This document summarizes a presentation about exploring middle level career education. It includes introductions from attendees and an activity where participants drew details of a Canadian quarter's tail without looking at the coin. This was meant to illustrate how people may take themselves for granted without fully recognizing their strengths. The presentation defined key career education terms and outlined the required career education curriculum in the middle grades. It provided an overview of supports available for career education, including teachers, websites and professional associations. Participants were then invited to explore resources and collaborate with each other or the presenter on areas of interest or need related to career education.

1. Exploring Middle Level Career Education
with Vanessa Lewis
iLearn – August 24th, 2016

2. Welcome and Introductions
• Welcome!
• Quick Introductions
Name
School
Connection to Career Education
What you are hoping to learn in this session

3. Career Development Activity
• Draw the tail of our Canadian quarter with as much
detail and accuracy as possible.
Hint: Think Caribou!

4. Career Development Activity
• Now compare to an actual quarter.
– What did you recall?
– What did you forget?
• We’ve been handling quarters almost
every day of our lives. We are very
familiar with them. Yet, we may have
missed details because we take them
for granted and don’t pay close
attention to them on a daily basis.

5. Career Development Activity
• We may also take ourselves for granted.
• When caught up in our daily routines, we
may no longer recognize our positive
characteristics, our strengths, our joys, our
passions, our gifts, etc.
• Please take a moment to draw or jot down
your unique qualities, characteristics,
strengths, interests, skills, values, etc. that
you are proud of and are important to you.

6. Career Development Activity

7. Career Education – A Common Language
• Career
“Sum of one’s life experiences. Every person has a career which includes all of
the individual’s work, learning, recreational, community, and family roles.” –
Career Education, Middle Level, Glossary
Our school division embraces the word “Career” as defined above. Essentially,
it represents a person’s journey from birth to death as all life roles, values,
experiences, education, involvements, interests, etc. represent his/her career.

8. Career Education – A Common Language
• Occupation
“is a cluster of jobs with similar tasks and training. Nursing would be an
example of an occupation.”
• Job
“is a specific set of duties done for a specific employer such as an operating
room nurse in particular hospital.”

9. Career Education in Sun West School Division
• Middle Level Career Education – Grade 6 through 9
– The Career Education Middle Level curriculum are required courses to be
delivered for 50 minutes per week (approx. 30 classes per year) in grade 6,
7, 8, and 9. There is some flexibility in how our Career Education classes
are timetabled. For instance, it can be taught over the entire school year
or block scheduled into other configurations.
– Career Education outcomes are reported for each grade level.

10. Where do I begin?
• Whether you are “new” to Career Education, Career and Work Exploration or
Career Development, or an “expert”, it is always a good idea to start with:
– Curriculum Documents and Outcomes
– Consider Assessment and Evidence of Learning
– Begin Planning Related Activities/Learning Experiences for students

11. Supports for Career Education
in Sun West School Division
• Career Development Teachers – our most valued resource!
– A teacher in each school (Grade 9 through 12) who is designated as the CD LEAD
Teacher. He/she attends PD throughout the year and is your resident expert!
He/she can provide ideas assistance with Career Education 6 to 9.

12. Supports for Career Education in Sun West
www.saskcareers.ca
www.careercruising.com

13. Supports for Career Education in Sun West
www.careerconnectors.wikispaces.com
Collaboration is key to building this wiki.

14. Supports for Career Education in Sun West
www.careerconnectors.wordpress.com

15. Supports for Career Education beyond our Division
This search engine is our friend!
Access to articles, apps, ideas and timely Information!
Always value in Professional Development Associations such as the
Saskatchewan Career and Work Education Association
www.scwea.com
STF Special Subject Council

16. Career Education Initiatives in Sun West
Grade 9 Transition Plan – A3 Graduation Rate (Sask
Careers)
www.careerconnectors.wordpress.com

17. Career Education Initiatives in Sun West
Financial Literacy – Junior Achievement Partnership
(Grade 6 and Grade 8 Career Education)
www.careerconnectors.wordpress.com

18. Career Education Initiatives in Sun West
Financial Literacy – Junior Achievement Partnership
(Grade 6 and Grade 8 Career Education)
www.careerconnectors.wordpress.com

19. This is OUR time to Explore
Explore
Wiki/Blog
• Explore various
links/ideas on
wiki.
• Explore blog to
see what we’ve
been up to.
Explore
Resources
• Peruse various
paper-based
resources.
Team Up
• Work with
others to
explore and/or
plan.
One-on-one
• Collaborate
with Vanessa
to
discuss/explore
specific areas
of
interest/need,
etc.
Towards the end of our time, please be prepared to share what you explored and let us know what
you need further support with.

20. QUESTIONS?
Please contact me at:
Vanessa.lewis@sunwestsd.ca
With any ideas and/or questions.
I am here to help you explore this wonderful world of
Career Development.

21. THANK YOU!
Thanks for attending our Session.
Here’s to a great year of Career Education!