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Warm Up

Pro Power-Up Warm-Up: Professionalism Word Association

Instructions: When you hear the word "professionalism," what are the first three words or phrases that come to your mind? Write them down below.

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Lesson Plan

Pro Power-Up

Students will be able to define professionalism, identify its key characteristics, and list essential habits for success in academic and future professional settings.

Understanding professionalism is crucial for students' success in school, internships, and future careers. It helps them build a positive reputation, communicate effectively, and achieve their goals.

Audience

9th Grade Small Group

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, examples, and a hands-on activity.

Materials

Pro Power-Up Warm-Up, Pro Power-Up Slide Deck, Professionalism Habits Worksheet, Pens/Pencils, and Pro Power-Up Cool-Down

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Professionalism Word Association

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Pro Power-Up Warm-Up to each student.
    - Instruct students to write down the first three words or phrases that come to mind when they hear "professionalism."
    - Briefly discuss their responses as a group. (Refer to Pro Power-Up Slide Deck - Slide 1)

Step 2

Defining Professionalism

10 minutes

  • Use the Pro Power-Up Slide Deck (Slides 2-3) to introduce a formal definition of professionalism.
    - Discuss the core components: competence, reliability, respect, and ethical behavior.
    - Provide real-world examples relevant to 9th graders (e.g., submitting assignments on time, active listening in class, working well in groups).

Step 3

What Does Professionalism Look Like?

10 minutes

  • Using Pro Power-Up Slide Deck (Slides 4-5), explore specific examples of professional behavior in various contexts (classroom, sports, part-time jobs, online interactions).
    - Ask students to share examples of professional and unprofessional behavior they have observed or experienced.
    - Guide them to identify the impact of these behaviors.

Step 4

Habits for Success Activity

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Professionalism Habits Worksheet.
    - Introduce the key habits for success using Pro Power-Up Slide Deck (Slides 6-7): reliability, communication, initiative, adaptability, and integrity.
    - Have students work individually or in pairs to complete the worksheet, reflecting on how they can develop these habits.
    - Circulate to provide support and encourage deeper thinking.

Step 5

Cool-Down: One Habit Focus

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Pro Power-Up Cool-Down.
    - Ask students to reflect on the lesson and identify one habit they will commit to practicing.
    - Collect the cool-down slips as an exit ticket.
    - Conclude by emphasizing that professionalism is a skill developed over time and benefits all areas of life. (Refer to Pro Power-Up Slide Deck - Slide 8)
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Slide Deck

What is 'Professionalism'?

What comes to mind when you hear the word 'professionalism'?

Welcome students and start with an open-ended question to gauge their initial understanding and activate prior knowledge. Encourage all ideas, even if they seem off-topic initially.

Defining Professionalism

Professionalism is a set of qualities and behaviors that demonstrate competence, reliability, respect, and ethical conduct in a professional setting.

It's about how you act and present yourself to others.

Present the formal definition. Emphasize that professionalism is more than just dressing nicely; it's about how you conduct yourself. Break down the components.

Key Components

  • Competence: Knowing your stuff and doing it well.
  • Reliability: Being dependable; people can count on you.
  • Respect: Treating others and yourself with consideration.
  • Ethical Conduct: Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.

Elaborate on the definition with practical examples. Connect it to their current lives (school, extracurriculars).

What Does Professionalism Look Like?

Think about how people show professionalism in different situations:

  • In the classroom
  • On a sports team
  • At a part-time job
  • Online

Shift to observable behaviors. Ask students for examples they've seen at school or in other settings. Discuss the 'why' behind these behaviors.

Professional vs. Unprofessional

  • Arriving on time vs. being consistently late
  • Completing tasks carefully vs. rushing through them
  • Communicating clearly vs. being vague or rude
  • Taking responsibility vs. making excuses

Use this slide to prompt specific examples and contrast professional vs. unprofessional scenarios. Guide them to consider both appearance and actions.

Habits of Successful Professionals

Success isn't accidental! Professionals develop habits that help them excel.

  1. Reliability: Always follow through on your commitments.
  2. Effective Communication: Speak and write clearly, listen actively.
  3. Initiative: Don't wait to be told; look for ways to contribute.

Introduce the concept of habits. Explain that these aren't innate but can be developed and practiced. Go through the first few habits.

More Habits for Success

  1. Adaptability: Be open to new ideas and able to adjust to change.
  2. Integrity: Be honest, trustworthy, and uphold strong moral principles.
  3. Time Management: Prioritize tasks and use your time wisely.

Continue with the remaining habits. Give a brief example for each. Transition to the worksheet activity.

Your Pro Power-Up!

Developing professional habits now will help you succeed in high school, college, and your future career!

Which habit will you work on first?

Conclude by reiterating the importance of these habits and encouraging them to pick one to focus on. Reinforce that these skills are valuable lifelong assets.

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Worksheet

Professionalism Habits Worksheet: My Pro Power-Up Plan

Name: __________________________
Date: __________________________

Part 1: Defining Professionalism

  1. In your own words, what does it mean to be 'professional'?






  2. List two characteristics of professionalism that you think are most important for a high school student.
    a. ______________________________________________________
    b. ______________________________________________________

Part 2: What Does it Look Like?

Consider the following scenarios. Describe what a professional response/action would look like for a 9th grader.

  1. Scenario: You have a group project due, and one of your teammates isn't doing their share of the work.
    Professional Action:






  2. Scenario: You disagree with a teacher's grade on an assignment.
    Professional Action:






  3. Scenario: You are running late for an online class.
    Professional Action:






Part 3: My Professional Habits Power-Up

Here are some key habits for successful professionals:

  • Reliability
  • Effective Communication
  • Initiative
  • Adaptability
  • Integrity
  • Time Management

  1. Choose three of the habits listed above. For each habit, explain what it means in a school setting.
    a. Habit: __________________________
    What it means in school:






    b. Habit: __________________________
    What it means in school:






    c. Habit: __________________________
    What it means in school:






  2. From the three habits you chose, pick one that you want to actively work on improving this week. How will you practice this habit?
    I will improve: __________________________
    My plan to practice this habit:











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Cool Down

Pro Power-Up Cool-Down: One Habit Focus

Instructions: Reflect on today's discussion about professionalism and the habits for success. What is ONE habit you will commit to practicing this week to power up your professionalism?

  • The habit I will focus on is: ____________________________________________________________________________

  • How I will practice this habit:






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