Guidance
OkCRN

Parents Guide to a Plan of Study

Parents

When it comes to careers, when you talk, your children listen!  Here are some suggestions on how you can help your child with his/her career development: 

  Help your child identify his/her interests by asking these or similar questions-

• What activities are you excited about doing?

• What are your favorite and least favorite courses?

• Do you like to work with people, data, or things?

• Do you like to spend your time outside or indoors?

Talk to your children about what you do at your job, what you like, what’s important for your job, what a typical day at work is like, etc.

  Help children identify job skills in the chores they do around the house.

  Explore the work of work through part-time or summer employment.

  Get them involved in community volunteer work.

  Investigate job-shadowing or mentoring.

  Help your child research pros and cons of his/her career choice.

  Support your child’s decision. 

Helping your child complete a plan of study is an essential component of career planning.    A plan of study is a planned, coherent sequence of courses, 4-6 years in duration that leads to or supports a career goal.  It is important to remember a plan of study is a working document.  Your child’s interests will probably change as s/he grows older.  Adjustments can and should be made to the plan of study if interests or circumstances change.  Below is a sample plan of study that you may use with your children.  Use it to assist your child in scheduling courses that will help him/her prepare for a future career.

      (open in MSWord format to customize the Plan of Study)

PLAN OF STUDY
Grade 9	Units	Grade 10	Units	*Grade 11	Units
Total Units:		Total Units:		Total Units:

 

Grade 12*	Units	Postsecondary 1	Units	Postsecondary 2	Units
Total Units:		Total Units:		Total Units:

 *Check with your school or technology center counselor about cooperative agreements.  Many career and technology education courses can lead to college credit.