1. Wisconsin School Counselor Association Pre-Conference February 5, 2019
Career & College Exploration and Awareness in Elementary and Middle School: From Nice to Necessary
Bob Bardwell
Wisconsin School Counselor Association Pre-Conference February 5, 2019

2. Goals of the Session
Learn how to advantage and give opportunity to your students
Understand the national data around the need for more K-8 career and college readiness
Learn about implementation of 40+ CCR activities
Share your ideas and successes of other K-8 CCR activities
Be an active participant

3. Who is Here? Elementary Counselors Middle/Jr High Counselors
Secondary Counselors
School Counseling Directors
Administrators
Higher Education Educators
Graduate Students
Other

4. How long have you done your job?
0-5 years
5-15 years
15+ years
Have you been to this conference before?
1ST time
2-5 times
5+ times

5. What are the first words you think of when you hear career and/or college?
Go to
Enter the code
Answer the question.

6. What can I offer you?
School Counselor, K-12 Director of School Counseling and social justice educator
26 years in the profession
Leader – local, state, regional & national levels
Advocate for students, school counselors and our profession
Passionate about school counselor pre-service preparation and continuous professional development

7. Whately MA Map

11. About Monson High School
Currently 265 students – grades 9-12; moving to a school next year; approximately 370 students
1.33 school counselors (Alpha split), part time career counselor and .66 district counseling director
24 professional teaching staff; 10 paraprofessionals; 5 professional support staff; 2 administrators
Monson is the fifth largest land municipality in the state but 191st in population
16% free/reduced lunch; 11% Special Needs; % students of color
98% graduation rate (5 years)
95% attendance rate

12. Why we are here Advantage Opportunity Our students need us
We are doing good but can be doing better
It’s what is right – our moral obligation

13. What is Career & College Readiness
Being college and career ready means that an individual has the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary for success in postsecondary education and economically viable career pathways in a 21st century economy. (MA DESE)
Combination of core academic knowledge, skills and habits that youth need to be successful in a post- secondary setting without remedial coursework or training. (CLASP)
Be prepared to succeed in credit-bearing post- secondary introductory general education courses or in industry certification programs without remediation. (MD DOE)

14. What does the research say?
59% of students who start at a 4-year college do not graduate after 6 years; 31% do not earn an associate degree or certificate in 3 years.
Only 39% of black and 46% of Hispanic students graduate within 6 years
Only 25% of low income students will graduate from college in 6 years vs. 90% of top quartile income freshmen finish their degree
39% of first generation students graduate in four years vs. 60% whose parents went to college graduate in four years

15. What does the research say? (continued)
61% of students with special needs graduate from college
9% of first generation students met all 4 ACT college benchmarks compared 26% of all students
88.6% of Wisconsin students graduate from high school
21% of Wisconsin public school graduates entering state colleges/universities place in remedial math coursework; 8% in English
By 2020 nearly 2/3 of the jobs will require post- secondary education or training

16. What does the research say? (continued)
60% of Wisconsin adults have a college degree (2 or 4 year) but nearly 65% will require higher education by 2025
4.0% of Americans are unemployed (2.9% WI); 8.4% are youth ages yet 4.8 million job openings (7% in WI)
Overwhelming evidence that students need teachers who foster positive relationships, provide high-level instruction in challenging courses and have high expectations for student achievement.

17. About the Reach Higher Initiative
The Reach Higher initiative is the former First Lady's effort to inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school, whether at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university.
In today's economy, a high school diploma just isn't enough. Students have to reach higher, which is why the Mrs. Obama wanted to rally the country around the former President's "North Star" goal — that by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.

