Career Exploration for the 21st Century

My Students

No doubt you know the lyrics to the iconic Whitney song, "I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way..." Middle School is the optimum time for students to be learning about different careers that interest them and the paths to these careers.

My 6th, 7th, and 8th grade English Language Learners will be part of the graduating high school classes of 2018, 2019, and 2020 respectfully.

What will the world be like in the year 2020? What types of jobs and careers will be needed? What skills will they need to possess? These students have many talents already, as they all speak other languages besides English. Among the 77 students that I see every day, these are the languages spoken: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Nepalese, Somali, Spanish, Thai, Tongan, and Vietnamese. Although the school is in a suburban setting, away from the stresses of the inner city, many students come from high poverty. Almost all are on the free and reduced price lunch program. Some of my students have grown up in refugee camps, or have fled war torn countries with their families to seek a better future here in the United States. The stakes are changing and the bar is being set higher and higher. I want my students to lead the way!

My Project

Like all students, English Language Learners need to become technologically literate in order to be productive citizens of the 21st century. To meet this goal, the two iPad minis would provide a transformative tool that students can use to learn new concepts and information, interact with text, and utilize creative applications to show their understanding. The iPad minis would help address the technology gap that disproportionately impacts my English Language Learners, many of whom live in poverty. The possibilities for student engagement and achievement are endless. Students will improve informational literacy, conduct inquiry-based learning and research. Projects will include, but not be limited to, "Careers for the 21st Century". Students will create slideshow presentations on the career they have chosen to study and the pathway required. Utilizing Apple tv, which was purchased last year, students will be able to project and share their informative slideshows to the class.

This is the first request I have ever made for any funding or donation.

It is disheartening in this rich land of ours, where celebrity is glorified, sometimes for doing nothing, that a teacher must seek other avenues to acquire what students need. Some of my colleagues have had success, so I will try too. My students need access to technology. My ultimate goal is a classroom set of mini iPads. This technology will help my students meet the challenges and be college and career ready for 2020!