K-5 Career Awareness

Students - "In the early years of elementary school, introduce students to careers in their community. Community helpers are some of the most logical and easy careers to introduce." 

Teachers - "Careers matter and are an essential part of the overall curriculum – and that children can realistically understand careers as early as kindergarten. Teachers may help by connecting classroom content to careers. For example, most early elementary teachers have a science unit on weather. Teachers might include weather careers as part of the unit, such as meteorologist and climatologist". 

Parents - "Early elementary is a time of opening career doors. Encourage parents to discuss their own careers as well as the careers their children see when they go to the grocery store, the doctor’s office, the post office and more".     

(ASCA Nov./Dec. 2017,  Jennifer Curry PhD.) 

Students - After introducing students to the 6 Career Zones, "it is also a great time to add depth to students’ career understanding and diversify their knowledge of careers ". 

Teachers - Because learning about the 6 Career Zones "is crucial to future career development and understanding future career pathways, it is important that students connect school and the world of work as much as possible ". 

Parents - Second and third grade is the ideal time to connect activities and skills learned at home to the world of work. For example, "Who uses fractions in their daily work? Lots of workers including architects, construction workers, doctors, pharmacists, musicians, bakers and chefs, stock traders, etc". 

(ASCA Nov./Dec. 2017,  Jennifer Curry PhD.)

Students - "In classroom presentations, help students understand the progression of K–12 schooling and what postsecondary options are generally available to students. At this time, it is ideal to have students begin to investigate careers using technology."

Teachers - "Fourth-sixth grade students should be pushed to develop self-regulatory habits as they begin the transition to middle school. Self-regulation includes stress and time management and the ability to organize their own materials. "

Parents -  "Helping parents recognize their students will need to take greater self-responsibility and that middle school comes with a host of interpersonal, academic and social nuance is critical to helping students develop as future employees."

(ASCA Nov./Dec. 2017, Jennifer Curry PhD.)

Financial literacy is a part of career development. 

Key Takeaways

• Teaching financial literacy at a younger age helps children develop healthy, lifelong financial habits.

• Main principles of financial literacy include earning, saving, investing, protecting, spending, and borrowing.

• Closing gaps in financial literacy could help close wealth gaps. Among different income, racial, and gender groups, you’ll often find disparities in financial literacy. 

• A strong foundation of financial literacy can help support various life goals, such as saving for education or retirement, using debt responsibly, and running a business.

• Younger people are vulnerable to social media and marketing that encourages consumption.

• Financial literacy can encourage habits that can help children avoid debt traps later in life.

• Children can form money habits starting as young as age 5. -Investopedia

Also, in Muskegon County, we have a KickStart to Career Program supporting students in saving for their future career & college goals.  KickStart to Career is a children's savings account program designed to give students an early boost toward a great career. Starting with the 2018/19 school year, KickStart to Career began opening a $50 savings account for every kindergartener in Muskegon County! Every penny counts toward building dreams and KickStart to Career will foster hope and opportunity for each student's future. Along the way, students will have a chance to earn extra deposits and learn about savings and finance, and families will be encouraged to make deposits of their own.  To learn more:  KickStart to Career Program