Career Development and Postsecondary Readiness (K-8)

Traditionally, college and career planning did not take place until students reached the secondary level, but today we know postsecondary readiness begins in kindergarten. Elementary and middle school counselors play an important role in helping students realize their potential, achieve their dreams and become productive citizens. Understand the importance of the comprehensive school counseling program and the school counselor's role in providing early education, awareness and exploration activities for elementary and middle school students based on their unique interests, abilities and goals. Provide opportunities for all students to develop the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success necessary to succeed in a postsecondary setting, and begin to create and implement a schoolwide college and career readiness program as part of an overall comprehensive school counseling program.

Learning objectives 
After attending this workshop, you should be able to: 

• Identify the key components for an effective comprehensive K–8 college and career readiness program
• Describe the school counselor's role in career development at the K–8 level
• Articulate the connection between school and the world of work to K–8 students
• Have meaningful college and career conversations with students K–8 using the ASCA Career Conversations
• Use the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors to determine students’ postsecondary-readiness needs and inform lesson plans
• Brainstorm ways to collaborate with administrators, teachers, staff and decision makers to create a postsecondary-readiness culture
• Identify ways to work with K–8 teachers to integrate college/career education learning into the curricula
• Collaborate with community resources, local businesses and industries so students are exposed in an age-appropriate manner to local career possibilities and opportunities
• Discuss specific college and career readiness implementation strategies for K–8 students
• Use data as part of an effective college- and career-readiness program
• Identify gaps in college and career access and the use of such data to address both intentional and unintentional biases related to college and career counseling
• Recognize and support essential developmental factors key to future successes, such as self-efficacy, motivation and perseverance

Schedule: Full day training; 0.6 CEUs available to attendees

Cost: $3,750* for full day

To bring this professional development workshop to your district, email Jennifer Walsh.