| According Ediger (2000), elementary school career | | | | Mathematics include: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, |
| education is important. Ediger stated that "the | | | | and division skills to solve problems. In Social Studies, |
| elementary school years are not too early to begin to | | | | students gain understanding about other countries, |
| achieve a vision of what one desires to do in life | | | | languages, cultures, and the aspects of living in a global |
| contributing to the world of work". Without career | | | | marketplace. Students learn the importance of Science |
| education, students have unrealistic perceptions of | | | | having skills to solve problems as well as understanding |
| careers due to a lack of knowledge and poor decision | | | | how science is involved in different industries, such as |
| making. Students have limited knowledge and | | | | food, media, agricultural, and automotive industries. (8) |
| exposure to careers. (2,3) When students look at the | | | | Guidelines for Elementary Education Career |
| different industries e.g. sports, media and entertainment, | | | | Resources - National Career Development Guidelines |
| most students underestimate the skills and time | | | | The NCDG Guidelines is a career knowledge, skills, and |
| required to have successful careers. (3) | | | | decision-making framework. The NCDG framework |
| The Basics for Elementary School Career Education | | | | has three domains, goals, and indicators. Teachers and |
| Programs | | | | counselors use the domains, goals, and indicators as |
| In career awareness programs, students do not make | | | | guidelines to design and create career resources. The |
| premature career choices. Elementary school career | | | | three domains are: Personal Social Development (PS), |
| education is not career exploration or career | | | | Educational Achievement and Lifelong Learning (ED), |
| preparation. Elementary students remain open to new | | | | and Career Management (CM). Each domain |
| career ideas and possibilities. (7,8,13,15) Elementary | | | | represents a developmental area in a career |
| students build awareness of self, personal interactions, | | | | education program. Under each domain are goals or |
| school, and the workforce. (2,15) Elementary school | | | | competencies. Under each goal, indicators highlight the |
| counselors and teachers build self-awareness, family | | | | knowledge and skills needed to achieve the goal. The |
| awareness, school awareness, community awareness, | | | | National Career Development Guidelines (NCDG) is the |
| career/ work awareness, attitude development, skill | | | | foundation for career education products, research |
| development, decision making strategies, and | | | | development, tests and tools. (14) |
| self-worth. (2,4,11) | | | | Summary |
| Career awareness programs use age appropriate | | | | Elementary school career education programs build |
| materials that match the developmental levels of the | | | | self-awareness, family awareness, school awareness, |
| students. Age appropriate activities expose students | | | | community awareness, career/ work awareness, |
| to a variety of different jobs, career information | | | | attitude development, skill development, decision |
| sources, and the reasons why people work. Programs | | | | making strategies, and self-worth. Elementary school |
| also incorporate academic career pathways into | | | | career awareness programs use age appropriate |
| classroom activities. According to CareerTec (2000), | | | | materials that match the developmental levels of the |
| the preliminary career education skills serve as | | | | students. As a results of career education, schools |
| foundations for future skills. As the students progress, | | | | reported that students had higher grades and |
| previous skills are reinforced, developed, and | | | | academic achievement, improvement in school |
| expanded. (2,4,11) | | | | involvement and performance, as well as an increase |
| As elementary students get older, the students modify | | | | in career awareness exploration, personal, and |
| career visions and goals. After completing an | | | | interpersonal skills. Career awareness activities include |
| elementary school career awareness program, | | | | Individual Career Plan (ICP), Individual Career Develop |
| students have higher grades, higher academic | | | | Portfolio (ICDP), Career Days, Career Fairs, Field trips, |
| achievement, improved school involvement, as well as | | | | information interviewing, and library book report. |
| an increase in career awareness exploration, personal, | | | | References |
| and interpersonal skills. (1,15) In addition, the students | | | | 1. American Counseling Association, Office of Public |
| complete more complex courses and have a higher | | | | Policy and Legislation. (2007). Effectiveness of School |
| graduation rate from high school. (9) | | | | Counseling. Alexandria, VA: Author. |
| In summary, in career programs, students: | | | | 2. Angel, N. Faye; Mooney, Marianne. (1996, December). |
| Learn and apply the academic material | | | | Work-in-Progress: Career and Work Education for |
| Know and value self | | | | Elementary Students. (ED404516). Cincinnati, OH: Paper |
| Build self-esteem and confidence | | | | presented at the American Vocational Association |
| Identify interests and build relationships between the | | | | Convention. |
| school environment and the work force | | | | 3. Benning, Cathleen; Bergt, Richard; Sausaman, |
