Career Connections Classroom Activities

Students spend the first six weeks of the course completing surveys about their interest, skills, aptitudes,  values, personality and learning style.  The result of these surveys are complied to gain a career research list.  Many of the surveys are computerized and will give the students a career list to match their interest.  Students use the information to begin a career portfolio.

The second six weeks, the students prepare a personal budget, research careers from their career list, prepare a tentative plan for high school courses, look at colleges and alternative training after high school, research the changes that have occured in the world of work and host guest speakers who present information about their careers. 

The third six weeks of the course allows students to develop a business plan for a mock business.  Students also learn how to fill out an application, create a resume, write a cover letter for their resume and then prepare for an interview by participating in a mock interview.  Community business people and employees from Texas Workforce Commission participate with the students and give helpful hints on how to improve their interview skills. 

Newspaper/Yearbook Classroom Activities

Newspaper and yearbook students publish the quarterly newsletter and spring yearbook.  Students have a chance to use desktop publishing skills; cover events on campus and write articles about these events for the newsletter.  Students do some photography with digital cameras.  They also learn to interview individuals for newsletter articles; learn to proofread their copy, and keep up with current events locally, statewide and nationally by watching the news and sharing their opinion about current events through group discussions and written critiques.

The middle school publishes a spring yearbook and students enjoy learning to create layouts for the yearbook, writing copy as well as identifying students that are photographed for the yearbook.  The book is submitted late February and the remainder of the year is spent on projects such as creating a personal memory book and powerpoint presentations utilizing photos that have been taken throughout the year. 

If you have any questions please feel free to call me at (903)566-1491 or e-mail at the e-mail address on this site. 

Thank you for your help and support!

Course Descriptions

CAREER CONNECTIONS – ½ Year High School Credit           One semester

Career Connections is designed to prepare all students to have a greater knowledge and understanding of educational and career opportunities. Included are the following course goals: 1) To gain an understanding of personal interests, abilities, aptitudes, and skills through individual surveys and formal vocational inventories 2) To assist students in understanding the relationship between academic success and the world of work 3) To give students the opportunity to research careers 4) To visit work environments and 5) To assist in developing a tentative educational plan for high school.  (NOTE: This will be required for students who are taking the one semester reading course, Reading Enhancement/Literature.) 

YEARBOOK/NEWSPAPER                                                            All Year

This course covers basic journalism while taking pictures, writing copy, and designing page layouts. Students will have the opportunity to produce the Chapel Hill Middle School yearbook and school newspaper. This class enhances teamwork, commitment, and responsibility. Students in this class should excel in writing and creativity.