Mrs. Xander, a Parkland High School teacher, used the COVID shutdown and virtual instruction to enhance her vocational teaching using vocational task boom cards. It was through the collaboration and sharing ideas that took place amongst educators via online groups, that she began incorporating vocational task cards, as well as google slide activities in her classroom. Currently, many of her students participate in Work Based Learning and are on job sites a few times a week. The vocational tasks that are prerequisites to many of the jobs they perform on the jobsite are now able to be pre-taught or even reinforced within the classroom. Students can take part in activities such as using the microwave, riding an elevator, filling a fast-food order, sorting money, and knowing where to store food are just a few of the tasks her students participate in daily.
Jose V., a student in Mrs. Xander’s room, enjoys participating in the vocational tasks. He participates in WBL a few times a week at a restaurant and a pet store. He hopes to get a job in the future in a restaurant so the skills that he is working on in class and on the job site will help him to gain the skills needed. For those interested in expanding their pre-vocational skills in the classroom, check out Adulting Made Easy. The site is full of useful resources. www.spedadulting.com Thank you, Mrs. Xander, for ensuring your students will leave high school with the skills needed to obtain and retain a job.