18. Reach Higher – What is it? (continued)
Expanding Opportunity
The goal of Reach Higher was to help make sure all students understand what they need to complete their education, including:
Exposing students to college and career opportunities
Understanding financial aid eligibility that can make college affordability a reality
Encouraging academic planning and summer learning opportunities
Supporting high school counselors who can help more kids get into college
Was not a competition & no new funding to support the initiative was provided
Was under the #BetterMakeRoom and #CivicNation umbrella after the Obamas left the White House
As of January 1 is now merged with the Common Application

19. Thanks to Sam Vidal and Stacy Burgess for sharing some of their ideas
Let’s get started
46 Ready-to-Implement Career & College Awareness Activities for your K-8 Schools & Districts
Thanks to Sam Vidal and Stacy Burgess for sharing some of their ideas

20. #1 Create District CCR Task Force
Invite district like minded leaders and community representatives to the table to discuss K-8 CCR implementation
Share the data & need for early intervention
Gain supervisor buy-in
Create solid implementation plan

21. #2 Creating a K-8 CCR Mindset/Culture
This takes time and the willingness of key stakeholders to assist
Must be K-12 and across all buildings
Talk the talk and walk the walk
Must have the support of the community and businesses (i.e.: Chamber of Commerce or Workforce Development Board)

22. #3 K-8 Prof. Development
Get buy in & support from district administration for early awareness & education
Utilize your Task Force to create PD plan
Day, ½ day, after school hours, etc.
Make it meaningful
Have teachers present & lead discussion
Utilize your own curriculum
Set high standards

23. #4 CCR component added to district lesson plan template
Meet with district curriculum director or administrator in charge of curriculum
Provide time for teachers to revise their current lesson plans or create new ones
Create exemplars to share with other staff and put online

24. #5 Create formal K-8 College Partnerships
Work with local colleges and to create a formal partnership with a specific grade; similar to a business partnership
Can be small but must be something that is formalized and involves both K-8 & higher education
Utilize district colleagues if you don’t know college personnel

25. #6 K-12 counseling curriculum review
Encourage district leadership to provide time and resources for school counseling staff to meet and align curriculum
Map it
Share it
Implement it

26. #7 CCR & Family Engagement
Whenever you are with families, share your curriculum, activities and lessons
Invite family members to participate in your CCR events; invite others to attend
Provide information in newsletters and through social media
Families want to be involved. They always don’t know how

27. #8 District Career & College Awareness Week/Month Activities
Creates the expectation that all schools will participate
Creates focus and spotlight; otherwise these activities often are forgotten
Impacts all students
Provides great public relations

29. #9 College & Career Spirit Week Activities
Career Dress Up Day
College Colors Day
Gearing Up for Graduation Day
College Fight Song Day
School Spirit Day
College Mascot Day

30. #10 College Visit Field Trips
Combine field trips with college campus visits.
Ex. First grade students attend a play at and also tour the campus at Lawrence University.
Ex. Fifth grade students learn about the ocean and also tour campus at Marquette University.
This allows you to save money on transportation and limits time out of the building.
Coordinate so that each grade level visits a different campus.
Teachers can plan the trips, supervise and collect payment  freeing up school counselor to focus on other tasks.

31. #11 Counselor Led Career exploration lessons
Lesson that connects a career to the student’s interest and skill
Elementary age books related to career & college
Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do
When I Grow Up
What Hat Is This?
Whose Tools Are These?

32. #12 Career Alphabet Challenge
Create a challenge with a grade level or school wide to see how many careers each can come up with from each letter of the alphabet.
Highlight some of the careers on the morning announcements on bulletin boards or during your career month
Give prizes or incentives

33. #13 Teacher lesson integration
MATH - integrate college athletic team stats into lesson about percentages and win/loss ratio; use charts to show college which each teacher attended
SOCIAL STUDIES - Study the history of a local college – why it was founded, mascot and maps to study geography
ELA- Study college newspaper and then use it as a model for classroom paper
SCIENCE fair extension – incorporate a job/career related to the topic

34. #14 Create a Pen Pal or Flat Stanley type Program
Work with college professors or admission representatives to:
Create a pen pal/ buddy for your students. This provides mentorship and social skill development.
Start a Flat Stanley type activity where your students communicate with college students around the globe, sending letters or postcards. This teaches students about geography, literacy and college facts.

35. #15 Connecting Hobbies and Careers
Lesson found in “Guidance Activities at Your Fingertips,” by Betts Gatewood
Define “hobby,” and “career”
Have students work together to identify careers that stem from hobbies

36. #16 Careers on Wheels
Invite community speakers to park in your school’s parking lot; Hands on activities
Students rotate and learn about a variety of careers that may not require traditional 4-year colleges.

