work with their advisor and a small group with similar career path interests to gain an understanding of themselves and the world of work. Their assignments will directly relate to their level of career maturity and students are welcome to change their career paths at any time as well as retake any career interest inventories. By the end of their junior year students portfolios should represent one of three categories: Those who plan on starting a career after graduation, those who plan to attend a technical school and those who plan on receiving a four year degree.

3 CAREER PROJECT Measurable Objectives: 1. Career After High School a. State at least three areas of career interest and describe how their function affects the needs and operation of the economy. b. Develop an action plan describing courses offered which will prepare them for intended area of work (understand the relationship between work and learning). c. Learn basic interviewing skills, resume building and self-marketing strategies. d. Participate in at least two experiential tasks a year; shadowing, career fairs, etc. 2. Vocational Training or Associates Degree a. State one or more tentative occupations and requirements for each. b. List specific schools or programs that will fulfill the requirements needed for these career options and develop a plan of action. c. Learn about job placement, effective decision making skills, job search skills, the changing workplace in America, etc. d. Participate in two experiential task a year; trade shows, career interviews, etc. 3. Four-Year College and Beyond a. State and describe in detail two or more areas of highest interest. Understand the relationship between educational achievement and career planning. b. Select a tentative a major or group of majors and create an action plan that will move them through the required steps to enter into this occupation. c. Learn about finical aid, college resources, career placement, essay writing, etc. d. Participate in at least two experiential tasks a year; collage fairs or visits, job shadowing, career interviews, etc.

4 CAREER PROJECT Resources Required: 1 hours once a week and 3 hours quarterly (every 9 weeks) Classroom space and teacher availability Acceptable teacher to student ratio for advisors Well planned staff and advisors

Evaluation of Effectiveness: Assigned tasks will be reviewed weekly at the scheduled time by the advisor, lessons will be presented as they relate to the group's overall career path interests and new assignments will be given. At the end of every 9 weeks students work will be reviewed to assure that they have made progress in their career development. At the end of every year students will be given a questionnaire to rate effectiveness and areas of improvement to this program.

5 CAREER PROJECT Career Educational Activity: Introduction to the "Professional Planning" Program Presented to: Eight Grade Students BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: Broad based exploration of occupations, goals include gaining awareness of occupational categories, becoming familiar with personal attributes and planning current schoolwork to reflect future plans. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Introduce the importance of planning for your future 2. Familiarize them with the Professional Planning Program and the Educational and Career Planning Portfolio 3. Describe the MyPlan system, why it is important, how it will help them 4. MATERIALS PowerPoint and Smart Board for presentation Handouts Pencils/Pens Notebooks/Notebook Paper

INTRODUCTION 20 min. CAREER PLANNING It's never too early to start thinking about a career. At the very least, you should begin exploring different occupations so that you get a sense for what interests you. This will allow you to plan out your coursework according or simply give you ideas for classes you might want to take just to explore potential interests. Below, you will find an introduction to just some of the career-related resources available to you on our site. PROFESSIONAL PLANNING PROGRAM PORTFOLIO & EVALUATION MYPLAN SYSTEM

6 CAREER PROJECT ACTIVITY & DISCUSSION 10 min. CLOSING 5 min.