Question:

Hi Ms. Harvell,

I need a really good, motivating web site for my high school students to learn about the reality of living on their own. They are writing essays about their futures as adults and all I hear about is wanting to live in a big house, drive a nice car, have all the latest technology, etc. What’s a teacher to do to bring them back down to earth?

Sue

Answer:

Hi Sue,

I have just the activity for your students. They can maneuver at their own pace through a reality check activity. The purpose is for the student to realize that they cannot have all the “bells and whistles” once they are on their own; they may need to adjust their life style radically.

See how well your students follow directions. Here are the steps to access this web site (adapt the steps as needed):

1. go to www.cccareers.org (see web site picture below)
2. click onto “Tools & Resources” (in the top right red box)
3. click onto “Student Activities” (red tab at the lower left hand side of screen)
4. click on “read more” under Career Zone, (see middle of box “student activities…”)
5. click onto “read more” under Career Zone
6. click onto the “Flash” license plate
7. click onto “Get a Reality Check”
8. click again onto “Flash Version” (make sure volume is turned up; the kids love the intro)
9. click onto “entire site”
10. go to #1 “Get A Reality Check”
11. click onto the red arrow
12. click on the city you wish to live in on the “Living Space” page

ON EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SCREENS, ANSWER THE QUESTION, CHOOSE ALL ITEMS THAT APPLY, AND CLICK ON LOWER RED “NEXT” TAB. NOTE THE RUNNING TALLY AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF EACH SCREEN.

You should go through the following screens: Housing, Utilities, Food, Transportation, Clothes, Health Care, Entertainment, Personal Upkeep, Miscellaneous, and Saving Money.

1. at the green, “Total Expenses” screen, notice how much money you will need to make annually
2. click onto red arrow button
3. in “Occupations” screen, find the bullet that says: I don’t know, include all Ed levels (in Occupational Category); click on it
4. in the next section, find the bullet that says: I don’t know, include all Occupational Categories; click on it
5. click onto Red Arrow Tab
6. it shows all suggested careers that make the yearly salary needed!
7. click onto a career and there is a wealth of information to follow

After your students have completed this activity, return to the first screen with the three boxes:

• the first box “Assess Yourself” is a great tool for students to discover who they might become (an interest survey)
• the second box “Explore Industry Sectors” is also a great way to check out cluster careers

NOTE: The Current job openings in California in chosen careers are up dated monthly.

I hope your student enjoy this activity. The ones I have used it with were motivated through to the end.

Picture of web site.