Learning Contract: Career Exploration

Mrs. Christi Dienner

8th Grade LEAD III
George A. Smith Middle School

We are about to embark on an exploration of your future. Throughout this unit you will be
required to complete certain tasks, and you will be given choices for others. To ensure success
in this unit you must manage your time, make wise decisions, and give a great deal of effort.

Name__________________________
Date___________________________

Project range: 10/1/2018-11/2/2018

Interview: 45% Research: 25% Summary: 15% Resume: 10% KWL: 5%

Pre-Assessment [UDL 3.1]:

10/1-10/2
You will take a ​career interest survey​ to determine what career is best for you. You will answer
60 interest questions. Answering honestly will furnish you with the most accurate results.

Please keep in mind that your results will change depending on the amount of education you
would like to recieve after high school.
● Little or no job preparation: could start today
● Some job preparation: high school diploma
● Medium job preparation: vocational/trade school/Associate’s Degree
● High job preparation: Bachelor’s Degree
● Extensive job preparation: Master’s Degree +

Now that you have received a result, please fill out the K and W column on your ​KWL chart.
 Learning Contract: Career Exploration
Research [UDL 6.2]: ​(Readiness/Content)
10/3-10/12

We need to start gathering our research in order to prepare for our career interviews, but first we
must learn how to properly extract information from a source.

Tiered Lesson Plan

Duration: two days

Pre-Assessment Strategy: Students will be instructed to read a short passage and take notes on the
material. The quality of notes will determine the students’ levels.

Minimum Use of Below-level At-level Learners Above-level

Bloom’s Taxonomy Learners Describe Learners
Define Compare/Contrast Construct
Criticize Criticize Criticize
Produce

Grade Level Learners will define Learners will describe Learners will read
Content the terms ​summarize​, the appearance of another passage and
Expectations paraphrase​, and successful note-taking. construct appropriate
direct quote.​ notes.
Learners will compare
Learners will critique and contrast the terms Learners will critique
sample notes to summarizing,​ another student’s
determine the paraphrasing​, and notes with an
success or failure of direct quotes emphasis on
the notes. summarizing,
Learners will critique
paraphrasing, and
sample notes to
direct quotes.
determine the success
or failure of the notes. Learners will produce
a short tutorial
explaining the
process of taking
notes. This tutorial
will be shown to the
rest of the class.

Outcomes Students will be able to successfully read a source and extract notes to
ensure they are not plagiarizing the information.
 Learning Contract: Career Exploration
Number of Varies based on Varies based on Varies based on
Learners pre-assessment pre-assessment pre-assessment

Common All students will have the same experience of identifying successes and
experience failures in someone’s notes whether it be a sample or another student’s
work.

Range of activities Students will work Students will watch a Individual students
with teacher to define short ​brainpop video will type their notes
and identify the terms and write a brief on a Google Doc
summarizing,​ discussion post with a while reading a
paraphrasing​, and description of Newsela ​passage
direct quotes​ through successful notes. and share it with
direct instruction and another student.
Individual students will
a graphic organizer.
create a graphic The students will
Students will use organizer on Google critique their peer’s
Google Docs to look Docs to compare and shared document by
at two contrast the terms using the suggesting
teacher-created summarizing​, tool.
samples of notes paraphrasing​, and
Students will work
(one good, one poor) direct quotations​.
individually or with a
and students will
Students will use partner to create a
correct the errors
Google Docs to look at short tutorial about
using the suggesting
two teacher-created how to take notes.
tool.
samples of notes (one They will compose
good, one poor) and this video either with
students will correct the AdobeSpark ​or with
errors using the the document
suggesting tool. camera. These
videos will assess
their knowledge and
will be shown to help
other students who
continue to struggle.
 Learning Contract: Career Exploration
Technology tools Students will critique Students will write and Students will write,
a sample paragraph critique (using the share, and critique
using the suggestion suggesting tool) using (using the suggesting
tool on Google Docs. Google Docs and tool) using Google
posting a discussion to Docs.
Schoology
Students will use
AdobeSpark or the
document camera to
create the video
tutorial.

Assessment/ Students will review Students will read Students will read
Product the original passage another passage and another passage and
and take notes using take notes using take notes using
summarize or summarized, summarized,
paraphrased bullet paraphrased or direct paraphrased or direct
points. quotes in bullet points. quotes with proper
in-text citations in
bullet points.

