Guiding Your Journey

Warm Up: Dream Job Match (10 minutes)

"Good morning, everyone! Welcome. Today, we're going to talk about something really exciting: your future and your career path. We're going to explore what you're good at, what you enjoy, and how to turn those into a job you love."

"To get us started, I want you to think about this question: If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? Don't worry about if it's realistic right now, just dream big! Turn to a partner or a small group and share your dream job and one reason why it sounds amazing to you. You have about 5 minutes for this, and then we'll share a few with the whole class."

(Allow students to discuss. Circulate and listen, offering encouragement. After 5 minutes, bring the class back together.)

"Alright, let's hear some of those fantastic dream jobs! Who'd like to share?"

(Call on 2-3 students. Affirm their ideas and gently connect them to skills or interests.)

"Excellent ideas, everyone! It's great to hear what excites you. That excitement is a big clue to what you might enjoy doing for work."

Introduction & Setting the Stage (5 minutes)

"Today, we're going to explore how we can make those dreams, or similar ones, a reality. Our lesson is called 'Your Future, Your Way!' because it's all about you and what you want. We're going to look at your skills, your interests, and how to get ready for the world of work. Take a look at our Slide Deck: Your Future, Your Way! on the screen."

(Display Slide Deck: Your Future, Your Way!, Slide 1)

"Our goals for today are simple but powerful."

(Display Slide Deck: Your Future, Your Way!, Slide 2)

"By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Identify your personal interests and skills.
• Understand what 'employment readiness' means.
• Start building your own career plan!"

"Why is this important? Because having a plan empowers you! It helps you build confidence and find a job that truly makes you happy and uses your unique talents. Every step we take today is a step towards your success."

Exploring Interests & Skills (15 minutes)

"Let's start by looking inward. What are you good at?"

(Display Slide Deck: Your Future, Your Way!, Slide 3)

"Think about what activities you enjoy, what comes easily to you, or what friends and family compliment you on. Maybe you're great at organizing, or you're a good listener, or you enjoy helping others. These are all valuable skills!"

"Now, what sparks your interest?"

(Display Slide Deck: Your Future, Your Way!, Slide 4)

"What are your hobbies? What topics could you talk about all day? If you love animals, for example, that could lead to many different job ideas – from working at a shelter to being a pet sitter!"

"To help us organize these thoughts, I'm going to hand out a Worksheet: My Career Compass."

(Distribute Worksheet: My Career Compass. Display Slide Deck: Your Future, Your Way!, Slide 5)

"On this worksheet, you'll see sections to write down your skills and interests. Take about 10 minutes to fill this out. Don't worry about being perfect; just jot down whatever comes to mind. I'll be walking around if you have any questions or want to brainstorm ideas together."

(Allow students to work on the worksheet. Offer individual support and prompts as needed.)

"Okay, let's pause there. We won't finish the whole worksheet right now, but this is a great start to seeing how your unique talents and passions can lead to job ideas."

Understanding Employment Readiness (10 minutes)

"Now, let's talk about getting ready for the world of work. What does 'Employment Readiness' mean?"

(Display Slide Deck: Your Future, Your Way!, Slide 6)

"It means having the skills and habits that help you get a job and keep it. Things like being on time, working well with others, and communicating clearly. These are skills we can all learn and improve upon!"

"I have a short Reading: Ready for Work? Your Guide! for you that covers some important employment readiness tips. Please take a few minutes to read this quietly."

(Distribute Reading: Ready for Work? Your Guide!. Display Slide Deck: Your Future, Your Way!, Slide 7)

"As you read, think about what new ideas you learn and which of these skills you already possess. You have about 5 minutes to read through this."

(Allow students to read. After 5 minutes, bring the class back together.)

"Does anything in the reading stand out to you? Are there any skills mentioned that you feel you're already pretty good at?"

(Call on a few students for quick responses.)

Charting Our Course: Discussion (10 minutes)

"Great! Now, let's put some of these ideas together. We're going to have a class discussion about what we've learned and how we can move forward. I have some prompts to help us, which are also on our Discussion Guide: Charting Our Course."

(Display Slide Deck: Your Future, Your Way!, Slide 8)

"First, looking at your Worksheet: My Career Compass and the reading, what career paths or job types are starting to look interesting to you?"

"Second, what's one small step you can take this week to explore one of those ideas? It could be talking to someone, doing a quick search online, or even trying a new activity."

"And finally, how can we support each other as we explore our career journeys? What kind of help might you need, or what could you offer to a classmate?"

(Facilitate a thoughtful discussion, encouraging all students to participate and share respectfully. Refer to the Discussion Guide: Charting Our Course as needed.)

Future Steps & Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

"You've all done a wonderful job exploring your potential today! This is just the beginning of your amazing career journey."

(Display Slide Deck: Your Future, Your Way!, Slide 9)

"Remember to keep exploring your interests, talk to people who work in different jobs, and always remember your unique strengths. Every step, big or small, helps you build the future you want."

"To quickly check our understanding, please complete this short Quiz: Future Steps Check. It will only take a couple of minutes."

(Distribute Quiz: Future Steps Check and allow students to complete it.)

"Fantastic work, everyone. To wrap things up, I have one last quick activity called Cool Down: One Big Idea. Please take a moment to reflect and write down your 'one big idea' from today's lesson."

(Distribute Cool Down: One Big Idea and allow students to complete it.)

