JOB READINESS

WEEK FOUR DAY ONE

Lesson Title:  Resume Resources and Review of Resume Literature  

Subject Matter/Life Skill Area: Job Readiness  

Learning Level/Prerequisite Skills:  9th Grade reading and math levels  

Lesson Length: Two hours  

Instruction Type: Individual/Lecture  

Overview and Rationale:  

This lesson is designed to serve as a guide for resume and cover letter writing.  It will provide professional tips and techniques to enhance job-seeking skills.  Also, this lesson is the first step to begin the formal application procedure.    

Learning Objectives / Skills:  

At the completion of this lesson, students will be able to design and produce a resume and cover letter. Students will learn what information is important to include in a resume and cover letter. Also, students should be able to describe the three types of resumes most commonly used.  

Skills: Written Communication, Critical Thinking   

Materials / Equipment Needed:  

Handout: Three Resume Styles, Sample Resumes, Verbs Used in Resume Writing, Resume Tips (a set for each student)

Resume books from the library, Employment Commission, Library Connection

Paper, Pencil and Pen

Overhead Projector (optional)

Transparencies (optional)

Video on Resume Writing, if available

How to Prepare:        

The instructor should be familiar with resume styles and cover letters. Also, the instructor should have some knowledge of the students’ employment background. (This information may be obtained from the IDP form that was discussed in week 1) This information will help the teacher to assist the students in selecting the appropriate style of resume.  

Introduction / Warm Up / Review:  

Introduce the lesson by discussing the following questions: What is a Resume? What is a Cover Letter?  How do you identify what job needs a resume?  What other documents might be appropriate to obtain employment? (Other than ID, Birth Certificate and Social Security Card)   Why do you need a Resume and a Cover Letter?    

If available, a video presentation on writing resumes could be shown at this time.  

Presentation of Lesson:          

Pass out the handout (Three Resume Styles) and discuss the three types of resumes. Distribute a variety of resumes and have students review and answer the following questions: What information can you gather about this person based on his or her resume?  List job skills.  Is the work experience stable?  What was this person’s last place of employment and how long was he/she employed?    How many references are listed? Explain the Basic components of a Resume. (such as: objective, education, work experience and references)  

Practice / Activity:  

Distribute and discuss handout on resume tips. What information should be included and what style is most appropriate for them and why? (For example: Chronological, Functional and Combination Resumes)  

Distribute handout on verbs. Emphasize the use of action verbs and give some examples (Designed and sewed draperies). Ask students to give examples of action verbs. Have students read through the handout and clarify any verbs that are unclear. Have students highlight action verbs on the first handout.

Application / Transfer:

Distribute the literature and ask students to locate the various styles of resumes. They should make notes on their findings. Allow students 45-60 minutes to browse the literature. Students should be encouraged to photocopy any designs that are appropriate for their work experience.

Reflection by Teacher:

Students will have gotten an overview of the Resume in this lesson. Students should begin to recognize that resumes are needed for most jobs, and will be the first impression of you that an employer gets. A well-written interview can get a job interview but a poorly written resume will end up in the in trash.

Planning for Next Lesson:

Tomorrow's lesson will continue to help students understand the various types of resumes and will give students the opportunity to complete a resume worksheet. Students should bring in all information pertinent to completing a resume. They should have complete names, numbers, and addresses of: workplaces, references, schools, volunteer experience, or other information needed to begin resume writing.      


  JOB READINESS

WEEK FOUR DAY TWO  

Lesson Title: Resume Worksheet 

Subject Matter / Life Skill Area: Job Readiness      

Learning Level / Prerequisite Skills: 9th Grade reading and Math            

Lesson Length: Two hours (but may take additional time)  

Instruction Type: Individual Work  

Overview /Rationale:  

Students will continue to work on resumes. This lesson will give students the opportunity to complete a resume worksheet.  

Learning Objectives / Skills:

At the completion of this lesson, students will be able to complete a resume worksheet in order to prepare to write their resume.  

Skills: Managing personal data, critical thinking, material and facilities, human resources, understands systems, monitors and corrects performance

Materials / Equipment Needed:  

Resume reference material

Paper and pencils

Handout: Resume Worksheet, one for each student  

How to Prepare:  

The instructor should review the resume worksheet and be familiar with the three styles of resumes. The instructor should also bring in resume reference material and be familiar with the material.  

Introduction / Warm Up / Review:  

Review the previous day's activities with resumes. Insure that students have brought in the necessary personal data to complete a resume. Ask students to recall what information is included in a resume and write the student responses on the board.  

Presentation of Lesson:

Have students place reference material in a convenient place where they can have access to it as they work on their resume worksheets. Review any of the materials if necessary.

Practice / Activity:  

Pass out the resume worksheet and ask various students to identify the different sections of the resume worksheet. Answer questions students might have. Students should use a pencil so that they can change and edit information as needed.  

Have students begin filling out the resume worksheet. They will be matching different sections with the personal data that they have brought in. Encourage them to use resume verbs and keep in mind the resume tips they have learned thus far.  

