Research has shown that the career readiness process needs to start as early as middle school so students do not close the door on academic and career options while they are actively developing their identities and learning how different career areas might work for them. Building a Bridge to Your Future was designed to bridge the transition from middle school to high school with:
Researchers note that career development efforts across elementary and middle schools also address social inequity issues: an embedded career guidance program for all students aimed at increasing student success and college aspirations before high school can counteract institutional inequities later in the educational pipeline.
Dr. Karen Miles introduces the course.
Learn more about the 24 videos available to enhance the student experience.
“The workbook covers the kinds of things that we know help with academic success and career planning. If the student has a positive outlook and a higher self-efficacy, then they're more likely to be successful in thinking about and planning for their future.”
Dr. Karen Miles, Executive Director
Get Focused Stay Focused National Resource Center
“I think this class is so beneficial to the junior high students because they are not taught these life skills and future decision-making skills anywhere else. Exposing them to these concepts early helps prepare them for high school and college before they are lost in high school life.”
Cindy Hill Teacher at Lincoln Elementary
24 video mini-lectures, available on The Teachers’ Lounge, help the teacher explain the concepts and build enthusiasm for the topics throughout the course. Take a look.
When you adopt this curriculum, you will do three important things:
As the early adolescent begins to understand the importance of having a long-range plan, they will come to appreciate that a meaningful and carefully-researched career and education path puts them in control of their future lives.
“The workbook has the students thinking about their future in a way they haven't thought about yet.”
Kelsey Cappellano, Teacher
Hoopeston Area Middle School, Hoopeston, IL
This coursework provide students time to reflect and grow — increasing their self-efficacy as successful students — and gives the teacher an opportunity to validate their improved readiness to engage in career exploration and decision-making.
Understanding how they think about learning and life gives young people important insights into their next steps as they transition to high school. They’ll see how what they learn in this course can help them be successful in their future academic life and work life.
