Connect the Work was designed in response to a lack of reflective career learning opportunities for students.
We use evidence-based career readiness elements and dialogic questioning as our design to support students in answering these four questions:
- Who are you?
- How are you growing?
- What are your options?
- Where are you headed?
In one district lessons are being used as part of their GATE program between 4th and 6th grade. Each grade focuses on a different theme; Strengths, Interests, or Values. In each year students experience lessons that take them on an exploration of self to help them find the type of career that might best suit them.
In another district each school has its own theme: Arts, STEAM, AVID, Communications, and IB. We helped each school select a specific set of lessons and experiences to help students explore careers connected to their school theme.
We are supporting a third district to create a GATE program with a specific culminating. Students used Connect The Work lessons to think about and plan the kind of business they might like to own some day. The lessons help them prepare to become better speakers, write an executive summary, and to discover whether they would prefer to design a business or a charity, culminating with a presentation to possible stakeholders.
In 2022 Connect the Work started supporting districts through California’s Strong Workforce Program. The goal of the program is for “More and Better Career Technical Education to Increase Social Mobility and Fuel Regional Economies with Skilled Workers”.
During this initial year, Connect the Work was implemented in five districts. 200 educators trained, and approximately 6,000 students engaged in our lessons and experiences.
This year we are supporting Career Counseling in several Maryland and Indiana counties. Connect the Work is becoming part of the process that students use to better understand themselves and career options.
In the next 2-3 years we plan on supporting additional districts and students through integrated classroom learning, as well as career counseling support.
First explore some of the sample lessons and activities shared on our website - ConnectTheWork.com
- Prioritize Interests
- Identify Talents + Strengths
- Connect with Role Models
- Explore Growing Work Sectors
- Grow Your Attribution Tree
Next, contact us directly to set up an appointment to discuss how Connect The Work can be implemented in your specific educational environment.