37. #17 Career-Related Guest Speakers
Community stakeholders
Parents/Caregivers
Town department heads
Civic groups (e.g.: Rotary)
College faculty
Chamber of Commerce
Senior citizens

38. #18 “College Cam”
Use a cap and gown and take pictures of students trying it on.
Ask them where they want to go to college and what career they would choose.
Spotlight students on a bulletin board and on your website.

39. #19 College & Career Resource Space/Room
Exposes students to post secondary opportunities.
Students can do:
College research
Scholarship searches
Financial aid literacy
Career exploration
SAT/ACT prep
Receive mentoring

40. #20 Bulletin Boards

41. #21 College and Career Information Wall
College terminology & facts
Display college campus of the week
Information about careers and job skills in the local area

42. #22 Career/College Question of the Day/Week
During daily morning announcements or at a display in the cafeteria during lunches, ask a college/career related trivia question for students to find the answer.
Winner(s) receive a prize at the end of the day/week.

43. #23 College Readiness Games
Help students cultivate their own learning in a group setting. Builds executive function skills such as teambuilding, communication, and following directions.
College Ready the Board Game:
The Game of Life

44. #24 Door Decorating Contests
Determine when (i.e.: March Madness or Career & College Week) then assign a door to each class/advisory participating.
Provide a rubric for scoring purposes
Create prizes for friendly grade competition. Solicit celebrity judges (i.e.: Superintendent, business community or college representative)

45. Door Decoration Judging Rubric
Monson High School
College Awareness Week
Door Decoration Judging Rubric
Teacher Name: _____________________ Room #: ______ Class involved: _____________
Information (50) - location, size, requirements, majors, specialties, mascot, extra-curriculars, etc.
Creativity (30) *color, design, textures, neatness, uniqueness, etc.
Team Spirit (20)
1-5
6-10
10-15
16-20
Total
There is little indication that students displayed team spirit.
There is some indication that students banded together in team spirit.
There are a few indications that students banded together in team spirit and it is identified on the display.
There are many indications that students banded together in team spirit and it is clearly identified on the display.
1-10
10-20
21-25
26-30
Total
Door does not have many colors, lacks creativity, and offers few visuals. Does not instantly attract one’s attention.
Door has some color, is neat, and is a pleasant sight to the eye.
Door is adorned using school colors, uses more than one texture, and uses creativity to present information.
Door is adorned using school color, uses a variety of textures, presents material in a creative way, and includes a uniqueness about the presentation that makes one instantly stop and look.
1-5
6-10
10-15
16-20
Total
There is little indication that students displayed team spirit.
There is some indication that students banded together in team spirit.
There are a few indications that students banded together in team spirit and it is identified on the display.
There are many indications that students banded together in team spirit and it is clearly identified on the display.
Information = / 50 Creativity = / 30 Team Spirit = / 20
Total Score: ______________

46. #25 Involve High School CTE and related clubs
Identify Career & Technical Education (CTE) clubs to create programs for Pre-k-8 students
Give high school students the opportunity to plan and implement programs
Skills USA or Technology Student Association - Culinary students show younger students how to bake and then sell them as a fundraiser
Agriculture – Future Farmers of America - Create a science lesson on seeds; grow plants in their classroom
Business – Future Business Leaders of America and Phi Beta Lambda or DECA – High school students help younger students create and market a class fundraiser
Health care - Health Occupations Students of America – High school students could teach elementary students about germs and the importance of washing hands

47. #26 Refer to graduation years not grades
Refer to graduation years, not grade levels
EX: current 8th graders = Class of 2023
Current Kindergarteners = Class of 2031
Creates a goal which students work toward
Can create benchmarks and timelines
Goal setting activities and documents
Sets an expectation that they will graduate

48. # 27 Class Banners and signs
Similar to #26, create Class of 20XX banners or signs to display in hallways, gym, classrooms, pods, etc.
Helps give identify and sense of purpose

