1. Career Development Interventions in the Elementary Schools
Chapter 10

2. Overview of Career Development Interventions in Schools
The National Standards for School Counseling Programs (Campbell & Dahir, 1997) identify career development as an essential element in effective school counseling programs.
Career education programs are the primary method used for providing career development assistance to students.

3. National Standards for School Counseling Programs (Career Development Domain)
Standard A: Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions.
Standard B: Students will employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success and satisfaction.
Standard C: Students will understand the relationship between personal qualities, education, training, and the world of work.

4. Criticisms of Career Education
Takes time away from core academic subjects
Pressures students to pursue work immediately after high school rather than postsecondary education
Topic not appropriate at elementary and secondary levels
Programs not systematic and coordinated

5. Five-Stage Planning Model
Stage 1: Develop a program rationale and philosophy.
Stage 2: State program goals and behavioral objectives.
Stage 3: Select program processes.
Stage 4: Develop an evaluation design.
Stage 5: Identify program milestones.

6. How to Develop a Systematic Career Intervention
Involve knowledgeable professionals, parents, and representatives from the community in all phases of planning.
Use developmentally appropriate interventions.
Communicate program goals and objectives clearly to all stakeholders.

7. How to Develop a Systematic Career Intervention, continued
Assure that the program is based on student needs.
Evaluate outcomes to determine the degree to which program goals and objectives were achieved.
Assure the competence of those involved in program delivery.

8. Career Development in the Elementary School
Careers unfold and develop throughout the life span.
For children and adolescents, school and leisure activities are their work.

9. Career Development Before Elementary School - Erikson
Children move through the first two of Erikson’s eight stages prior to entering elementary school.
Those who coped successfully with these stages have developed trust and autonomy.
When students do not develop trust and autonomy, they experience consequences of mistrust, doubt, and shame.

10. Developmental Tasks of Infancy and Early Childhood - Havighurst
From ages 0-5 children learn to
walk
eat solid food
talk
control elimination of body wastes
identify sex differences and behave with modesty
relate emotionally to family members
prepare to read
identify the difference between right and wrong

11. Career Development During Elementary School (Erikson)
During elementary school years, students need to develop initiative (ages 4-6) and industry (ages 6-12).
When these tasks are accomplished, they use curiosity to gather information about themselves and the world.
These behaviors result in personal effectiveness that is rewarded by positive outcomes.

12. Middle Childhood Developmental Tasks (Havighurst)
Develop physical skills for participation in games
Build positive attitudes toward oneself
Develop interpersonal skills
Become more tolerant
Learn appropriate gender social roles

13. Middle Childhood Developmental Tasks (Havighurst), continued
Develop academic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics
Achieve a greater sense of independence
Develop attitudes toward groups and institutions

14. Goals of Career Interventions at Elementary School Level (Super & Savickas)
Encourage students to participate in activities related to their interests
Help children
become concerned about the future
increase personal control over their lives
convince themselves to achieve in school and at work
develop competent work habits and attitudes

15. Career Development Guidelines for Elementary School Students
Self-Knowledge
knowledge of the importance of self-concept
skills to interact with others
awareness of the importance of growth and change

16. Career Development Guidelines for Elementary School Students
Educational and Occupational Exploration
awareness of the benefits of educational achievement
awareness of the relationship between work and learning
skills to understand and use career information
awareness of the importance of personal responsibility and good work habits
awareness of how work relates to the needs and functions of society

17. Career Development Guidelines for Elementary School Students
Career Planning
understanding how to make decisions
awareness of the interrelationship of life roles
awareness of different occupations and changing male-female roles
awareness of the career planning process

18. Considerations in Planning Career Development Interventions
Become a constant observer of children.
Notice how they approach tasks.
Notice the activities they choose.
Encourage initiative.
Notice the thematic patterns that emerge.

19. Considerations in Planning Career Development Interventions, continued
Consider the processing of an activity as important as the activity itself.
Focus feedback on the specifics of a child’s efforts to develop a sense of industry rather than inferiority.
Provide opportunities for children to express their beliefs about themselves in relation to various occupations.

20. Parental Involvement
Parents have substantial influence over the career development of their children.
They provide greatest amount of direct and indirect exposure to work.
Their influence is most effective when it is planned, intentional, and goal-oriented.
They, however, possess minimal knowledge of career development theory and how environmental factors affect development.

21. Ways in Which Parents Can Assist Children (Herr & Kramer)
Encourage children to analyze self-characteristics (interests, capacities, values)
Communicate work requirements to children.
Discuss the importance of work values in work behavior.
Explain the relationship among work, pay, and the economic condition of the family.

22. Ways in Which Parents Can Assist Children (Herr & Kramer)
Connect children with informational resources (workers, books, films).
Be careful to avoid stereotyping occupational alternatives and workers.
Provide children with opportunities for work in the home and community.
Provide children with opportunities to learn and practice decision-making skills.