Elementary

It is never too early to start becoming aware of careers. Opportunities are offered daily to observe different types of jobs. As you come into contact with teachers, physicians, health care workers, retail clerks, food service employees, or any other worker, take the time to talk with your parents about the career and the skills and education needed to pursue the career. This will only take a few minutes, but will have a lifetime benefit.

Career awareness is the first step in the career decision-making process. It begins in the home and community. Parents are a child's most important teacher from kindergarten until graduation. As such, it is important for parents to begin to play an early role in helping elementary students become aware of the different careers available.

During the elementary years, kindergarten through fifth grade, students need to have a broad understanding of the many different careers. Observation of different types of careers can be seen outside of school. A child identifies with family careers early in life. Parents and family members enhance and influence a child's knowledge and awareness of careers in a variety of ways.

Tips for Elementary Students:

1. Read, Read, Read. Get a library card and visit the library regularly. Read in unusual places like under a tree, in a tent or on the floor. Discuss what you have learned from reading with your parents or other adults.
2. Have Your Parents Check Homework. When checking homework, ask your parents to connect the world of work with the skills being taught in school.
3. Play learning games. Play the picture game by selecting a picture with many objects, put the picture away and see who can remember the most objects. Cut out articles and headlines from the paper, mix them up and see who can match the headline to the article, see if you can determine a fact from an opinion, and then discuss the article. Go on a scavenger hunt in your home, list things that are unusual like something from Europe, something round, something very old, and see who can find the most articles on the list.
4. Work in Teams. Work cooperatively on a family project, sharing what skills are needed, the responsibilities of each person, and the need to work together to complete a task.
5. Ask Your Parents About Their Job. Your parents will be thrilled to share with you their job experience. Ask your parents about what skills they use at work and why they chose their career.
6. Make the world your classroom. Help your parents figure the tip when you go out to eat, add up your groceries with a calculator, or estimate how many cookies are in a pack. Go to the mall with pencil and pad, look around and then write a short story about what you saw. Look for careers on everyday trips to the church, school or to the park.