49. #28 Alumni Day(s)
Invite most recent graduates to come back to speak to current students
Ask high school counselors to ask students to volunteer when they complete exit interview in May of senior year

50. #29 Career Fair

51. #30 Career/College Prep Bingo
Create Bingo cards with career or college vocabulary words
Provides fun game atmosphere at the end of a unit or for a reward

52. #31 Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Choose either colleges or careers and provide classrooms the opportunity to decorate a pumpkin providing clear expectations
Provide a rubric for scoring purposes
Create prizes for friendly grade competition. Solicit celebrity judges (i.e.: Superintendent, business community or college representative)

53. #32 Career/College trifold
As a class assignment, have individual or groups of students create trifold displays about college or career
Create rubric for expected criteria and grading
EX: Name, location, type, size, cost, clubs, sports, majors
Have students present the information to the class orally and visually (i.e.: PPT)
Display boards in classrooms or suitable community event

54. #33 Staff college pennant display
Create template for staff to create their own college alma mater pennant or design one for them
Display above or on each staff member’s classroom or office door

55. #34 Student college pennant activity
As part of a classroom lesson or activity have students create their own college pennant template
Display in or around classroom particularly when parents/guests will be in the school

56. #35 Middle School College & Career Expo Event
Districtwide Event for 8th grade students
Hosted at local college campus where students are bused
College, business, and community representatives interact with students

57. #36 College & Career Summer Enrichment Camps
Firsthand experience to tour
Academic building
Research libraries
Residential halls
Eat in dining halls
Increase college knowledge
Exposure to things beyond their 5 miles radius of home

58. #37 Career and Industry Exposure Trips
Student get the opportunity to experience:
Workplace environment & culture
Learn about job skills and expectations
Increase career knowledge
Create job shadowing opportunities for students

59. #38 Community Career Mentoring Lunch & Learn
Business and community leaders discuss with students their future aspirations over lunch either at a host business site or at the school location.
Can be one-on-one, in groups, or presentation style.

60. #39 Etiquette Luncheon and Workshop with the Community
Community members teach students etiquette skills and the expectations of proper table manners for fine dining.
Students receive a personalized invitation to the event and dress up to attend.

61. #40 Graduation/Step Up Day Ceremony
Integrate Career/College Readiness activities into elementary or middle school graduation or step up day activities
Career posters
Art projects
Signs
Speeches

62. #41 Open gym night
Coordinate with local college open gym night for students and families
Students engage with college mentors in structured or unstructured activities
Family members discuss college planning and affordability
Provide food or snacks

63. #42 Honorary Team Captain
School selects student(s) to be the honorary team captain at a basketball/football/lacrosse game
Student gets to participate in warmups and other team activities
Staff select student who is not at the top but needs a pick-me-up
Opens the door to future opportunities

64. #43 High School Interns Final Exam Presentation
Interns give a 10 minute presentation to middle school students about their internship
Provides interns a public speaking opportunity and good information for middle school students to learn
Part of their grade; Monson =20% of final grade

65. #44 Financial Literacy education and events
Provide financial literacy programs and opportunities for K-8 students and families to understand the value of saving for college
Students with a 529 college savings plan are 7 times more likely to go to college
Work with a local bank/donor to fund free start up for a 529 plan for kindergarten students
Create excitement and energy around college savings
Engage local leaders and policy makers in promoting the program

66. #45 Senior Signing Day
While this is for high school seniors, you can invite younger students to participate, watch and be inspired
Community celebration

67. #46 Seniors on Parade
Seniors parade through elementary and/or middle schools with their caps & gowns just prior to graduation
Provides inspiration
Creates excitement
Engages the community

68. Discussion & Q & A What is not clear? What more do you need?
Who wants to share a success regarding early career and college awareness?
How can we help each other?
Other questions?

69. Turn and Talk Share your action plans Turn to your neighbor
What are four things you can commit to right now to improve your Pre-K-8 career and college counseling program?
In one day
In one week
In one month
In one year
Share your action plans

70. For More Information Bob Bardwell Monson High School
55 Margaret Street
Monson, MA
x1109
bardwellr