Page 28 - Creating Pathways to Success

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Supporting Education and Career/Life Planning: The “Where” of Learning
Chapter 3 of this document described the structure of the education and career/ life planning program – the “what, where, and how” of learning. The present chapter focuses on the “where”.
Students acquire the knowledge and skills of education and career/life planning through activities and programs related to the curriculum, both in and outside the classroom; through school-wide activities; and through activities in the community. In these contexts, students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 require instruction and support as they apply the four-step inquiry process to gain knowledge of them- selves and their opportunities and an understanding of how they can successfully shape their future. Teachers, guidance teachers/counsellors, peers, and mentors provide this instruction and/or support. Parents and community partners also play a key role in supporting students in this process.
As noted earlier in this document, teachers support students in elementary schools in their investigations and goal setting as they acquire knowledge and skills in the various subjects in the Ontario curriculum both in and outside the classroom and through school-wide curricular and extracurricular activities. In secondary school, students are supported by classroom teachers in developing their knowledge and skills in education and career/life planning as part of every course they take in
the various disciplines of the Ontario curriculum. Secondary school students also receive support in building and reflecting on their Individual Pathways Plan from the school guidance staff and, as required, from the Student Success team (which consists of the Student Success teacher, a school administrator, a guidance teacher/counsellor, and, where applicable, a special education teacher – see OS, section 3.2.1).
Courses with a particular focus on education and career/life planning – in par- ticular, the compulsory half-credit Grade 10 Career Studies course – are available to students through the guidance and career education curriculum. In addition, various programs are offered in Ontario secondary schools that enable students to apply their particular interests and skills outside the classroom, and to explore and gain experience related to their planned initial postsecondary destination. These