In your studies, you read about the importance of career development and transition programs in today's schools. You reviewed Web sites and reports with important career and transition-related information.

The interactive multimedia presentation Transitions in Schools prompted you to consider the school counselor's role in facilitating school readiness, transfers, first-generation college students, and school-to-work transition programs.

Review the Transitions in Schools multimedia presentation, taking notes on the questions posed on each slide.

For this discussion:

Discuss the importance of these programs, identify challenges, discuss potential ways to overcome those challenges, and present a method by which these programs can be evaluated.

Summarize your answers to the questions in the Transitions in Schools presentation, and share your reflections on the school counselor's role.

Choose a school level (elementary school, middle school, or high school) and describe a career development transition program for the level, which was not discussed in the presentation.

You may use the same transition program you presented in the School Transition Programs assignment.

Provide your rationale for selecting that program and identify what you think is central to assisting students in developing their knowledge about careers.

You may use the questions posed in the multimedia presentation as a guide.

TRANSITIONS IN SCHOOLS

School Readiness (Picture of parent and student waiting for bus)

Preparation for success in school begins years before a child sets foot in a classroom. Socioeconomic status impacts a child's exposure to language with statistics showing that affluent children are exposed to 30,000 more words than children raised in poverty by the time he/she enters school (source; SPARK presentation (Kellogg Foundation) by Mississippi Gov).

• How can an elementary school counselor help transition a child into the learning environment?

• What are the potential risk factors for which a child might need the support of a school readiness transition program?

Transfer Student (Picture of a house with a for sale sign or moving truck)

Moving can be traumatic at any age and time of year. There are challenges during summer in that students do not necessarily meet other students right away.

Moving during the school year presents a different set of challenges in that courses may not be offered or do not count towards graduation requirements at their new school, friend groups are already established, and favorite sporting activities may have already held tryouts.

Students who felt successful at their old school suddenly feels out of place and need to find "their place" in the new school. Recent studies, however, show that mobility during the school year may be less traumatic than summer time moves.

• What can a school counselor do to help ease the transition to a new school?

• What, in your opinion, are the three most important things a school counselor can do to support the student?

First Generation College Student (Picture of a student graduating from high school)

In today's job market there is increasing pressure on students to pursue higher education. However, many students may come from families where they are the first person in their family to apply and be accepted to college.

This experience, while new and frightening to any student, has a deeper level of anxiety for the first generation college student.

The increased family pressure to succeed along with the traditional feelings of ambiguity about this unknown world may present a seemingly insurmountable obstacle.

• What resources can a school counselor provide to help aid the student in the process?

• How might a student's special needs impact the information you need to provide to the student?

School to Work (Picture representing this type of transition?)

This program is one that begins in elementary school and moves through high school. It is most often described as generating an understanding of lifelong learning.

Activities include apprenticeships, on-the-job training, or cooperative education programs designed to prepare students to enter the workforce.

• What is the school counselor's role in a school to work program?