Teachers Are Vitally Important For High School Students’ College And Career Prep Experiences
Beyond the standard curriculum, and beyond the preparations that teachers generously and rigorously provide for standardized testing, teachers are also key participants in the career readiness aspects of high school students’ lives. Even within just the past few years, many teachers have received an increase in training on how to prepare students for colleges, trade schools, and some career pathways. And, preparing students to graduate from high school with a basic readiness for college and/or careers is now a principal goal of numerous major educational reforms.
So, let’s take a deeper look at the impact of high school teachers on student career preparations and developments, and explore three main reasons why teachers are critically important for overall career success.
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#1. High school teachers help boost critical thinking skills, which is important for strong career prep and general life experiences.
In both the college setting and the workplace, a person’s ability to think critically about information, and properly analyze texts and data, is a core driver of success. Being able to think critically allows a student and an employee to bring together pieces of disparate information and arrive at beneficial conclusions. And, critical thinking is consistently taught in high school courses through data-driven exercises and reflective essay assignments!
#2. High school teachers create dynamic learning environments that support a teamwork structure.
Nearly all office jobs, as well as most knowledge-based working roles today, are now a team effort, and many employers seek candidates who understand how to work well on a team. It is important for high school students who are transitioning into a career pathway to be able to manage a project, meet deadlines, work within a preset budget, communicate effectively, compromise when necessary, and also graciously share credit. All of these skills are often taught by high school teachers in the classroom (both for online schools and brick-and-mortar) through the structuring of group projects.
#3. High school teachers often provide opportunities for varied college prep options and career explorations, too.
Opportunities for college and career exploration are often being provided by high school teachers, as students progress through the grade levels. Exploration experiences happen through general exposure to jobs on the school campus and by meeting other students’ parents, to a variety of more predetermined and targeted classroom experiences. High school students often benefit greatly from in-class career presentations, interest inventory surveys, elective classes, career fairs, college fairs, and the ability to choose to sit for industry-based certifications (when and where applicable).
To learn more about this type of experience in high school, be sure to read the student article, “A Computer Science Class Motivated Me To Get Certifications!”
When considering career exploration for students in high school, and overall career prep and development, it is vital to remember the role of teachers in this aspect of student growth. It is also important to keep in mind that a combination of both technical (hard) skills and interpersonal (soft skills) will likely bring about the most success in future college and career endeavors.
Check out the latest tips on Balancing Work And High School, from a Stride Career Prep Success Coach, too!
And, if you are considering a career in information technology, be sure to read “How To Prepare To Become A Coder In High School," here!
Want to thank a teacher that was instrumental in your life? Visit the #teachluv page, to learn more!
To find out more about Stride Career Prep’s online programs, visit the site: https://www.stridelearning.com/career-prep.html
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