Now that we know how to properly take notes, let’s begin! As you are researching, you must:
☐ Use three different reliable sources
☐ Use two different ​types​ of sources
☐ Cite all of your source information
☐ Find information on the following topics:
● What you do in that career
● What type of training do you need
● What skills/abilities do you need to be successful
● What is the job outlook
● Any additional questions you have about your career

You will be graded using ​this rubric​, so please review this before submitting your notes.
 Learning Contract: Career Exploration
Resume [UDL 2.5]: ​(Interest/Product)
10/15-10/16
Having a resume is an important part of applying for your desired occupation and even college.
A resume highlights all the incredible qualities and achievements that define you. For this
activity, you will get to choose a row that appeals to you. Although you may not have chosen
the resume option, it is good idea to know how to make one. There are many websites,​ like this
one​, that can help you along the way.

Role Audience Format Topic Technology UDL

High school Hiring Resume First time Google Doc 4.2

student manager at applying for a
Subway job

College Future Video Applying for a AdobeSpark 5.2

graduate employers application/ career in
subscribed to resume business
indeed.com management

Hiring Interested Digital What you are Prezi​, Google 2.5

manager at applicants presentation looking for in an Slides,
Nike employee VoiceThread​..
.

College Rejected Letter Denied Google Doc 4.2

admissions student admissions due (may voice
officer to poor resume type)

You will be graded based on the following ​rubric​.

 Learning Contract: Career Exploration
Interview [UDL 3.3]:
10/17-10/25
Upon completion of the career research and professional resumes, we are reading to begin
learning about how to act during an interview. This entire section is found on our ​Schoology
page. This section is set as a learning pathway, so you will complete it independently at your
own pace. Throughout the pathway you will watch a ​TEDtalk​ about effective speakers, engage
with two EdPuzzles: ​interview tips​ and ​critiquing an interview​. ​You will respond to several
discussion posts.
By the end of this section, you will have experience evaluating effective interviews and
understand proper ways to respond to questions.
You will be given time in class to practice for the interview with a partner. Although these exact
questions may or may not appear during your actual interview, it is a good idea to have these
responses practiced and prepared:
● Tell me a little about yourself
● What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
● What skills and experience do you have that would make you qualified for this job?
● What do you expect to be doing in five years?
● If you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look for?
● Have you ever had to make a difficult decision? How did you handle that?
● What experience do you have following instructions or directions?
● What do you think about asking questions? What is the best way to seek out answers to
your questions?
● Can you give an example of a time you were a problem solver?

Interviews will be conducted with volunteers from the community or teachers/staff from the
building. You are expected to dress and act professionally. We will go over this in greater detail
during class. You will be graded using ​this rubric​.

Self-Evaluation [UDL 9.3]:

10/26
Completing a self-evaluation at the end of a major activity or project is always helpful for you
and your teachers. It is you chance to talk about parts with which you did well and areas you
could have improved. It is important to answer this honestly. Please complete this
self-evaluation​.
 Learning Contract: Career Exploration
Summary [UDL 7.1]: ​(Learning Preference/Process)
10/29-11/1
Now that you’re finally finished, you will summarize what you learned through this research unit.
You may choose from any of the six options.

Musical Visual-Spatial Verbal-Linguistic

Create a rap or a song about Create a mind map of Create a ​voicethread

the step of researching. You research, resumes, public explaining the interview
may either type or speaking, and interviewing. process to a seventh grade
perform/video you creation Use ​MindMup student

⚫ ⚫⚫ ⚫⚫⚫

Mathematical-Logical Intrapersonal Bodily/Kinesthetic

Conduct a brief survey of Create an ​edublog p

your classmates concerning
what they learned and create
a graph/chart to display the
gathered information
​ ost
writing about your strengths
and struggles throughout this
unit. Don’t be afraid to be
honest with the audience
Create an infomercial using
Windows Movie Maker to
advertise this unit. Be sure to
include information you have
learned throughout.

⚫⚫⚫⚫ ⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫ ⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫

Individual think dot activities will be graded using this ​rubric​. Please be aware of the
requirements before you begin working on your activity.
 Learning Contract: Career Exploration
Anchor Activities [UDL 7.1]: ​(choice)
Any time throughout the project
Remember, there is never any down time in LEAD. You must always work on something. If you
find yourself finished early, you may complete any of the following:
● Respond to the journal question posted on the board
● Respond to the creative writing question posted on the board
● Create​ digital flashcards​ with our unit vocabulary
● Complete the paper copy of the BIG 6 crossword puzzle
● Create a ​Google Forms​ quiz about the characteristics of an effective speaker
● Silent read
● Play any of the language arts games on our ​Schoology ​page

Learning Conditions and Classroom Environment

❏ I agree to come to class prepared and ready to learn
❏ I agree to be respectful to my classmates and the technology that I use throughout the
course of this unit
❏ I agree to seek help when I need it and offer help to others
❏ I agree to take chances and make mistakes
❏ I agree to complete these assignments to the best of my ability

____________________________________________ ______________
Student Signature Date

____________________________________________ ______________
Teacher Signature Date