Classroom Activities

MajorClarity Introduction: Each year, I visit all 6th grade students for an introductory lesson on MajorClarity. Students log in and take two assessments: personality and learning styles. We discuss what their results mean, and then students get the opportunity to spend some time exploring careers that match their personality types.

MajorClarity: In this lesson, students use MajorClarity to further explore careers. We begin by retaking the personality assessment that they took in 6th grade, and discuss how growing up can influence our responses to the personality assessment. Students go on to explore two careers that interest them, including their top personal choice and one of the top three that the software recommended for them.

Reality Check: This lesson serves to set up the Reality of Money event that the NC State Employee's Credit Union runs. Students use the Reality Check website to answer questions about the lifestyle they want when they grow up, and then see how much money they'll need to make to achieve it. It's an eye opening activity! Who would have thought housing and groceries cost so much?

MajorClarity: In this lesson, we again dive into MajorClarity, but this year we're focused on getting students ready to make important decisions about their future: high school registration. While the activities are similar to those in the 6th and 7th grades, we're looking at careers with a more specific focus on how student career goals should influence the course choices they make in the spring.

High School Registration Preview: In this lesson, I spend time talking to students about the differences between middle and high school. Students learn about different programs offered at the high school level, including CTE pathways, internship opportunities, certifications, and more.

These are examples of activities that I lead when I'm invited to classrooms for supplemental activities. The majority of my supplemental activities focus on essential skills: communication, leadership, responsibility, diversity, etc.

Servant Leadership: Defines leadership and discusses how effective leaders cultivate relationships rather than relying on the power in their titles. Focus is on teamwork and building up the people around you.

Civil Discourse: Challenge students to think about the differences among verbal, written, and social media communication. Focuses on the idea of what is and isn't communicated with nonverbal cues vs. emojis, as well as the effects of audiences on how we communicate.

Are You a Fred?: Uses excerpts from The Fred Factor to discuss how to make your presence meaningful. Students learn the idea of creating value with small often-overlooked actions - shows how to stand out among peers to get a job, get a scholarship, improve how you feel about work/school, improve relationships with classmates/teachers/employers, and more.