{"id":2335,"date":"2019-02-05T15:35:12","date_gmt":"2019-02-05T20:35:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/teachersfirst.com\/blog\/?p=2335"},"modified":"2019-04-05T14:30:53","modified_gmt":"2019-04-05T18:30:53","slug":"lets-talk-about-cte-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teachersfirst.org\/blog\/2019\/02\/lets-talk-about-cte-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Let\u2019s Talk About: CTE Month"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month\u00ae. While it is a time to celebrate those in the CTE community and the great work they do, it is also a time to raise awareness about CTE and the role it has in preparing our students for careers and college. \u00a0CTE helps students acquire real-world skills as they prepare for college and careers. <\/span><\/p>\n

I think teachers should encourage students to enroll in a CTE course whenever possible. \u00a0The research shows that students with CTE coursework are typically more satisfied with their school experience. Many times they can see the answer to \u201cwhy do I need to learn this<\/em>\u201d almost immediately when doing the practical application of their coursework. \u00a0They also get to learn and grow with like-minded students who have similar interests.<\/span><\/p>\n

Involvement in a CTE program can take many forms. Students learn workplace readiness skills as they explore a variety of careers including things like culinary arts, horticulture, medical assistance, technology, welding and so much more. Some schools coordinate with local community colleges so that students can get college credit. Other school programs prepare students to take industry certification exams so that they can begin working right away after high school.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is important to remind\u00a0students that taking CTE coursework does not mean you won\u2019t go to college. A dear friend of mine was steered toward the cosmetology program when we were in high school. \u00a0At that time, they wanted to prepare her for a career in case she wasn\u2019t ready to enroll in college at the end of high school. She did very well in the program and was licensed to do hair and nails. She used those skills to get a flexible job which she kept throughout college. \u00a0After she began teaching, she worked at the salon on weekends and summers to make extra money.<\/span><\/p>\n

Want to help your students find out if a CTE path is right for them? \u00a0Check out these resources:<\/span><\/p>\n