| Build academic, communication, problem solving, and | | | | Pamela. (2003, May). Improving Student Awareness of |
| social skills | | | | Careers through a Variety of Strategies. Thesis: |
| Increase awareness of the need for future jobs skills | | | | Action Research Project. (ED481018). Chicago, Illinois: |
| See the connections between learning in school, | | | | Saint Xavier University. |
| academic skills, job related skills, and careers | | | | 4. Career Tec. (2000). K-12 Career Awareness & |
| See career possibilities | | | | Development Sequence [with Appendices, Executive |
| See themselves as a future contributor to the job | | | | and Implementation Guide]. (ED450219) .Springfield, Il: |
| force | | | | Author. |
| Receive empowerment | | | | 5. Carey, John. (2003, January). What are the |
| Build self-determination (2,7,9) | | | | Expected Benefits Associated with Implementing a |
| Examples of Elementary School Career Education | | | | Comprehensive Guidance Program. School counseling |
| Resources | | | | Research Brief 1.1. Amherst, MA: Fredrickson Center |
| Career awareness programs widely use tools are the | | | | for School Counseling Outcome Research. |
| Individual Career Plan (ICP) and the Individual Career | | | | 6. Dare, Donna E.; Maddy-Bernstein, Carolyn. (1999, |
| Develop Portfolio. According to the Ohio State | | | | September). Career Guidance Resource Guide for |
| Department of Education (2000), Individual Career | | | | Elementary and Middle/Junior High School Educators. |
| Plans (ICP) are essential for the development of | | | | (ED434216). Berkeley, CA: National Center for |
| self-awareness, employability skills, decision making and | | | | Research in Vocational Education. |
| goal setting, community involvement, economics, and | | | | 7. DuVall, Patricia. (1995).Let's Get Serious about |
| the reduction of bias. Students use the Individual | | | | Career Education for Elementary Students. AACE |
| Career Plans as they identify and explore initial career | | | | Bonus Briefs. (ED386603). Hermosa Beach, CA: |
| goals and educational plans. Elementary students use | | | | AACE Bonus Briefs. |
| Individual Career Plan (ICP) to develop skills and to | | | | 8. Ediger, Marlow. (2000, July). Vocational Education in |
| prepare to make future educational and career | | | | the Elementary School. (ED442979) Opinion Papers |
| decisions. (12) | | | | 9. Gerver, Miriam, Shanley, Judy, O Cummings, Mindee. |
| Another important tool is the Individual Career Develop | | | | (2/14/02). Answering the Question EMSTAC Extra |
| Portfolio. Individual Career Develop Portfolios are | | | | Elementary and Middle Schools. Washington, DC: |
| collections of the career awareness activities and | | | | Technical Assistance Center, (EMSTAC). |
| experiences that have occurred during the school | | | | 10. Hurley, Dan, Ed.; Thorp, Jim, Ed. (2002, May). |
| year. (12) Other elementary school career awareness | | | | Decisions without Direction: Career Guidance and |
| activities include: | | | | Decision-Making among American Youth. (ED465895). |
| Artistic displays | | | | Grand Rapids, Michigan: Ferris State University Career |
| Career Days | | | | Institute for Education and Workforce Development. |
| Career Fairs | | | | 11. Maddy-Bernstein, Carolyn; Dare, Donna E. |
| Career research | | | | (1997,December).Career Guidance for Elementary and |
| Career videos | | | | Middle School Students. Office of Student Services |
| Collages, murals | | | | Brief, v9 n1. (ED415353). Berkeley, CA: National Center |
| Community speakers | | | | for Research in Vocational Education. |
| Educational games | | | | 12. Ohio Department of Education, Division of |
| Family group discussions | | | | Vocational and Career Education, Ohio Career |
| Field trips | | | | Development Blueprint, Individual Career Plan, K to 5 |
| Information interviewing | | | | (ED449322). Columbus, Ohio, 2000 |
| Job shadowing | | | | 13. Splete, Howard; Stewart, Amy. (1990). |
| Library book report | | | | Competency-Based Career Development Strategies |
| Mentors | | | | and the National Career Development Guidelines. |
| Poetry | | | | Information Series No. 345. (ED327739). Columbus, |
| Phonics | | | | Ohio: ERIC Clearinghouse on Education and Training |
| Pictured dictionary | | | | for Employment & Ohio State University |
| Puppets | | | | 14. U.S. Department of Education Office of Vocational |
| Role playing | | | | and Adult Education. (1994, 2004). National Career |
| Scrapbook | | | | Development Guidelines (NCDG). Washington, DC: |
| Story reading | | | | Author. |
| Student group discussions | | | | 15. Williams, Jean A., Ed. (1999, January). Elementary |
| Word search and comprehension activities (8,9,11,12,16) | | | | Career Awareness Guide: A Resource for |
| Elementary school programs help students build | | | | Elementary School Counselors and Teachers. |
| connections between academics and real life | | | | (ED445293). Raleigh, NC: NC Department of Public |
| situations. (9) Teachers and counselors use career | | | | Instruction, NC Job Ready. |
| education principles to stress the importance of | | | | 16. Woal, S. Theodore. (1995). Career Education--The |
| language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. | | | | Early Years. AACE Bonus Briefs. (ED386603). |
| Language arts have many uses in the workplace: | | | | Hermosa Beach, CA: AACE Bonus Briefs. |
| Reading, writing, and listening skills. The uses for | | | | |