Israel Rubio, Rivera Middle School, Pico Rivera, Social Science, irubio@erusd.k12.ca.us

School and Class Summary:

I am teaching 2 sections of 7th graders (about 60 total) and one section of 8th graders (about 30). The class is an elective titled Career Education, which is part of a collaborative effort between Rio Hondo and our school to get students thinking about career pathways beginning in middle school. Rio Hondo generously provided us with the funding to pay for TRGC 2.1. We began in September and wrapped up the first week of December. By trade, I am a History teacher, but I'm teaching the class because of the experimental nature.

TRGC 2.1 Implementation:

I had hoped to have two sections use the online version and one section use the offline version. Unfortunately, due to technological shortcomings, I've had to do something of a blend. Most of the handouts and activities were done offline, but items like the Spin It game and different videos were done using a LCD projector. My hope for the future would be that more and more of the course would be completed online. When laptops were available, they were of great help, not only because of the quality of the end product, but because many of my students desperately need the practice and experience using word processors and web browsers.

Provide the following details for each session listed below:

- Is this session used in class?

- If not, why not?

- What changes did you make to the session?

- How long did it take to do this session?

- Challenges you experienced when doing this session?

- Attach any hard copy additional material you included for this session.

- Success stories using this session in class.

- Recommendations (technology or pedagogy) for this session.

Unit 1:

Session 1 The Spin Game

I started TRGC with the pre-session. We started with the World of Work Survey. Then for 2 days, we discussed various workplace skills and character traits needed to be successful. I really placed more emphasis on the character traits since they would conveniently fit with classroom behavior. We went through the definitions of the traits in class, and then in groups of 2, students created 2 comics- one where they showed someone displaying that character trait in the workplace, and one where someone was failing to demonstrate the appropriate trait.

This worked rather well since it gave me a chance to assess different personalities in class, and see how they followed directions.

The spin game worked rather well, especially for the classes that I was able to display online. The class that was offline had a tougher time since I had to repeat the questions and choices over and over again. While the questions were helpful in showing all the different jobs and occupations out there, the students were for the most part unsure and ended up guessing for many of them.

Session 2 The Dream

Since the use of laptops/computers was out of the question for all classes, they all did the Dream Worksheet by hand. They recorded their choices on lined paper. They were allowed to choose as many transportation items and leisure items as they wanted. They then added up the monthly cost of their wish list. This took about two periods to complete. One of the challenges was that students had trouble understanding the idea of monthly costs, so they wouldn't break down some of the leisure items into monthly payments. Their monthly budget looked bigger than they needed.

I also realized that there were many new words that they needed to be familiar with just to get by, so I assigned 10 words that they would be tested on at the end of the unit. ( Unit_1_Vocabulary_Quiz.doc)

Session 3 What's My Line?

Session 4 Our Town

Session 5 Who Am I? Who Are You?

Unit 2:

Session 1 After Work

Session 2 Reality Check

Session 3 The Financial Picture

Session 4 Getting Away

Session 5 Spin It Again

Unit 3:

Session 1 Fair Play

Session 2 The Pink Slip

Session 3 Disaster Strikes

Session 4 Transitions

Unit 4:

Session 1 Think Again!

Session 2 Getting To Know Me

Session 3 Follow Your Heart

Session 4 The Big Picture

Session 5 Career Day

Session 6 The Final Spinb

Session 7 Wrap-Up