Application / Transfer:  

As students work on their resume worksheets, lend assistance when necessary. If several students have finished, they can exchange resume worksheets for editing.  

Reflection by Teacher:  

This activity can stretch out over several class periods. It is a time-consuming process and students may not have had any experience in producing a resume previous to this course.  

Planning for Next Lesson:  

Edit student's resumes so that they can continue to work toward a finished product. Make sure that students type their resumes using the worksheet and the style of resume they have chosen. Continue the resume writing class for the next several class periods until students have produced a usable resume.  

NOTE: Students will work on resumes on Thursday and Friday.    


JOB READINESS

WEEK FOUR DAY THREE  

Lesson Title: Field Trip via Public Transportation 

Subject Matter / Life Skill Area: Job Readiness       

Learning Level / Prerequisite Skills: 9th Grade reading and Math            

Lesson Length: Five Hours  

Instruction Type: Group Activity with some pair work  

Overview /Rationale:  

The purpose of this daylong activity is to better acquaint students with the concepts involved in time management that pertain to the world of work. Students will need to know how transportation time to and from work impacts their day. Students will also have the opportunity to utilize public transportation, read maps, and budget for lunch.  

Learning Objectives / Skills:  

At the completion of this lesson, the student will be able to set and prioritize time effectively when accessing public transportation. Students will be able to organize, plan, and use public transportation by reading time schedules and maps. Students will be responsible for selecting a lunch location, estimate the cost of the meal, including tax and tip prior to purchase, and then purchase the meal.  

Skills: Managing time, planning, organization techniques, critical thinking, material and facilities, understands systems, monitors and corrects performance  

Material/Equipment Needed:  

Flip Chart and markers

Color dots with Adhesive Backs (or other stickers)

Paper and Pencil

A watch for each student

Public Transportation time schedules

Maps

Transportation to and from Start Point

Lunch Money

Handout: Acquire a menu from the location in which you plan to visit

Day Trip accessories: Cameras, backpacks, etc.  

How to Prepare: 

The instructor should begin by planning the trip and the itinerary for the fieldtrip. It might be helpful to actually carry out the plan before the trip to become aware of the actual time and any other criteria that should be considered. Have enough handouts of the public transportation time schedule, maps, route and destination. Be prepared to help students access information from the materials.  

Introduction /Warm Up / Review:  

Meet students in the classroom for briefing and an overview of the activity. Outline the day's itinerary. The itinerary will be up to the individual instructor and area, but will look something like this:  

ITINERARY

1.      Meet in the Classroom for Briefing

2.      Drive to Start Point

3.      Take Public Transportation to Destination

4.      Explore Destination ( a museum or other activity relevant to the course)

5.      Have Lunch

6.      Take Public Transportation to Start Point

7.      Meet in the Classroom for De-briefing  

Introduce the topic of transportation to and from work and its relationship to time management, the world of work, and personal decisions we face in the daily lifecourse. Ask students how each of them travels to class. Chart their responses by using colored dots on the flip chart graph. Example:

Student 1
Student 2
Student 3
Student 4
Student 5
Student 6
Student 7
Student 8
Student 9
Student 10
Walk                 Bus              Metro             Drive                    Carpool                 Other  

Presentation of Lesson:

Distribute the maps and transportation schedules. Have students plot out the route for the field trip today. Students can use markers to indicate the route while the instructor walks through the route with students. Have students estimate the time and distance for the route. Repeat the process for the return trip.

If a museum is on the itinerary, describe what students will find there and add the stopover, as well as lunch to the timeframe.  

Practice / Activity:

Divide students into buddy traveling pairs. The class will adhere to the same route and access the same public transportation, but students can keep track of their partners and help each other follow time management skills learned previously. Remind all students of the time line listed on the board! They need to follow the time line carefully and adhere to the limits. Students should be noting arrival and departure times as they follow the route. They will have to 'budget' their time so as to be able to fit the day's activities into the allotted time. 

Application / Transfer:  

Steps three to six on the itinerary outline the application for this activity. Students will access public transportation, read schedules, plan time effectively for all activities and budget for lunch. 

Students can select the lunch location when they arrive at the destination, if there are an adequate amount of choices within the budget. Students can use the menu worksheet to budget for lunch. 

Have students be responsible for following the route home and arriving on time. The instructor should remain a 'tourist' along on a 'tour'. 

Students and teacher will regroup for the debriefing after arriving back to the classroom. Facilitate a discussion on the various skills learned throughout the day (time management, map reading, reading schedules, following an itinerary, etc,). 

Reflection by Teacher:  

How effective were students in adhering to the time line? Were students able to follow the itinerary and arrive at the destination? Did students plan effectively for lunch? Have students thought about whether they will be accessing public transportation when they take a job. 

Planning for Next Lesson:                  

Students can utilize today's skills by extending the activity to include an outing planned for family or friends. Return to working on resumes for the next class periods.

 

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