"Thank you all for your engagement and excellent contributions today. Keep thinking about your future, your way!"

My Career Compass

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Part 1: My Skills & Talents

What are you good at? Think about things you do well at home, with friends, or in other activities. Don't be shy! Every skill is valuable.

• Things I'm good at (e.g., listening, building, organizing, drawing, problem-solving, helping others):

  1. 
     
     
     
  2. 
     
     
     
  3. 
     
     
     
  4. 
     
     
     

• What do others say I'm good at?

  • 
    
    
    
  • 
    
    
    

Part 2: My Interests & Passions

What do you enjoy doing? What topics make you curious? What could you spend hours doing or learning about?

• My favorite hobbies or activities (e.g., sports, reading, cooking, video games, nature, music):

  1. 
     
     
     
  2. 
     
     
     
  3. 
     
     
     
  4. 
     
     
     

• Things I love to learn about or talk about:

  • 
    
    
    
  • 
    
    
    

Part 3: Connecting the Dots

Now, let's see how your skills and interests might lead to job ideas! For each idea, try to think of a job that uses both a skill and an interest.

• If I'm good at organizing AND I like helping people, maybe I could be a... (e.g., Office Assistant, Caregiver, Event Planner)
  
  
  
  

• If I'm good at building things AND I like being outdoors, maybe I could be a... (e.g., Landscaper, Construction Worker, Park Ranger Assistant)
  
  
  
  

• My own idea: Based on my lists above, one job I think I might like to learn more about is:
  
  
  
  

  • Why does this job sound interesting?
    
    
    
    

Part 4: My First Steps

What is one small thing you can do this week to learn more about a job idea you're interested in?

• (e.g., Talk to a family member about their job, look up a job online, visit a library to find books about careers, try a new hobby related to a job idea)
  
  
  
  
  
  

Ready for Work? Your Guide!

Getting a job and doing well at it involves more than just knowing how to do the work. It also means being employment ready. These are skills that help you succeed in any workplace! Let's look at some important ones:

1. Show Up and Be On Time

This might seem simple, but it's super important! Being on time for work, meetings, or even job interviews shows that you are responsible and respectful of others' time. If you know you'll be late, it's always best to let your boss or supervisor know as soon as possible.

2. Listen Carefully and Ask Questions

When someone is explaining a task, listen with your full attention. If you don't understand something, don't be afraid to ask questions! It's better to ask for clarification than to make a mistake. Asking questions shows you are engaged and want to do things correctly.

3. Work Well With Others

Most jobs involve working with other people. This means being a good team player. Try to:

• Share ideas: Your ideas are valuable!
• Help others: If you finish your task and a teammate needs help, offer it.
• Be polite: Say "please" and "thank you." Treat everyone with respect, even when you disagree.

4. Be Positive and Have a Good Attitude

A positive attitude can make a big difference! Employers like people who are enthusiastic and willing to learn. Even if a task is challenging, try to approach it with a can-do attitude. Your positive energy can be contagious and make the workplace better for everyone.

5. Be Responsible and Follow Instructions

Take ownership of your tasks. When your boss gives you instructions, make sure you understand them and follow them carefully. If you make a mistake, admit it and learn from it. Being responsible shows that you are trustworthy and dependable.

6. Take Initiative

Don't always wait to be told what to do. If you see something that needs to be done, and you know how to do it, offer to help! This shows that you are proactive and dedicated to your job. For example, if you finish your assigned work, ask your supervisor if there's anything else you can assist with.

Remember, employment readiness skills are like tools in your toolbox. The more tools you have, the more successful you'll be in finding and keeping a job you love!

Charting Our Course: Discussion Guide

Objective: To facilitate a class discussion that connects personal interests and skills with employment readiness concepts, encouraging students to consider practical steps towards their career goals.

Discussion Prompts:

1. Connecting Interests and Skills:

   • Looking at your Worksheet: My Career Compass, what are some interesting job ideas that came to mind based on your skills and interests?
   • Can you share an example of how one of your hobbies or passions might be used in a job?

2. Understanding Employment Readiness:

   • From the Reading: Ready for Work? Your Guide!, what was one new thing you learned about being "employment ready"?
   • Which employment readiness skill do you think is most important for any job, and why?
   • What are some ways we can practice these employment readiness skills, even before we get a job?

3. Taking Future Steps:

   • What is one small step you can take this week to learn more about a job idea you're interested in? (e.g., talk to someone, look online, try a related activity)
   • How can we support each other as we explore our career journeys? What kind of help might you need from the group or what could you offer to a classmate?

Teacher Notes:

• Encourage all students to participate, ensuring a respectful and supportive environment.
• Validate all ideas and contributions.
• Prompt students to connect their personal experiences to the concepts discussed.
• Reiterate that career planning is a journey, not a single event.

Dream Job Match

Instructions:

1. Think: If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? Don't worry about if it's realistic right now. Just dream big!
2. Pair & Share: Turn to a partner or a small group.
   • Share your dream job with them.
   • Tell them one reason why that job sounds amazing to you.
3. Listen: Listen to your partner's dream job and why it excites them.

My Dream Job Idea:

One Reason Why It Sounds Amazing:

Class Share Out:

(Teacher will ask a few students to share their dream jobs with the whole class.)

One Big Idea

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

What is one big idea, thought, or new piece of information you learned today about employment readiness or career planning?

What is one thing you will do differently or think about more after today's lesson?