My project idea came from several conversations that Feryne and I have had about our plan for our school. I am seeing this project from two different sides: one as a teacher and one as a parent. I will address both sides here.

First, as a parent, I have an 8th grade son that has talked to me a couple of times about what high school is like and what kind of classes he could take. As a parent, I have no idea! I know I want him to enjoy his school experience while learning. I also want him to find out what interests him most and what his future could look like. In fact, during my preparation for this project, I spoke with my son and my 18-year-old nephew. My nephew stated that he wished he had known more about what pathways were available, as well as what other options he had. He knew about many of the classes, but didn’t know which ones would be best suited for him. This led me to digging deeper into my project.

Now, as a high school teacher, I see this from a different side. Working at the middle school for 6 years, I have seen several 8th grade students that are both excited and nervous for high school. They are excited to be going to a new school, along with being more independent and grown-up. Several are nervous, though, because they know they have to start caring about their grades and what they want to be when they grow up.

In the spring semester, the high school counselors meet with all of the 8th grade students. This is when the students are introduced to all of the available classes, required and exploratory. Looking through all of the classes, trying to fit everything into the schedule, can be very overwhelming for many of these students. This leads to several students picking random classes, with no plan for the future in mind.

This project I am in the beginning stages of would allow us to meet with the 8th graders before they have to decide on their high school classes. Going back to what my nephew said, he didn’t know what classes would best suit him. In the course of our study in this class, I found an assessment that fit perfectly into this project. This was found at the “your free career test” website link. Even if they think they know what they want to do in the future, I always tell my students that it is good to know what other opportunities are out there for them. What other options they might be able to look into. Once they have a small idea of what would be interesting to them, this is where the main concept of the project would begin.

I am proposing that students make a 4-year plan before even looking at any available classes. They would be given a list of “pathways” that are available at the high school. Just a few of these pathways are culinary, agriculture, or auto mechanics. Next year, we plan on starting a technology-oriented pathway that would include coding in the freshman year to working on building their own computer during their senior year in a class through Central Wyoming College.

I firmly believe that if the students know where they are wanting to be in four years, they can make better informed decisions as to what courses they should take.

Now don’t get me wrong, this four-year plan could always change. A student may think they like culinary, but then end up hating to cook! This plan would be something that would be posted and available at any given time to the students, teachers, parents, etc. I would like to see it posted on Naviance or even our new School Net site.

Career Development Standards:

  1. Act as a responsible and contributing citizen and employee: By learning what is available, students responsibly choose courses in order to contribute to society.
  2. Apply appropriate academic and technical skills: Assessments are done online allowing students to use their technical skills. The students are also being academically appropriate by choosing their courses.
  3. Attend to personal health and financial well-being: By allowing the students to make a tentative 4-year plan, they are allowing their stress level to go down.
  4. Communicate clearly, effectively and with reason: Allowing students to responsibly choose their future classes, they can clearly communicate what the future holds for them.
  5. Consider the environmental, social and economic impacts of decisions: Learn through the Jenga game.
  6. Demonstrate creativity and innovation: Using new ways of thinking about the future.
  7. Employ valid and reliable research strategies: By using assessments, students can learn and research where their interests could take them.
  8. Utilize critical thinking to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them: By taking the time now to formulate a plan, students will be able to maintain a better view of their future.
  9. Model integrity, ethical leadership and effective management: Allow the students to manage their future.
  10. Plan education and career path aligned to personal goals: Make a plan and go for it!
  11. Use technology to enhance productivity: Use the available resources, such as assessments.
  12. Work productively in team while using cultural/global competence: Allow students to work with others in their team to obtain their future.

So this leads me to where our partnerships are in the community. Obviously, we are in partnership with various schools, such as the middle school, high school, CWC (for their nursing program/auto tech/etc.), as well as community businesses.

This plan could be scaled down to as low a grade as 6th grade up to college age.

Evaluation: The 4-year plan would be looked at every year, or at other times depending on when the student wants to.