Middle School CTE
21st Century Career Exploration Labs
Career Exploration That Works
All four of the middle schools at Alvord offer 21st Century Career Exploration as an elective. This class allows students to rotate through different modules focused on specific pathways, learn skills that are pertinent to that pathway, and use those skills in a hands-on learning environment.
Pathways are chosen by the school according to student interest, local labor market, and pathways offered at the high schools in the district.
Since the introduction of these labs, teachers in the high school CTE pathways have benefited from having students that are more knowledgeable about the pathways, are more engaged, and are better prepared to complete pathways.
Woodworking
In the Wells Woodshop kids learn a range of skills. In the Wood 1 (Introduction to Cabinetry) class, kids use a wide variety of woodworking machines and tools to create many wood projects. Through this process, students learn shop safety, measurement skills, cutting and joinery techniques, proper gluing and clamping techniques, fastening techniques, and finishing techniques. Some project examples include cutting boards, jewelry boxes, wall shelves / bookshelves, tortilla presses, and many other utilitarian items in which students could use in their home.
The overall skill set learned in the wood 1 class will prepare kids for the Wood 2 (Intermediate Cabinetry) class. Wood 2 is a general course on Euro and face frame cabinetry, which is essentially the cabinetry that we see in virtually all homes today. Kids will also advance into some furniture making skills in the Wood 2 class. Some project examples include base cabinets, nightstands, chest of drawers, benches, chairs, and tables.
The skills developed in both classes will develop an overall confidence and understanding which can be applied in the real-world applications, either as DIY builds and repairs, or in one of the many carpentry/ building trades.
Students that successfully complete Wood 1 at Wells have the opportunity to go directly into Intermediate Cabinetry, Millwork, and Woodworking class at Norte Vista High School.
Digital Media and Design
Digital Media and Design at Wells Middle School is an introductory course to the world of filmmaking, photo editing and Digital Art. While working in this course students will learn the basics of making short films and creating the school announcements. They will learn how to take different types of photography, editing their photos, and usage of DLSR cameras. In addition, students will learn how to create advertisements, posters, and the skills of page layout.
Family and Consumer Sciences
Students in the Family and Counsumer Sciences Class learn about the fundamental biological, chemical and physical scientific principles associated with the study of food.
Topics include: food composition and nutrition; food additives and regulations; food safety, processing, and engineering; product development and sensory evaluation.
This is a Career Technical Education (CTE) class. This means that the students will have hands-on opportunities to create things at home and earn certifications that can help in a future career.
FCCLA at Villegas Middle School
FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) education like my Food Science class. FCCLA offers opportunities for students to pursue careers that support families. Since 1945, FCCLA members have been making a difference in their families, careers, and communities by addressing important personal, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education.
Involvement in FCCLA offers members the opportunity to expand their leadership potential and develop skills for life—planning, goal setting, problem solving, decision making, and interpersonal communication—necessary in the home and workplace.
Today, more than 155,000 members from 4,253 chapters are active in a network of associations in 47 states, including Puerto Rico. Students from my classes have competed at the regional, state and national levels. FCCLA provides a unique opportunity to be a part of a nationally recognized organization. This is a huge asset in college admissions and career selection.
