Grades 6-8

Grade 6-8 Overview

SchooLinks in grades 6-8 is designed to help students begin their academic and career planning journey by building strong self-awareness, self-management, social-emotional skills, and early career awareness. At the middle school level, SchooLinks is used as a developmental tool that supports students in understanding how they learn, exploring their interests, setting goals, and making early connections between who they are and future possibilities.

Through guided lessons and activities, students engage in age-appropriate MyCAP-aligned work that introduces career exploration in low-stakes, exploratory ways, such as interest inventories and reflection activities, while emphasizing personal growth and skill development. This early exposure helps students see the relevance of academics to future careers and ensures they enter high school prepared for deeper academic planning, pathway exploration, and postsecondary decision-making.

Below, families can find a breakdown of the main SchooLinks components, a grade-level overview of units, lessons, and assessments, and access to the student-facing presentations for Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8.

the 6-8 schoolinks model

Across all three middle schools, SchooLinks is implemented during different blocks within each school’s schedule. While the specific block may vary by building, all students are provided dedicated time within a rotating schedule—such as advisory periods or related arts blocks—to engage with SchooLinks with teacher guidance and support.

Middle school students access SchooLinks through structured learning units made up of short, engaging mini-lessons and assessments. Together, these lessons and assessments help students understand how they learn, explore what interests them, and begin making connections between their skills, interests, and future academic and career possibilities.

what are mini lessons?

Mini Lessons
These short virtual lessons are made of three key components:

A brief introduction to the topic
A short video
A quiz or survey
Turn-and-talk discussions, reflections, or small projects and activities

what are schoolinks assessments?

Annual Assessments and Reflection Activities
These activities are completed once per year to help students track their growth and evolving interests, support early career awareness, and guide reflection on their MyCAP goals, and include:

Career Interest Inventory
Would You Rather? (interest exploration activity)
Learning Style Assessment
S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting

Grade level Lessons and materials

During the Summer Academy, a dedicated 6-8 SchooLinks team, made up of teachers, deans, administrators, and counselors, developed a scope and sequence and created supporting materials to guide students and staff through implementation. These resources provide structure for lessons, activities, and assessments at each grade level. To access the full scope and sequence for your student’s grade, check out the presentations linked below.

Grade 6

Learning Goals:
This year focuses on helping students build self-awareness, self-management, and social-emotional skills. They’ll explore how they learn best through a learning styles quiz, get introduced to SMART goals, and begin reflecting on their emotions, behaviors, and how they relate to others.

Identify personal strengths, interests, and learning preferences to begin exploring potential academic and career paths.
Set and reflect on S.M.A.R.T. goals that support personal growth and academic success.
Demonstrate self-management and social-awareness skills through reflection on emotions, behaviors, and interactions with others.
Track early career interests and evolving skills to connect personal growth with future academic and career planning.

Grade 6: Units, Mini Lessons, and Assessments

Student Onboarding

Introduction to SchooLinks and how to navigate the platform

Completion of Find Your Path career interest inventory to explore potential careers and skills

Unit 1: Self-Management

Managing Emotions

Managing Stress

Goal Setting

Practicing Self-Control

Organization Skills

Unit 2: Social Awareness

Perspective Taking

Empathy

Appreciating Diversity

Respect for Others

Showing Gratitude

Assessments

Find Your Path (Career Interest Inventory to explore early career options)

S.M.A.R.T Goal Creation (Students practice setting personal, measurable goals)

Learning Style Assessment (Helps students understand how they learn best)

For the full Grade 6 presentation that we use with students, click here!

Grade 7

Learning Goals:
Seventh grade builds on previous learning by revisiting SMART goals and expanding social-emotional development. Lessons center around forming healthy relationships, making responsible decisions, and beginning to explore personal career interests, all while continuing to reflect on individual learning preferences and understanding how they might shift.

Strengthen relationship and communication skills to collaborate effectively and navigate social situations.
Apply responsible decision-making and problem-solving strategies to reflect on choices and their impact on self and others.
Set and monitor S.M.A.R.T goals to guide personal growth and academic progress.
Continue exploring personal interests and learning preferences to support early career awareness and ongoing MyCAP development.

Grade 7: Units, Mini Lessons, and Assessments

Student Onboarding

Introduction to SchooLinks and how to navigate the platform

Completion of Find Your Path career interest inventory to explore potential careers and skills

Unit 1: Relationship Skills

Communication

Developing Relationships

Practicing Teamwork

Resolving Conflicts

Resisting Peer Pressure

Unit 2: Responsible Decision-Making

Being Curious

Making Good Choices

Problem Solving

Self-Reflection

Assessments & Activities

S.M.A.R.T Goal Setting – Students practice creating measurable goals for personal growth.

Social-Emotional Learning Assessment – Tracks development of self-management and social-awareness skills.

Learning Style Assessment – Helps students understand how they learn best & how this might change.

Would You Rather – Early career exploration activity connecting interests to potential paths.

For the full Grade 7 presentation that we use with students, click here!

Grade 8

Learning Goals:
Eighth grade deepens self-discovery and prepares students for the transition to high school. Through exploring career clusters, employability skills, and values, students begin to connect who they are with potential future paths.

Reflect on personal strengths, skills, and interests to inform academic and career planning.
Explore career pathways and clusters to understand potential options and future opportunities.
Set and monitor S.M.A.R.T. goals to guide personal growth and preparation for high school.
Use self-reflection and assessments to track social-emotional growth and evolving career interests in preparation for high school MyCAP work.

Grade 8: Units, Mini Lessons, and Assessments

Student Onboarding

Introduction to SchooLinks and how to navigate the platform

Completion of Find Your Path career interest inventory to explore potential careers and skills

Unit 1: Self-Discovery

Who Are You?

Are You Gritty?

Thinking About College

Figuring Out Your Skills

Reflection

Unit 2: How to Explore Careers

How to Explore Careers

What Are Career Clusters?

How Do I Find a Career I Love?

Income and Job Growth

Learn About Your Chosen Career

Exploring Internships (informational, forward-looking)

Job Shadowing (informational, forward-looking)

Reflection

Unit 3: Career Clusters

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Architecture & Construction

Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications

Business Management and Administration

Education and Training

Finance

Government and Public Administration

Health Science

Hospitality and Tourism

Human Services

Information Technology

Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

Manufacturing

Marketing, Sales, and Services

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Assessments & Activities

S.M.A.R.T Goals: Students set measurable goals for personal growth and academic planning

Would You Rather: Early career exploration activity connecting interests to potential paths

Social-Emotional Learning Assessment: Tracks development of self-management and social-awareness skills

Learning Style Assessment: Helps students understand how they learn best

For the full Grade 8 presentation that we use with students, click here!

Page updated

Report abuse