Week 4 – Discussion: Career Development Tasks
Note: This Is a School Counselor course
Respond: What career development tasks do you think are most important to help elementary, middle, and high school students address? ——————————– Due Friday September 15, 2023
Write a reflective analysis of Examining the Impact of Culture on Academic PerformanceLinks to an external site.
Link: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/education-culture_b_1034197Links to an external site.
Consider the following:
How do School Counselors facilitate collaboration with teachers in accommodating various beliefs and cultural notions student bring to school and develop an understanding ot their student’s culture to ensure consistency while recognizing individuality.
Consider this from the variety of different ethnicities from the discussion forum this week to get a well-rounded perspective.
References
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/education-culture_b_1034197Links
For elementary students, focusing on self-awareness, empathy, and community building lays the foundation for lifelong learning and career navigation. Hands-on activities to explore different jobs, field trips to workplaces, and lessons about financial literacy can spark curiosity.
In middle school, identity development is paramount. One task is facilitating self-reflection on evolving values and passions through journaling, personality/strengths assessments, and interviewing adults with diverse careers. Researching career clusters helps translate interests into potential pathways.
For high schoolers, experiential learning and planning take precedence. Counselors can coordinate internships, job-shadowing, volunteer/leadership roles and dual enrollment for “real world” exposure. Developing resumes and interview skills prepares students for post-secondary options. Guidance on standardized testing, applications, financial aid and scholarships ensures a smooth transition.
Cultural competence is also vital, as you noted. By understanding each student’s cultural context and capitalizing on their communities’ wisdom, counselors can better support identity formation and ambition. Collaborating with teachers to represent diverse perspectives and experiences in lessons shows all students they belong in any career path. Overall, personalized attention and empowering students as agents of their own development across these formative years can set them up for lifelong career well-being.
Works Cited
Super, D. E. (1980). A life-span, life-space approach to career development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 16(3), 282–298. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-8791(80)90056-1
Lapan, R. T., Poynton, T., Marcotte, A., Marland, J., & Milam, C. M. (2017). College and career readiness counseling support scales. Journal of Counseling & Development, 95(1), 77–86. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12119
O’Brien, K. M., Dukstein, R. D., Jackson, S. L., Tomlinson, M. J., & Kamatuka, N. A. (1999). Broadening career horizons for students in at-risk environments. The Career Development Quarterly, 47(3), 215–229. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.1999.tb00728.x
Creed, P. A., Prideaux, L.-A., & Patton, W. (2005). Antecedents and consequences of career decisional states in adolescence. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 67(3), 397–412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2004.08.008
