College and Career Readiness

by K-12 Counseling Team | Monday, Feb 01, 2021

Introduction

In speaking to students about goal-setting and encouraging a growth mindset, we better prepare them to discuss deeper topics and set themselves up for their future. This month, we dig deeper and will discuss the importance of college and career readiness. Some of you might be thinking, “Wait, isn’t it too early for my child to discuss that and to understand its importance?” The truth is, it’s never too early to start talking to students about their future. Are your children interested in joining a robotics class to explore engineering? Do they volunteer at animal shelters in hopes of becoming a veterinarian? Do they love to learn and teach and hope to become an influential educator? All of these interests can build towards their future and they can start now! Please visit the Kuder website for more information on this topic in relation to your child's grade-level and development.

Steps to Future Success

College and career readiness start with some basics. Does your child practice using their growth mindset? Do they know how to set and plan goals? Is academic planning a priority? Do they know about their resources? If you need some guidance, start here:

Have open conversations: Starting from kindergarten to senior year of high school, it is important for children to have open conversations about their future. Talk to your children about career options, the amount of schooling or training it takes if they are interested, talk about college or trade school choices, and dig deep into scholarship and award opportunities (reach out to your school counselors for more information on this).
Start setting goals: Parents can help children generate goals, determine the steps needed to accomplish the goals, develop an action plan for achieving their goals, and monitor attainment toward the goal. The acronym SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timeframe-provided) can be used to facilitate the goal-setting process. Look back at January’s Counselor Newsletter on goal-setting for more information here!
Explore: Remember to explore endless possibilities with your children. Knowing that you can have more than one interest and interweave them is important! Discuss likes and dislikes and how they see themselves fitting into that space. And always remember to celebrate each small accomplishment - focusing on progress, not perfection!

WHAT STUDENTS CAN EXPECT FROM THEIR SCHOOL COUNSELORS THIS MONTH:

Elementary:

At this developmental stage, it’s important to consider student interests and future aspirations. Talking to your children about their future college and career dreams can be a fun and exciting way to help them begin to explore their futures. Therefore, this month during SEL, students will learn about different careers, what it takes to work in different settings, and how their interests can be aligned to the endless possibilities they have!

Middle School:

During the pre-adolescent to adolescent years, students start becoming more independent with their thoughts, actions, and goal-setting. The skills used in setting goals provides them with an opportunity to explore, plan, and execute future actions. Parents can also be involved by encouraging their children to look ahead without the need to have a definitive career. It is also important to note that some children at this age are confused about what they want in their future and have a difficult time identifying one exact career or college path they might want to take. That is why this month in SEL, Ms. Montes will explore different pathways for their future while connecting last month’s goal-setting skills taught. They will begin to learn about what knowledge, skills, and academic preparation is needed to enroll and succeed in college and CTE (Career and technical Education) programs.

High School:

Academic School Counselor, Mrs. Mauck and Academic Advisor, Ms. Melissa Keogh will be working with 9th grade students through S2S. Ninth grade students will receive an intensive 6-lesson advising and career curriculum to prepare for March registration for Fall FAU dual-enrolled courses. The curriculum will also include a virtual career panel with 11th and 12th grade students and a virtual visit from the FAU Career Resource Center. For 10-12th grade students, the FAU Career Resource Center supports students in building towards meaningful careers and a successful future. The Career Resource Center helps students develop and improve essential career skills, experiences, and connections. For more information about the FAU Career Resource Center and how to make an individual career-advising appointment, please visit https://www.fau.edu/career/students/ .

IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD IS EXPERIENCING any difficulties whether academically, socially, or emotionally, PLEASE ENCOURAGE THEM TO SEEK THE SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR OR OTHER TRUSTED ADULTS.

February Dates of Recognition February - Career and Technical Education Month February - Financial Aid Awareness Month February 1-5 - National School Counseling Week February 14-20 - Random Acts of Kindness Week #MakeKindnessTheNorm

RESOURCES/REFERENCES

Career Planning Resources (Kudar, 2021). https://www.kuder.com/k-20-education/students-parents/parents/

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL; 2020). SEL: What are the core competence areas and where are they promoted? https://casel.org/sel-framework/ .