6th-8th Career Exploration

The Michigan Career Development Model (MI CDM) was developed to provide guidance and a framework to support districts in the expectation that all students (K-12) in Michigan develop the necessary knowledge and skills for success in a career of their choice. Guidance is designed to provide learning targets and suggested strategies that can be utilized to assist schools in developing a career development model.

• Target 1: Career Clusters/Career Pathways - Introduce Students and Parents to Michigan's 17 Career Clusters
• Target 2: Contextualized Academics - Deliver Core Academic Content through Subject Matter
• Target 3: Career Exploration - Continue to Acquire Knowledge about Careers, Postsecondary, and Employment Opportunities
• Target 4: Out of School Time/Family Engagement - Engage Students and Families in Out of School Activities to Support Career Exploration
• Target 5: Career Interest Inventories and Activities - Utilize Career Planning Assessments
• Target 6: Career Planning - Engage Students in Course Planning and Career Focus
• Target 7: Educational Development Plan - Initiate in Grade 7 and annually update an Educational Development Plan (EDP)
• Target 8: Talent Portfolio - Orientation to the Purpose of a Talent Portfolio initiated in grade 7 and revised annually

National Career Development Month is a month-long campaign that emphasizes the significance of career development and planning. It aims to educate and inspire individuals to explore career options, set goals, and make strategic decisions about their professional futures.

We are challenging both counselors and teachers to implement at least one of these career development activities in your school this month! The following activities support the learning targets from the Michigan Career Development Model (MI CDM). Click the links for more information!

1. Discuss a different career cluster each day: Show career clusters videos to your classes. Discuss a new cluster each day and then journal or create career conversations around each cluster.

2. Read Michigan Hot 50 Job Outlook: Have students read and discuss what makes these jobs "hot" in Michigan (i.e. high-skill, high-wage, high-demand). Read and analyze West Michigan Career Outlook through 2030, then hold career conversations in your classes around those occupations. What Career Clusters do those occupations fall into?

3. Invite guest speakers: Ask local experts to share their career path, education, skills, and daily job responsibilities.

4. Explore new skills and interests: Develop self-awareness around students interests, skills, and school subjects they enjoy by completing a career assessment inventory or Xello's career matchmaker.

5. Show Junior Achievement Career Videos: Show JA Career Speakers Video Series and then have students complete a Middle School Assignment afterward.

6. Host a career panel discussion: Organize a panel discussion for a class or group of students.

7. Display careers around your classroom: Hang career posters that highlight various professional options grouped by subject matter (like reading, math, science, technology, art, or physical education).

8. Research a career: Then have students create a career journal or career presentation for a class.

9. Start Xello lessons in your classes: help students explore their interests, skills, self-awareness, decision making, goal setting, and future plans by completing their grade level lessons in xello.

10. Host a parent career readiness workshop: Include information about CTC, Early College, Dual Enrollment, Muskegon Area Promise Scholarship, and career focused summer camp opportunities.

Have you implemented Xello activities and lessons with your students yet? Do you need help training staff members to get started using Xello in their classroom? I am here to help! Feel free to share the Xello timelines below, and please reach out to me if you are interested in a pdf format.

This pacing guide is meant to simplify your experience with Xello Lessons. Topics for each grade level are sequenced for you, so that you can see the order in which to deliver the curriculum, as well as which activities should be completed beforehand. Of course, your school or district may have its own sequence of lessons for you to follow! The Pacing Guide includes prerequisite activity lessons, lessons, duration of the activity or lesson, and downloadable lesson plans.

• KickStart to Career is designed to give students an early boost towards a great career, to encourage hope, build savings, assist with career training or college expenses, and increase financial education. The program is managed by the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Students can make withdrawals for any education or training expense after high school.

• Watch this 2 minute Youtube video for an overview of KickStart to Career.

• This year, all 6th graders will have two different opportunities to earn $5 deposits into their accounts. One $5 deposit is for completing four Xello career exploration lessons during school and linking their Xello Family account to continue career conversations at home!

• Another $5 will be deposited on the 100th day of school, February 7, 2025, as we will be celebrating your student is halfway through the school year and halfway to graduation!

• In February, we will also be sending home a savings deposit envelope with students so they have the opportunity to add money into their own savings account by bringing it back to school on a designated deposit day.

• Students and families can check their account balance and deposits when they login to PowerSchool and open the KickStart tab.

• Attached you will find a brochure explaining KickStart to Career for 6th grade.

• If you have additional questions, please email me, tschuitema@muskegonisd.org

Our MAISD CCR team is offering several opportunities this year to learn more about our services. First up.... our countywide Tier 1 support of Xello. Join us virtually on Thursday 11/21/24 for Xello K-12: Meeting Michigan Targets. Register today to save your spot, SCECH provided.

Additionally, there are over 150 Career Consultation, College Prep and Selection and/or Military SCECH's that have been mapped for your access!

2024/25: CCR Professional Development Options for Counselors/Advisers (Muskegon)

Interested in more? Save the date for additional topics pertaining to Xello. Registration will be through our MAISD Learning Stream platform for all events and will include Career Consultation SCECH's.

Discover Manufacturing Week Tours - Oct. 28 - Nov. 8. To register for a tour, click here.

MCC Sturrus Center Fab Lab/STEM Lab Field Trips - Coming Soon - we are partnering with MCC to provide opportunities for middle school students to visit the labs for career exploration and hands-on STEM activities! TBD

Connect with Tech - CTC Open House - Feb. 10, 4-7 pm

Lakeshore JA Girls Dream Fair - Mar 20 - 7th/8th girls STEM career exploration

MiCareer Quest - Devos Center - GR - March 20

Steam Along the Lakeshore - event in May promoted by ISD and MiStemNetwork

MS Manufacturing Day - spring event TBD

8th grade CTC visit days - end of May - early June

CTC Summer Career Camps - TBD

Aviation Camp - TBD

MCC Sturrus Center STEM Camp - TBD

CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO LEARN MORE!

Have questions? Need resources? Please reach out! I am here to support you and your team!

Tricia Schuitema

Career Exploration Specialist, Grades 6-8

Muskegon Area ISD - Muskegon Area CTC

tschuitema@muskegonisd.org

231.767.3628

Schedule a time to meet with me here!

Please forward this newsletter to teachers and staff in your buildings so fellow educators can "subscribe" to get monthly career exploration newsletter updates!