The following is a list of month by month strategies I have used for the past two years to guide my eighth grade students' investigations. Keep in mind that these strategies are just a few of many options you could provide in the area of career development. Students select a career. They write an introspective paper that identifies their field of choice, why they want to go into this field, who or what has influenced them in this direction, and what attributes they possess that would make them a possible candidate for this field. Students take a career interest survey which can provide options the students may not have considered.
Students compare and contrast their career choice with what their survey results indicated.
Students contact colleges and schools that offer training in their selected field and summarize their findings. They are encouraged to make this portfolio a reflection of who they are. Portfolio contents should be both academic and extracurricular in nature. This interview will require Type II training in the art of interviewing and question design. Students can conduct their interviews in a variety of ways.