Orientation to Life & Careers
ORIENTATION TO LIFE AND CAREERS addresses essential knowledge, skills, and behaviors all students need to live successfully in today'ss world. A project-based approach that utilizes higher order thinking, communication, leadership, and management processes is recommended in order to integrate suggested topics into the study of life and careers. The focus of the course is on the impact of today's choices on tomorrow's possibilities. Topics to be addressed include higher order thinking, communication, leadership, and management processes; exploration of personal aptitudes, interests, principles, and goals; life and career exploration and planning; examining multiple life roles and responsibilities as individuals and family members; planning and building employability skills; transferring school skills to life and work; decision making and organizational skills; and managing personal resources. The opportunity for ninth graders to develop Four-Year Course Plans can be included, based on local curriculum needs. Four-Year Plans should be developed with counselor participation. Personal and career portfolios should be developed or upgraded with the cooperation of others, especially the business technologies and/or language arts teachers. This is a foundational course designed to teach knowledge and life skills that are essential for ALL high school students regardless of their career cluster or pathway.
