Techniques Nov-Dec 2012 - 6

Leading Edge

college and career readiness
As A tEAchEr, onE of thE grEAtEst compLimEnts a student can bestow upon you is
to tell you how something they learned in your class prepared them for their job or career. I have been blessed in my teaching career with great students. It is commonly said that the goal of high school reform is to ensure all students graduate “college- and careerready.” Still, there is confusion over what it actually means. College and career readiness, in many instances, refer to the content knowledge and skills high school graduates must possess in English and mathematics including, but not limited to, reading, writing, communications, teamwork, critical thinking Karen Mason and problem solving in order to be successful in any and all future endeavors. Of course, readiness for college and career depends on more than English and mathematics knowledge to be successful after high school. As we prepare our students to be college- and career-ready, there are so many options available to them. I believe if students possess excellent soft skills, they can be far ahead in job-readiness skills. A student who is an excellent communicator will go far in their career. Our career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) develop leadership skills, public-speaking skills and social interaction with their peers. Students develop relationship skills that will apply in the world of work and in their personal lives. Competitive events in CTSOs create an awareness of issues we are facing in our society and allow the student to take a more in-depth look at solving some of these issues. As an FCCLA advisor, I have had the opportunity to watch my students grow in their leadership capabilities and become very productive, successful people in the community. Many times when you are speaking to someone in an airport, or a place of business such as a restaurant, the person assisting you has taken a career and technical education (CTE) course or they have been a member of a CTSO. We do make a difference; sometimes it is just hard to pinpoint the specific soft skill the student has mastered. Making my lessons relevant to life and showing my students how the concepts will be used in their future helps to prepare them for the real world. Teachers wear many hats today in the academic world, including teaching students skills that were once taught at home by their parents. Manners and etiquette can play a major role in being chosen or not chosen for a position in the business world. Students must know how to conduct themselves in the interview because it will make them a much more viable candidate. Reading and writing are very important when applying for a job. With all the technology available today to students, the basics are oftentimes skipped over, as we well know when the student enters secondary or postsecondary school and cannot do the basics. We have to instill in students to take pride in their work and to be the best they can be!
MANAGING EDITOR Margaret Mitchell / mmitchell@acteonline.org ACTE STAFF CONTRIBUTORS Stephen DeWitt / sdewitt@acteonline.org Alisha Hyslop / ahyslop@acteonline.org Talana Lattimer / tlattimer@acteonline.org DESIGN AND pRODUCTION MANAGER Kelly Jenkins / kjenkins@acteonline.org ADVERTISING ACCOUNT SALES REp Tom Minich / tminich.acte@gmail.com Mel Katz / melkatz@verizon.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Jim Waterhouse, Techniques Magazine 1410 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 800-826-9972 ext. 332 Fax: 703-683-7424 techniques@acteonline.org www.acteonline.org pUBLISHER Association for Career and Technical Education acte@acteonline.org Janet B. Bray, Executive Director jbray@acteonline.org HOW TO CONTACT ACTE Call toll-free 800-826-9972 MEMBERSHIp SERVICES Techniques magazine is just one of the benefits of joining ACTE. Call 800-826-9972 or visit www.acteonline.org/join.aspx to learn more. TECHNIQUES EDITORIAL Contact Margaret Mitchell by phone at 703-6839339 or by e-mail at mmitchell@acteonline.org. To submit letters to the editor or to send article queries or manuscripts, e-mail to techniques@acteonline.org, or mail to Editor, Techniques, 1410 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Information on writing for Techniques is available at www.acteonline.org/techniques.aspx. REpRINTS, COpY pERMISSION, BACK ISSUES ACTE members seeking permission to copy limited quantities of articles from Techniques, please contact or fax your request to Elizabeth Heatley at 800-8269972, eheatley@acteonline.org, or fax 703-683-7424. For non-members and large quantity copy permission requests, please contact the Copyright Clearance Center, 978-750-8400. For reprints and permissions, contact The YGS Group at 800-501-9571 ext 100 or email ACTEreprints@theYGSgroup.com. For back issues, please contact ACTE member services at 800826-9972. Members may access the contents of all issues of Techniques from September 2002 forward, on the ACTE website, www.acteonline.org. Online access is subject to prevailing copyright protections and prior written permission from ACTE is required for all reprints and copies. Members can request an additional copy of Techniques for missing, lost or damaged copies, but fulfillment of this request cannot be guaranteed after 90 days from issue date. Copyright 2012 by the Association for Career and Technical Education Inc. The views expressed by Techniques do not necessarily represent an official position of ACTE. Acceptance of ads for publication in the magazine does not imply endorsement of advertised products by the association.

Karen Mason ACTE President

Techniques

November/December 2012

www.acteonline.org

Techniques Nov-Dec 2012

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