6th-8th Career Exploration

Is an annual call to raise awareness about the need to elevate computer science education at all levels, to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, and to emphasize the critical role of computing in all careers.

1. Click here for computer science activities your students will love from Miss Tech Queen.

2. Lead an Hour of Code classroom activity. Over 100 classroom activities to choose from including classifications by grade level and experience.

3. CSEdWeek Teach and Explore. Resources to inspire students to learn more, break stereotypes, and leave them feeling empowered.

In this video, students learn how computer science can open up different paths to their future, whether they’re taking steps toward a career, higher education, or simply curious about the inner workings of technology.

To view this video in Spanish: • La informática y tu éxito futuro

To help students discuss computer science and their future, download a Xello lesson plan and find more computer science teaching resources at this link.

Oakridge Middle School students attended 4 different Discover Manufacturing tours at Eagle Alloy, Motion Dynamics, Pribusin, and Seal Bond between Oct. 28 - Nov. 4. Many students were impacted with learning about different jobs and roles in the companies, as well as career opportunities in those fields! Students were engaged, asked lots of questions, and received great feedback! Thank you, Erin, for coordinating these events and opportunities for your students, and thank you to the companies for hosting them!

Career Exploration project with 7th and 8th graders!

• During the month of October, students worked on completing their Career Exploration lessons in Xello.
• They took the top 3 career matches and read about each one and chose their top choice to do further research.
• During their research, they looked for what the career involves, what type of education they need, what major would be appropriate in college for that career, and what they need to do in high school to prepare for the career.
• The 2nd part of the research project was finding a college or continued learning opportunity for that career. They used Xello to begin looking for a college match - what colleges offer the major/program they're looking for, what kind of GPA they need in high school to be accepted, acceptance rate, cost, where would they live, all that it takes to get through college and get to that career.
• The final part of the project was presenting their Google slideshow presentation to the class on Halloween! Students got to dress as their career choice (or wear their college gear).
• Thank you Jori and Brenda for leading this project with your students!

Reeths Puffer Intermediate has been participating in a big 6th grade Career Exploration project!

• Students completed interest inventories and then researched careers of interest based on the inventory results.
• Students completed their Xello lessons and had to research a career of choice using three different sources for information.
• Next, students wrote a career research paper on a career of interest.
• To finalize the project, RPI hosted Career Exploration Day, on Nov. 22, with many employers representing career clusters in Health sciences; Hospitality and tourism; Arts, audio/video technology, and communication; Science, technology, engineering and math; Law; Information technology; Transportation, distribution, and logistics; Agriculture, food & natural resources; and Business management and administration. Employers presented career information and hands-on opportunities for students to explore throughout the day!
• Thank you to the employers and companies who gave up their time to work with the students!
• Thank you Tracey, Sarah, and Alex for your work on this project for your students!

Are you doing a project with your class or school? Tie it in to Career Exploration and share all the great things you are doing to help your students discover careers by completing THIS FORM!

Complete this form to provide information on your Kick Start to Career launch status and needs!

• Kickstart to Career is designed to give students an early boost to 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!
• At the beginning of February, we will also be sending home a savings deposit envelope with your child so they have the opportunity to add money into their own savings account by bringing it back to school on the designated deposit day, February 6, 2025.
• Parents/guardians can check their students account balance and deposits when they login to PowerSchool and open the KickStart tab.
• If you have additional questions, please checkout the website, www.ktcmuskegon.org, or email kickstart@muskegonfoundation.org
• If you haven't sent the Kick Start to Career flyers home with 6th graders yet, or haven't started Kick Start to Career for 6th grade in your school, yet, please complete this link to get signed up!

If you would like a free 3' x 6' retractable banner featuring CTC messaging for your 6th - 8th grade school, click here to place your order!

Next up for Middle School, Embedding Xello in the Classroom: Resources and Features 6-12. February 13, 2025, 3:30 - 5:00 pm. Invite your teachers to join! To register, click here.

Our MAISD CCR team is offering several opportunities this year to learn more about our services. 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? Registration will be through our MAISD Learning Stream platform for all events and will include Career Consultation SCECH's.

• Click here to Access Xello Academy, log in to your account and begin the 90 minute asynchronous training.
• Once you have completed the training you will be given the option to print or save a copy of your completion certificate. You can print the certificate from the browser, copy and share the link, or download the PDF.
• Then, sign up through MAISD Learning Stream: Xello Academy 6-12 Registration Link to receive your SCECH's, AND
• Send your completion certificate to me so your SCECH's can be applied to you!

For those that have already completed the training this school year:

To receive the SCECH's, sign up through Learning Stream: Xello Academy 6-12 Registration Link.

• If you have already sent me your completion certificate, I will forward it on so your SCECH's can be applied to you.
• If you have completed the training but have not sent me your completion certificate, send me an email so I can show you how to access your certificate!

*** SCECH's are applied to accounts in December and in May-so depending on when you complete your training, you may not see your SCECH's in your account until May.

The Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) Career and College Readiness Team is working to ensure leadership, programs and services related to career education remain a priority, and enhance the success of all Muskegon area students.

In doing so we are grateful for the opportunities of growth, expansion and state partnership.

Soon, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) in collaboration with the Office of Career and Technical Education (OCTE) will be releasing NEW RESOURCES and branding that will assist districts in implementing the Michigan Career Development Model (MICDM), grades K-12.

Our Career & College Readiness (CCR) Team is in place to help coach districts and provide technical assistance for implementing the MICDM including launching Grade Band Specific Targets and Strategies (K-5, 6-8, 9-12).

We are excited to share the new resources with you once they are launched! Please "follow along" for updates from our team.

2025 Michigan Career Education Conference - Amway Grand Plaza, January 26-28. Michigan’s PK-12 career education conference for administrators, counselors, transition coordinators, etc.

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!